Smruti S. Pattanaik is Research Fellow (SS) at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Click here for detailed profile
The convening of a video conference of the SAARC leaders by the Indian Prime Minister on March 15 to initiate a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic came as a surprise to many countries in the region that are fighting the crisis mostly alone, scampering for testing kits, medicines and PPEs and also preparing to deal with the impeding economic crisis.
India and Bangladesh fought together “in the defence of human liberty”, in the words of Sheikh Mujib ur Rahman, to liberate Bangladesh, fifty momentous years ago.
The street power of the ulema groups in Bangladesh is pushing the government to further Islamise the social sphere, which will pave the way for the ultimate political success of the Islamists.
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s article ‘Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla's Visit and India-Bangladesh Relations’ has been published by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) on September 15, 2020.
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s Commentary, ‘The Doha Intra-Afghan Dialogue’ has been published by All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an external services division of AIR, on September 15, 2020.
There is an urgent need for a peaceful transition in Afghanistan. India would like to see an Afghanistan which is at peace with itself. This will ensure regional security. Like Afghanistan, India too, has a lot of stake, writes Dr. Pattanaik.
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s Issue Brief ‘India-Bangladesh Relations: Bridging the Gap while Marching Forward’ has been published by the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC) on September 11, 2020.
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s article, ‘An Enduring and Eternal Relationship’, has been published in Dhaka Tribune on September 01, 2020.
If anyone could be credited with providing a direction and purpose to the India-Bangladesh relationship, it was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the main architect of the bilateral relationship and the founding father of independent Bangladesh. The two countries need to recall his ideals and the spirit of the Liberation War, writes Dr. Pattanaik.
Research Fellow Manohar Parrikar IDSA Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s article ‘India Bangladesh Ties on The Upswing’ has been published by the All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an External Services Division of AIR, on August 21, 2020.
Research Fellow Manohar Parrikar IDSA Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s article ‘India Bangladesh Rail Connectivity Back on Track’ has been published by the All India Radio (AIR) World Service, an External Services Division of AIR, on August 08, 2020.
The restoration of old connectivity structure that existed during the British period would boost the economy of this region to a great extent. It can give further fillip to the centuries old historical and cultural ties that bind the people of the region, writes Dr. Pattanaik
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik’s commentary on India-Bangladesh relations, titled ‘Why Speculate? Evaluating Delhi-Dhaka Ties’ has been published by ‘The Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict’ (SSPC) on August 05, 2020.
Several challenges to the bilateral relations indeed remain which includes the inability to reach an agreement on Teesta and rampant smuggling and trafficking that takes place in the Indo-Bangladesh border. There is an urgent need to address the border violation, writes Dr. Pattanaik.
Remembering Bangladesh’s Liberation War
India and Bangladesh fought together “in the defence of human liberty”, in the words of Sheikh Mujib ur Rahman, to liberate Bangladesh, fifty momentous years ago.