New Delhi: India has closed all the doors for Bangladesh, which is increasing its friendship with China and Pakistan. India has now taken a tough stand against Bangladesh's Mohammad Yunus. India has also geared up to complete the Kaladan Project quickly. Apart from this, a major trans-shipment facility given to Bangladesh has been withdrawn. Due to this, Bangladesh's trade with Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar may be affected. Let us know what steps India has taken against Bangladesh, which can break its back.
Bangladesh-China's evil eye on Chicken Neck
Bangladesh and China's intentions on India's Chicken Neck are not good. Bangladesh chief Mohammad Yunus's visit to China has revealed their evil intentions. He had proposed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to build an airbase in Lalmonirhat district near India's border. Lalmonirhat is near India's Chicken Neck Corridor. Now India has prepared a solution for this. It has geared up to complete the Kaladan Project rapidly.
What is Chicken Neck, first understand this
Chicken Neck is the only landmass connecting the seven states of Northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura with the rest of India. It is also called the Siliguri Corridor. It is a thin landmass in West Bengal, India which connects the northeastern states with the rest of the country. This area is geographically and strategically important.
Bangladesh Industry Crisis
What is India's thinking behind the Kaladan Project
India has made preparations to complete the Kaladan Project by 2025 and has recently intensified discussions with Myanmar officials on this. Actually, the Jugalbandi of China and Bangladesh may try to pose a challenge in the future regarding Chicken Neck. In such a situation, India has started preparing an alternative route to connect the northeastern state through the sea.
Kaladan is a counter to the alliance of China and Bangladesh
Kaladan is a multi-modal transit transport project located between India and Myanmar. It is not just an infrastructure project, but it is an important part of India's geopolitical strategy. This project is extremely important for India from a strategic, economic and strategic point of view, especially at a time when China is making deep inroads into its neighboring countries and old allies like Bangladesh are also gradually coming under the influence of China.
What is the Kaladan project, when was it started
The Kaladan project was started in the year 2008. Its purpose is to connect India's Kolkata port to Mizoram through Myanmar's Sittwe port. This project includes three types of routes - sea, river and road, which makes it 'multi-modal'.
India's control over Sittwe Port, which will become important
India built Myanmar's Sittwe Port and has operational control over it. This port is being seen as India's answer to China's Kyaukphyu Port. This not only increases India's naval access to Myanmar, but also creates a secure supply chain for the northeastern states.
When did Bangladesh get transshipment facility
In the year 2020, India gave 'transshipment' facility to Bangladesh for its exported goods. Under this, apart from Indian goods, Bangladesh's exports were also given place in the exports from India's airports and ports. On April 8, India has withdrawn this facility through a circular. This decision was taken at a time when recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Professor Mohammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
Will not be able to do business with Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar
The purpose of the transshipment facility was that Bangladesh could easily send goods to countries like Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar. Now this facility has been abolished. Indian businessmen, especially exporters in the garment sector, had urged the government to withdraw this facility given to Bangladesh. Now it will take more time for Bangladeshi traders, cost more and uncertainty will also increase. Both Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked countries. They use the route of India for trade with Bangladesh.
Why did India end the old system, know the reason
Actually, Mohammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, visited China last month. There he commented on the northeastern states of India. He had said that the northeastern states of India are landlocked and the only way for them to reach the sea is through Bangladesh. Yunus had invited China to take advantage of the situation in Bangladesh. This comment of Yunus was not liked by India. After this, diplomatic tension was also seen between the two countries. According to official figures, there was a trade of $ 14 billion between India and Bangladesh in the year 2023-24. In this, Bangladesh exported goods worth $1.97 billion to India.
Is Yunus increasing his alliance with ISI?
India had given a very strong message in January this year about the way the interim government of Mohammad Yunus is engaged in military collusion with Pakistan. India has said that it is keeping an eye on all the activities happening around the country.
India is keeping an eye on the security of Bangladesh and is ready to take whatever steps are appropriate for the security of the country. This statement of India came when a high level team of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI visited Bangladesh.
Readymade garment business may be affected
The biggest export of India's neighboring country Bangladesh is readymade garment. According to a statistic, 83 percent of Bangladesh's total export income comes from readymade garment. India has also been importing such clothes from Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, which are in India's neighborhood. Now this business will suffer a lot. After India's decision, the cost of export goods being sent by airplanes from Bangladesh will increase.
India's eye on the surrounding activities
Talks are also going on about starting military exercises between the two countries and Pakistan Army training the Bangladeshi Army. When Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about this, his answer was that we keep a close eye on all the activities happening around India in the context of national interest.
Most ships pass through the English Channel
Most ships in the world pass through the English Channel. More than 500 ships pass through here every day, which connects the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. It is an important link between the UK and the European continent. The Suez Canal is also a busy shipping route, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and accounts for about 8% of world maritime trade. At the same time, Greece is the country with the largest fleet, while China is the largest shipbuilder. Pioneering Spirit is the world's largest ship by gross tonnage, while Seawise Giant is the largest by length.
