Situating Northeast India amidst the Rejuvenation of Bangladesh
Northeast India & Bangladesh: Identity, Immigration, and Water Conflicts
Northeast India and Bangladesh: A Shared Past, A Fractured Present
Author: Pratyush Pran Sarma, Research Assistant, CNSS
The political tremors in Bangladesh are echoing across India’s Northeast. With recent unrest and fears of regime change in Dhaka, leaders in Assam and Tripura are voicing concerns about the ripple effects on their states. This anxiety is rooted in a shared colonial history, migration patterns, and resource disputes that continue to shape the region’s socio-political landscape.
Colonial Legacy and Identity Politics
The Northeast and Bangladesh were once part of a fluid, interconnected region under British rule. Events like the 1905 partition of Bengal and the 1947 creation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) fractured this unity. These divisions, however, couldn’t erase the deep cultural and demographic ties.
Post-independence, migration from Bangladesh—driven by economic hardship and porous borders—has altered the demographic balance in Assam, Tripura, and beyond. This has sparked fears of cultural erosion, resource competition, and identity loss among indigenous communities.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act and Inner Line Permit Demands
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) has intensified debates in the Northeast. While nationally framed as a religious issue, in the Northeast it’s about protecting indigenous identity. States are demanding the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to shield themselves from further immigration.
The Bangladesh unrest and reports of illegal crossings have only strengthened these demands, reviving memories of past ethnic violence and insurgency.
Insurgency and Cross-Border Security
Groups like ULFA, NDFB, and NLFT have historically drawn strength from anti-immigrant sentiments. Their operations, once sheltered in Bangladesh, were curtailed only after the Awami League came to power and signed the Indo-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty (2013).
However, the resurgence of fundamentalist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP in Bangladesh raises fresh concerns about cross-border terrorism and internal security in India.
Water Wars: The Teesta River Dispute
Beyond identity and migration, natural resources—especially river water—are a major flashpoint. The Teesta River, vital for both nations, remains a contentious issue. While India controls the upstream flow, Bangladesh depends on it for agriculture and livelihoods.
The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) has made progress, but political instability in Dhaka could derail future agreements. The Teesta dispute symbolizes the broader challenge of managing shared resources in a politically sensitive region.
Photograph By Joydeep, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77840391