Bridging Nations: The Strategic Role of Northeast India in the Evolution of India-Bangladesh Connectivity (2004-2024) under Look East and Act East Policies

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_20How to use a DOI?

Keywords

India-Bangladesh Connectivity; Look East Policy; Act East Policy; Strategic Autonomy; Northeast India; Cross-Border Linkages

Abstract

India’s Northeast region has historically been viewed as a peripheral frontier, yet its geostrategic significance has grown markedly under the Look East and Act East Policies (2004-2024). Bangladesh’s geographic and diplomatic centrality positions it as a pivotal actor in India’s evolving foreign policy calculus, especially regarding Northeast India’s linkage to ASEAN and beyond. This study reassesses the strategic, economic and infrastructural dimensions of India-Bangladesh connectivity, focusing on the transformative role of Northeast India. It aims to evaluate how cross-border linkages have redefined regional diplomacy and development, while interrogating the challenges that complicate bilateral cooperation. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating international relations theory with empirical case studies. It analyzes policy documents, bilateral agreements and corridor initiatives such as BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal), Kaladan and Agartala-Akhaura. The study also incorporates hydro-political analysis through the lens of Teesta water-sharing negotiations, alongside security and ethnic complexity assessments. Findings reveal that the Act East Policy has catalyzed infrastructural momentum and diplomatic engagement, repositioning the Northeast as both a developmental hinge and strategic buffer. However, asymmetrical dependencies, ethnic tensions and unresolved water-sharing disputes continue to constrain the full realization of connectivity goals. Bangladesh’s role remains central but contested within India’s broader strategic vision. India-Bangladesh connectivity, mediated through the Northeast, represents a nuanced tool of strategic statecraft. While progress is evident, sustainable regional integration demands deeper policy coherence, inclusive development and conflict-sensitive diplomacy. The paper concludes that Northeast India’s repositioning is not merely infrastructural but emblematic of India’s shifting geopolitical identity in South Asia.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Shangky Khongwar
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/31
TI  - Bridging Nations: The Strategic Role of Northeast India in the Evolution of India-Bangladesh Connectivity (2004-2024) under Look East and Act East Policies
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart Systems and Social Management (ICSSSM-2 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 300
EP  - 329
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_20
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-533-1_20
ID  - Khongwar2025
ER  -