The once-friendly India-Bangladesh relations have hit all-time low after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad, coming to the helm in Dhaka.
In a major move to counter the threat posed by recent strategic moves, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has deployed a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in West Bengal, near the Bangladesh border, days after the neighbhouring country deployed the formidable Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones along its borders with India.
According to reports, India has enhanced surveillance measures along the Bangladesh border in West Bengal by deploying its indigenously-made UAVs, including the Heron TP, and other models, in order to nullify the potential threat and intelligence-gathering capabilities of TB2 drones, which Bangladesh has deployed in the region.
Recently, Bangladesh deployed the Bayraktar TB2 drones near its West Bengal border, a strategic area due to its proximity to the sensitive “chicken neck” corridor, which connects northeast India with the rest of the country.
The worrying development comes at a time when India-Bangladesh relations have hit an all-time low, and threatens to further deteriorate ties between the two nations, with many geo political experts noting that Bangladesh is gravitating closer to Pakistan and China, and moving further away from New Delhi.
Bayraktar TB2 drone capabilities
The Bayraktar TB2 drone, manufactured by Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş — a Turkish defence manufacturer — is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of being remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
The Bayraktar TB2 is 8 times lighter than the American-made MQ-9 Reaper, has a maximum speed of 230 km per hour and boasts a wide range of offensive capabilities, including MAM (Smart Micro Munition) laser-guided missiles which can easily destroy modern battle tanks.
The drones have a operational range of around 300 km and flight time of 24 hours, making them capable of penetrating deep into enemy territory and without being detected by conventional radars. This ability makes Bayraktar TB2 drones perfect for surveillance operations or clandestine strike missions.
Notably, Bangladesh is second neighbour of India, after Pakistan to deploy the Turkish-made UAVs on its borders.
India-Bangladesh relations at all-time low
The once-friendly India-Bangladesh relations have hit all-time low after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad, coming to the helm in Dhaka.
Bangladesh has witnessed widespread communal violence against minorities, especially Hindus, which has soured Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi, with the latter accusing the Yunus-led interim government of not doing enough, and turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamist elements against the minority Hindu community in the country.
