This article covers India's development partnership with Bangladesh and the cooperation that links the two countries' institutions and people: lines of credit and grant projects, defence cooperation, commemorative and youth exchanges, training and scholarships, and cultural ties. The brief's cultural and people-to-people material is combined here with development cooperation. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brief of July 2026.
Lines of credit and grants
According to the MEA brief of July 2026, the relationship has evolved to include cooperation in diverse fields: connectivity, trade and economic ties, development partnership, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and youth exchanges. The brief states that Bangladesh is one of India's largest development partners globally. India has extended nearly USD 8 billion under multiple Lines of Credit, including a dedicated Defence LoC. These projects cover railways, roads, ports, shipping and other infrastructure sectors.
Notable projects undertaken under Indian grant assistance include the construction of the Akhaura-Agartala rail link, the dredging of inland waterways in Bangladesh and the construction of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. India also supports High Impact Community Development Projects in Bangladesh in areas such as education, culture and community infrastructure.
Defence cooperation
The brief states that defence cooperation remains focused on training exchanges, joint exercises and capacity building. Exercise BONGOSAGAR-25 and CORPAT were conducted in March 2025 in the Bay of Bengal, with participation from both navies. Senior military delegations and officers from both countries have exchanged visits and participated in conferences, workshops and military conclaves.
Personnel from the Bangladesh Armed Forces subscribed to more than 120 training vacancies offered by India during 2026-27, including National Defence College and Staff College courses.
Commemorative and youth exchanges
Delegations of Liberation War veterans from both countries participated in Victory Day celebrations in December 2025. Bangladeshi NCC cadets and officials visited India for Republic Day celebrations in January 2026.
Training and scholarships
India supports training and capacity building in Bangladesh through the ITEC programme. Since 2014, more than 7240 civil servants and 1250 judicial officers have received training in India.
Scholarships under the following programmes continue to benefit Bangladeshi students:
- ICCR scholarships, with more than 540 announced in the current year, as of the brief
- the Suborno Jayanti Scholarship
- AYUSH programmes
Culture and people-to-people ties
The brief describes cultural and people-to-people ties as an enduring strength of the relationship. It states that shared linguistic and cultural traditions, including the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, continue to connect the two countries.
The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka organises cultural programmes, workshops, film screenings, music and dance performances, and celebrations of major festivals. More than 850 Bangladeshi youths have visited India since 2012 under the Bangladesh Youth Delegation programme.