Demchok Area of Ladakh, Yamuna Water, Bangladesh Crises and India

(General Studies II – International Relations Section – India and its Neighbourhood- Relations. Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.)

• In August 2024, Bangladesh experienced a significant political upheaval that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, one of the longest-serving political leaders in the country’s history.
• This movement, which began as a protest against a controversial quota system in government jobs, quickly escalated into a nationwide uprising that ultimately toppled the government.
• The events in Bangladesh have far-reaching implications for the region, particularly for India, which shares a complex and often delicate relationship with its neighbor.

Reasons for the Political Crisis in Bangladesh –

1. High court decision: The crisis in Bangladesh was triggered by a decision from the High Court to re-establish a job quota reserving 30% of civil service posts for the descendants of freedom fighters from the country’s liberation war.
   • This decision reignited a long-standing debate about the fairness of the quota system.
   • Initially, both the government and the protesting students were aligned in their desire for quota reform, with the government even preparing to appeal against the court order.
2. Government’s Missteps: Prime Minister Hasina’s derogatory comments towards the protesters, referring to them as “children of Razakars,” inflamed tensions. The aggressive response, including shutting down the internet and deploying the Bangladesh Chhatra League against protesters, further escalated the situation.
3. Violent Crackdown: The government’s decision to use force against the students, leading to the deaths of around 20 students on July 18, shifted public sentiment against the administration, turning a reform protest into a broader anti-government movement.
4. Breakdown of Negotiations: The failure of negotiations between the government and protest leaders, along with the arrest and disappearance of key coordinators, contributed to the collapse of any potential resolution.

India’s Fragile Neighborhood – The political turmoil in Bangladesh presents a significant challenge for India, which shares deep ties with its neighbor.

1. Diplomatic Strain: India’s perceived support for Sheikh Hasina’s government, despite the authoritarian measures she employed, has created resentment among many Bangladeshis. This has strained India’s relationship with Bangladesh’s broader population, who see India as aligned with a specific political faction rather than with the people.
2. Regional Instability: The unrest in Bangladesh adds to the instability in South Asia, where India is already navigating complex relationships with other neighbors like Pakistan, Nepal, and Myanmar. The potential for spillover effects, such as increased migration or radicalization, presents security concerns for India.
3. Impact on Bilateral Relations: The events in Bangladesh have highlighted the limitations of India’s policy of relying on relationships with individual leaders. As the situation in Bangladesh evolves, India risks being seen as disconnected from the democratic aspirations of its neighbor.

Steps India Needs to Take – In light of the recent developments, India needs to recalibrate its approach to ensure long-term stability and goodwill in its neighborhood:

1. Engage with a Broader Spectrum: India must expand its engagement beyond individual leaders and parties, building relationships with a wider array of stakeholders, including civil society, opposition parties, and the general population.
2. Promote Democratic Values: By advocating for democracy, rule of law, and human rights, India can align itself with the broader aspirations of the Bangladeshi people. Supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh is crucial to maintaining stability in the region.
3. Strengthen Diplomatic Channels: India should use its diplomatic channels to mediate and provide support during Bangladesh’s transition to a new government. Ensuring that Bangladesh remains a stable and friendly neighbor is in India’s best interest.
4. Address Misinformation: India must counter the negative perceptions and misinformation about its role in Bangladesh. Transparent communication and cultural diplomacy can help rebuild trust.

The political crisis in Bangladesh in 2024 serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of South Asian politics and the challenges India faces in its neighborhood. The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government underscores the need for India to adopt a more nuanced and people-centric approach in its foreign policy. By engaging with a broader spectrum of society in Bangladesh and promoting democratic values, India can help ensure a stable and prosperous neighborhood, benefiting the entire region

• The K. Hema Committee report on the Malayalam film industry exposes widespread issues, including sexual exploitation, illegal bans, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, wage disparity, and inhuman working conditions.
• The report is released five years after submission without revealing the names of witnesses and accused.
• The report confirms the existence of the “casting couch” practice, with sexual harassment starting even before women enter the industry, often initiated by well-known figures in exchange for roles.

Dig Deeper: Read about various provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 and Vishakha guidelines.

• A recently published study in Scientific Reports by researchers at KSKV Kachchh University has assessed the suitability of different areas of Banni for sustainable grassland restoration, considering ecological value to be the primary criterion.
• Banni Grassland is Asia’s largest tropical grassland located in western India
• The Kachchh district in Gujarat, home to the vast Banni grasslands, has seen its area reduce from 3,800 sq. km to 2,600 sq. km.
• They categorized the grassland zones into five suitability levels:
• 36% area as “highly suitable”.
• 28% area as “suitable”.
• 27% area as “moderately suitable”.
• 7% area as “marginally suitable”.
• 2% area as “not suitable”.

• The study noted that the “highly suitable” and “suitable” zones can be easily restored with adequate water sources.
• The “moderately suitable” zone also offers potential for expansion, while the “marginally suitable” and “not suitable” zones can be managed through interventions like terracing, fertilisers, and protection from erosion and salt intrusion.
• The assessment considered 20 parameters including soil characteristics, satellite data on land use, and geomorphology.
• The species like the great Indian bustard and Bengal florican depend on it.

Dig Deeper: Read about various species associated with the Grassland Ecosystem.

An amendment to India’s power export rules, allowing rerouting of power to domestic grids if partner countries delay payments, particularly impacting Bangladesh.

The regulatory change offers Indian power exporters flexibility, reducing reliance on unstable external markets.

Adani Power’s Godda plant is India’s first transnational power project, supplying 1,496 MW to Bangladesh under a 25-year agreement.

The project was aimed at reducing Bangladesh’s reliance on costly liquid fuel power.

The project uses imported coal from Australia, while Bangladesh is seeking a Power Purchase Agreement revision due to high coal prices and charges.

Dig Deeper: Read about the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.

• Yamuna River water is expected to reach Rajasthan’s Shekhawati region soon, following a recent agreement (February 2024) between Haryana and Rajasthan to secure the state’s full share as per the 1994 Yamuna Water Agreement.
• This will address the longstanding shortage of drinking and irrigation water.
• Churu, Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts are parts of the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan.
• Currently, the Chaudhary Kumbha Ram Lift Canal, part of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project, supplies 1,500 cusecs of water to some areas in Shekhawati.
• As per the February 2024 agreement, both states decided to jointly prepare a detailed project report for the transfer of Rajasthan’s share of Yamuna water from Hathnikund in Haryana through underground pipelines and its subsequent utilization in areas such as Jhunjhunu and Churu.

Dig Deeper: Locate Yamuna River and its tributaries on the map and also read about the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal issue.

• Yaks from China have strayed into Indian territory in the Demchok area of eastern Ladakh and are now under the control of local villagers, security forces denied involvement.
• Grazing rights for Indian nomads in traditional areas now under Chinese control have been a source of tension, with access denied by Chinese soldiers.
• Nomads of Demchok lost access to their grazing area in Lungkar Valley in 2022 and Nilung Valley in 2017.  
• Demchok is one of the two mutually agreed disputed areas in eastern Ladakh with each side having varying claims in the Charding La area.
• China set up tents on the Indian side of Charding Nala a couple of years before the 2020 stand-off and the presence expanded since.

Dig Deeper: Read about the Strategic Road being built along the Indus and also locate on map Photi La and Umling La pass of Eastern Ladakh.