India-Bangladesh Friendship Treaty

India-Bangladesh Friendship Treaty a treaty of peace and cooperation signed between India and Bangladesh on 19 March 1972 for a term of twenty five years. The Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while on a visit to Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Prime Minister bangabandhu sheikh mujibur rahman signed the treaty on behalf of their respective county.

The twelve Articles incorporated in the treaty were: (i) The contracting parties solemnly declare that there shall be lasting peace and friendship between the two countries and each side shall respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other, and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the other side; (ii) The contracting parties condemn colonialism and racialism of all forms, and reaffirm their determination to strive for their final and complete elimination; (iii) The contracting parties reaffirm their faith in the policy of non-alignment and peaceful co-existence as important factors for easing tension in the world, maintaining international peace and security and strengthening national sovereignty and independence; (iv) The contracting parties shall maintain regular contacts and exchange views with each other on major international problems affecting the interest of both the states; (v) The contracting parties shall continue to strengthen and widen their mutually advantageous and all round cooperation in the economic, scientific and technical fields, and shall develop mutual cooperation in the fields of trade, transport and communication on the basis of the principles of equality and mutual benefit; (vi) The contracting parties agree to make joint studies and take joint action in the field of flood control, river basin development and development of hydro-electric power and irrigation; (vii) Both the parties shall promote relations in the field of arts, literature, education, culture, sports and health; (viii) In accordance with the ties of friendship existing between the two countries, each of the contracting parties solemnly declare that it shall not enter into or participate in any military alliance directed against the other party. Each of the parties shall refrain from any aggression against the other party and shall not allow the use of its territory for committing any act that may cause military damage to or continue to threat to the security of the other contracting parties; (ix) Each of the contracting parties shall refrain from giving any assistance to any third party taking part in an armed conflict against the other party. In case if either party is attacked or threatened to be attacked, the contracting parties shall immediately enter into mutual consultations in order to take necessary measures to eliminate the threat and thus ensure the peace and security of their countries; (x) Each of the parties solemnly declare that it shall not undertake any commitment, secret or open, towards one or more states which may be incompatible with the present treaty; (xi) The present treaty is signed for a term of twenty-five years, and shall be renewed by mutual agreement; (xii) Any differences interpreting any Article of the treaty shall be settled on a bilateral basis by peaceful means in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.

The term of the treaty expired on 19 March 1997, and none of the contracting parties showed any interest in renewing it. [Tareque Shamsur Rahman]