How does the legacy of 1971 shape the way Bangladeshi elites see India? Suggest ways to build pragmatic neighbourhood cooperation.

India's decisive military role in the 1971 Liberation War gave Bangladesh its birth. It also left Bangladeshi elites with mixed feelings towards India: gratitude for its help, and resentment at their country's dependence on it. That mix still decides how close Dhaka stays to New Delhi, now under a BNP government that wants a "reset" in ties.

How 1971 shapes elite perceptions

• Gratitude narrative: The Awami League sees India as an ally in liberation, since India sheltered millions of refugees and fought alongside the Mukti Bahini.
• "Liberator" resentment: Many elites dislike the way India's military victory overshadows the Mukti Bahini's own struggle. The BNP's "Bangladeshi nationalism" defines national identity partly in contrast to India.
• West Bengal anxiety: Dhaka has long feared that India's policy would pass through Hindu-majority West Bengal. The Teesta deal, stalled by the state's objection, seems to bear that fear out.
• Partisan lens: India is seen as close to the Awami League. Sheikh Hasina's stay in India and Dhaka's demand for her extradition keep this suspicion alive.
• Asymmetry fears: Only 3 of 54 shared rivers have treaties, and about 864 km of the border is still unfenced. These issues feed a "big brother" image [1].

Building pragmatic cooperation

• Engage all parties, not one party: PM Modi's early congratulations to Tarique Rahman, with backing for an "inclusive Bangladesh", is a good start [2]. The Hasina question should be left to the legal process under the 2013 extradition treaty, not made a summit issue.
• Water diplomacy: Begin talks on renewing the Ganga Treaty (it expires in 2026) early, with West Bengal involved from the start [1].
• Trade normalisation: Finish the CEPA and relax the May 2025 land-port curbs on Bangladeshi goods [1][5], building on India's duty-free access for Bangladeshi products [4].
• Deliver on promises: Review the roughly USD 10 billion in Lines of Credit, where many projects have stalled [1].
• Security without hostility: Fence the 689 km where fencing is feasible, and set up a joint working group on migration [1].
• Use precedent: The 1974 LBA, the 2011 Protocol and the 2015 enclave exchange show that hard disputes can be settled by treaty [3].

Remembering 1971 as a shared struggle, not a debt Bangladesh owes, can turn ambivalence into partnership. If India stays firm on security, generous on water, trade and connectivity, and follows the Gujral Doctrine of non-reciprocity, its Neighbourhood First policy can make geography a source of trust.