‘India has made enough overtures… Now it’s up to Bangladesh’: Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh

Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty spoke to Shubhajit Roy of The Indian Express on September 3, emphasizing that India has already made extensive diplomatic gestures and that future progress depends on Bangladesh’s actions. He underscored the strategic importance of the neighbour, noting the 180‑million‑strong population and the 4,096 km shared border, while warning against anti‑Indian lobbies influencing policy decisions.

Chakravarty cited concrete figures: the two countries share 54 rivers but have only one water‑sharing agreement, the Ganga treaty, which is set to expire in December, and a pending Teesta deal stalled by West Bengal’s objections. He referenced Bangladesh’s request for guaranteed water flows, the ongoing provision of fuel and electricity by India, and the broader economic strain facing Dhaka. The interview also touched on the potential return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from exile and the legal complexities surrounding any extradition request.

The diplomat placed current tensions in historical perspective, recalling the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the subsequent political turbulence. He described the BNP as a coalition of business, pro‑Pakistan, and Jamaat‑e‑Islami lobbies, noting that a minority within Bangladesh still seeks cordial ties with India. Chakravarty warned that a resurgence of Islamist extremism, highlighted in a recent UN report on Al‑Qaeda’s revival in Bangladesh, could spill over into India and be exploited by Pakistan, making water, security, and trade critical pillars of the bilateral relationship.