Geographically the Importance of Bangladesh Politics;

Geographically the Importance of Bangladesh Politics;

Bangladesh is an independent country. She got her independence in 1971 through a bloody war of liberation. Geographically Bangladesh is very important country in the world politics. Geo-politics of Bangladesh refers to the inter-state politics of the country which is dependent on its territory. Bangladesh has importance in both South Asia and in the world for its geographical location.

Location & Neighbors of Bangladesh:

With an area of about 147,570 sq km, Bangladesh is situated between latitudes 20-34' and 2638' north and latitudes 8801' and 9241' east. The country is bordered by India on the east, west and north and by the Bay of Bengal on the south. There is also a small strip of frontier with Burma on the southeastern edge. The land is a deltaic plain with a network of numerous rivers and canals. Through Myanmar Bangladesh is linked to the entire South East Asian region.China is not very far off. Geographically The Peo­ple's Republic of china is a very close neighbor of Bangladesh with only 100 km of Indi­an territory between their borders.Though Bangladesh does not have a common border with Nepal and Bhutan Both are very close neighbors separated from the northern border of Bangladesh by 13.7 miles and 18.67 miles of Indian territory respective­ly.Bangladesh shares 54 international rivers with India and Myanmar. Though in the south she has her own out let to sea but the funnel like shape of the Bay of Bengal puts her in conflict with both India and Myanmar in determining the sea border. Among the neighbors of Bangladesh there are three countries with nuclear power.

Geo-politically Bangladesh: Geo-politics of Bangladesh refers to the interstate politics of the country which is depending on the territory. Bangladesh has importance in the both south Asia & in the world for its geographical location. Bangladesh is almost enclosed by India. It shares both land and maritime borders with India & Myanmar. But number of issues has arisen relating to Bangladeshis border with these countries.  

In some places, Border with India is not specific demarcated and sometimes it creates strain in Bangladesh –India relationship. The major land border crisis is border killing and illegal migration.  On the other hand, the major maritime borer crisis is water distribution such as Farakka & Tistta Barage, adverse sea border possession. Moreover geographically features of this deltaic nation have emerged from the changing courses of three of Asia’s great rivers- the Gangas, the Brahmaputro, and the Meghna. Bangladesh shares 5.4 rivers with India. This a potential issue for both countries, 6.5 K.M. is not specifically demarcated between both countries. 551.8 acres of Bangladesh has in the adverse possession of India and 226.81 acres area of India has in the adverse possession of Bangladesh. Enclave problem is also a significance issue in Indo –Bangla relationship. Thus there are overlapping claims of the same places. The border dispute arises with Myanmar primarily because of un-demarcated boundary. Rohinga refuges from Myanmar living in Bangladesh face an increased risk. The nature of border conflicts between India & Bangladesh and Myanmar & Bangladesh is defines by the attacks & killing of Bangladeshis peasants and innocent border dwellers.

Potentials and Limitation of south Asia and Bangladesh:
Bangladesh being situated in South Asia its importance because of its geopolitical loca­tion is increasing day by day with the increasing importance of South Asia and broadly Asia in International Politics. 'South Asia comprises of and where it is situated in the world, it becomes a vital position in the world at the end of the 20th century. The eight countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives- that constitute South Asia are a zone of fire. China is situated in the north of this zone, Russia is on the North and west, the Middle East, Balkans and Europe are on the West, and the Indian Ocean on the South. The Indian Ocean connects the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.' If the 19th century was the century of the Atlantic and the 20th century of the century of the Pacific, then, as the calculations of India and some other countries go, the 21st century will be the century of the Indian Ocean.

Asian High way:
For the fulfillment of Asian high way Bangladesh is Significant part it links India with south eastern countries through easer low cost way. Though Bangladesh yet hasn't linked with the Asian high way because of disagreement with India one another's proposal still Bangladesh remains as not to be avoided.

Transit Way:

First of all geopolitical location of Bangladesh appeared for itself in some cases has been disadvantages as so its been very disadvantageous to India also. To communicate with the north western part India has the only and small corridor which is shill gory between Bangladesh and India. Incase of any dispute or war with china India's northwestern part becomes very much vulnerable to be separated. What we observed in Sino-India war of 1962 on border dispute. We understands Bangladesh's geopolitical importance from a re­nowned Indian Strategic analyst K.SUBRAHMANYAM where he wrote in July ,1971, "there is not the same risk of the Chinese cutting off Assam as there was iin 1962, since in the course of hostilities, the northern Bangladesh is likely to be overrun by the Indian forces, and he communication lines with Assam will be broadened rather that narrowed down or closed"(7) just after the Bangladesh's emergence Subramanian was confident to say that "This country need no longer to be afraid that incase of military pressure from china. Assam will be cut off from the rest of the India"

Corridor:
Since independence Bangladesh is being used as transit route by rail and inland water ways between India's two parts. It gives India benefits in terms of quick movement s of goods and less freight cost. For what we see India's great interest to take corridor facili­ties through land roads and using Chittagong port. For the foreign policy decision makers of Bangladesh this transit facilities more correctly corridor as India proposed has been an important factor to bargain and to mitigate other problems like water dispute, border dis­pute , sea border dispute with India.

Biral railway station:

Biral is a border railway station in Bangladesh, situated in Dinajpur District, in Rangpur Division. It is a defunct railway transit point on the Bangladesh-India border and is an India-Bangladesh land border checkpoint. It is a defunct rail transit point on the Bangladesh-India border.
Bangladesh-Nepal rail transit:
A rail transit between Bangladesh and Nepal has been opened up again as India has allowed using its Singhabad rail line for bilateral trading. As per an earlier protocol signed in 1978, Bangladesh had been using Birol- Radhikapur rail route for trading goods with Nepal. The transit facility was suspended in 2005 after India upgraded its rail line to broad gauge from metre gauge.

Geo politically Importance of Bangladesh for Other Countries:
Being located in between Indian mainland and its reveling seven sister states Bangladesh's strategic importance for Indian has been very crucial to communicate by less spending. Besides being almost inside India having a small mouth to bay of bangal it has also become an attraction for USA and China sometime to deter India to maintain regional strategy. Not only these countries but also other countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Japan, and Australia are showing their interest of Bangladesh. Nepal and Bhutan interested to use Bangladeshis’ sea ports to faster their trade. USA intends to use sea ports to strengthen its strategic position in the south Asia considering the importance of the region in world politics. Japan and Australia also for their national interest maintain good relation with Bangladesh.  

Bangladesh is a region of south Asia has a significance role in the perspectives of geo-politics, geo-economics and geo-strategy for the geographical  location. Both potential and limitations have played a great role here. Border disputes is the vital issue to the development process of Bangladesh. The dwellers of the porous borders are involved in illicit activities across the borders make the border area confliction.

Major recommendations of border issue are;-

1. Resolving border disputes through international arbitration.
2. Problem should be resolve by flag conference.
3. Border killing should be stopped
4. Informal trade should be legalized.
5. Aggressive & hegemonic approach should be lessened.
6. Un-demarcated border should be demarcated by international Law.
7. Foreign policy must be based on friendship to all.

Conclusion: the above analysis over the geopolitical reality and its impacts on foreign policy formulation gives us the understanding that the Bangladesh hardly can avoid India as a factor to its foreign policy also in this changing world its being vice-versa. Geopolitical realities dictation over foreign policy provides both disadvantages which makes the country interdependent in this world system.