Eastern South Asia
Countries	Bangladesh Bhutan India (East India andNortheast India)   Nepal
Population	441 million
Languages	Assamese,Bengali,Bodo,Bhojpuri,Chittagonian,Dzongkha,Hindi,Kamtapuri,Maithili,Magahi,Meitei,Nepali,Odia,Sadri,Sylheti
Time Zones	UTC+5:30,UTC+5:45,UTC+06:00

Eastern South Asia^[1][2][3] is asubregion ofSouth Asia. It includes the countries ofBangladesh,Bhutan,India (specificallyEast India andNortheast India), andNepal. Geographically, it lies between theEastern Himalayas and theBay of Bengal. Two of the world's largest rivers, theGanges and theBrahmaputra, flow into the sea through Eastern South Asia. The region includes the world's highest mountainous terrain and the world'slargest delta, and has a climate ranging fromalpine andsubalpine tosubtropical andtropical. Since Nepal, Bhutan, and northeast India arelandlocked, the coastlines of Bangladesh and East India serve as the principal gateways to the region.

With more than 441 million inhabitants, Eastern South Asia is home to 6% of theworld's population and 25% of South Asia's population. TheBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative promotes economic integration in the region. The four countries are members of theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and theBay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.Yunnan Province and theTibet Autonomous Region of thePeople's Republic of China (PRC) andMyanmar are historically, economically, and culturally interdependent on Eastern South Asia. TheBangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Forum has established an economic corridor in the region.

Eastern South Asia'sarchaeological heritage includesLumbini, the birthplace of theBuddha; the ancient universities and monasteries ofNalanda,Vikramshila,Somapura Mahavihara,Jaggadala,Odantapuri andMainamati; theAshokan pillars and theMauryan Empire-era cities ofPataliputra,champa,Vaishali,Balirajpur,Rajgir,Sisupalgarh,Kalinga andMahasthangarh; and the ruined fort cities ofWari-Bateshwar,Bhitagarh, andChandraketugarh. The region has an important Buddhist Tourist Circuit.^[4] Eastern South Asia hosts a large number of medieval and early modern mosques, includingAdina Mosque, the subcontinent's largest medieval mosque, and theSixty Dome Mosque, and largecaravansaries such asBara Katra andKatra Masjid. It is home to several outstanding examples of medieval and early modern Hindu temple architecture, particularly theNewa architecture of Nepal and thearchitecture of Bengal.

Eastern South Asia is a cradle of South Asian civilisation. Historical states in the region include those recorded in Indian epics such as theMahabharata, including ancient Nepal,Vanga, andPundra; theGreek andRoman recorded kingdom ofGangaridai;^[5] major Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms includingKikata,Videha,Vṛji,Magadha,Nanda,Mauryan,Anga,Kalinga,Kamarupa,Samatata,Kanva,Gupta,Pala,Gauda,Sena,Khadga,Candra,Deva,Tripura, andCooch Behar State. Major Islamic empires in the region included theDelhi andBengal Sultanates, and theSuri andMughal Empires (including the important province ofMughal Bengal). Aconfederation of Muslim and Hindu aristocrats called theBaro-Bhuyan existed in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

TheBengal Presidency was established in the 18th century by theBritish Empire, with its headquarters inFort William, in coastal southwestern Bengal. The British made Bengal the center of their Indian empire, during which Bengal became synonymous with India.^[6] Until the mid-19th century, the Bengal Presidency's jurisdiction covered British-controlled territories innorth India, northeast India, and Southeast Asia.

TheGovernor of Bengal was concurrently theGovernor General of India for many years. Fort William's surroundings grew into the port city ofCalcutta, which was thecapital of India until 1911. After theBritish Indian Empire was established in 1858 following theIndian Rebellion of 1857, theBengal Renaissance flourished in Calcutta and other Bengali urban centers. TheIndian independence movement, including parts of themovement which created Pakistan, had its origins in the Bengal Presidency. The Parliament of Bengal, including theBengal Legislative Council and theBengal Legislative Assembly, was the oldest and largest in British India.

The Bengal Presidency had the highest gross domestic product in British India.^[7]

Citing administrative improvement and affirmative action forBengali Muslims and non-Bengali communities incolonial Assam, the British government enacted thefirst partition of Bengal in 1905. The new province ofEastern Bengal and Assam, with its ownLegislative Council, saw more investments in education and infrastructure. The province was a center of the petroleum, tea, and jute industries. Its capital wasDacca, with a summer capital atShillong. The summer capital enjoyed the highest per capita income in British India.^[7] TheAll India Muslim League was formed in Dacca to safeguard the interests ofBritish Indian Muslims. But the first partition sparked strong protests from elites in Calcutta and sections of the landedgentry, particularlyBengali Hindus. The protests caused a pan-Indian political crisis. In 1912, East Bengal was reunited with West Bengal asBengal Province while Assam was separated asAssam Province.

The first partition left a strong legacy. Decades later in the 1940s, when Hindu–Muslim relations deteriorated, the British government again partitioned Bengal intoEast Bengal andWest Bengal as part of thePartition of British India. East Bengal was made part of the Muslim-majorityDominion of Pakistan and West Bengal a part of the Hindu-majorityDominion of India. East Bengal was later renamedEast Pakistan in 1955.

In 1971, East Pakistan seceded in theBangladesh Liberation War, which established thePeople's Republic of Bangladesh. Theconstitution of Bangladesh established a multiparty parliamentary democracy in 1972. The country endured severalmilitary coups in the late 1970s and 1980s.Islam is thestate religion of Bangladesh. In the Indian state of West Bengal, theCommunist Party of India governed for three decades.

The Eastern Himalayas has been home to three independent kingdoms since the 17th century, including theKingdom of Bhutan, theKingdom of Sikkim, and theKingdom of Nepal. The Himalayan kingdoms served asbuffer states betweenImperial China and India. In the 19th century, Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan becameprotectorates ofBritish India. TheAnglo-Nepal Treaty of 1923 recognised Nepal's sovereignty. The treaty was recorded in theLeague of Nations. Bhutan's relations with British India were managed under theTreaty of Punakha of 1910. Sikkim's relations with British India were managed under theTreaty of Titalia of 1817 and theTreaty of Tumlong of 1861.

After India became independent, it signed atreaty with Bhutan in 1949, and, in 1950, atreaty with Nepal and a treaty with Sikkim.^[8] TheAnnexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China, particularly after the1959 Tibetan uprising, caused an exodus of Tibetan refugees into Northern and Eastern South Asia, including into Nepal and Bhutan.

Refugees included the spiritual Tibetan head of state, theDalai Lama, who established theTibetan government in exile in India. TheCIA Tibetan program in Nepal trained Tibetan refugees for guerrilla war against the PRC. Following the Tibetan crisis, India and the PRC engaged in a briefborder war in 1962 over the disputedMcMahon Line andAksai Chin areas. In 1975, theIndian annexation of Sikkim was strongly opposed by China.^[9]

Nepal's first period of parliamentary democracy lasted from 1950 to 1960. TheKing of Nepal imposed thepanchayat system in the 1960s and 1970s. A mass uprising pressured theKing of Nepal to restore democracy in 1990. TheNepalese Civil War began in 1992.

Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971. Bhutan was the first country to recognise the independence of Bangladesh.

Colonial Assam was reorganised by theIndian government into theSeven Sister States of northeast India, includingArunachal Pradesh,Assam,Manipur,Meghalaya,Mizoram,Nagaland, andTripura.Insurgency in Northeast India has been a security challenge for the Indian government. Since 1958, theArmed Forces Special Powers Act has been imposed in the region. The law has been described as perpetuating indirectmilitary rule. There have been many allegations ofhuman rights abuses in northeast India.

In 2003, China acknowledged Sikkim as a part of India while India recognised Tibet as part of China.^[10][11] The Dalai Lama has often asserted that Tibet should be given meaningful autonomy within China, not independence.^[12] In 2005, the King of Nepal imposed direct rule, which led to the monarchy's overthrow, the end of the civil war, and the creation of theFederal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008. Bhutan held its first general election in 2008.

In 2011, India granted duty-free access to most Bangladeshi products.^[13] In 2012, India affirmed in principle to allow Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal to transit its territory for trade movement.^[14][15][16] In 2014, Bangladesh and India resolved their maritime boundary dispute at a UN tribunal.^[17]

In 2015, India and Bangladesh signed a land boundary agreement to resolve border disputes.^[18] In 2014Bangladesh and Bhutan signed a trade agreement in which Bhutan gained duty-free access for 90 products in the Bangladeshi market. Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan signed a regional motor vehicle agreement in 2015.^[19]

The four countries have agreed to develophydropower in the Himalayas. Bhutan and India have developed two hydropower projects, as of 2017.

Nepal has been a key participant in the ChineseOne Belt, One Road initiative, which seeks to revive the historical Silk Road between South Asia and Tibet.^[20][21]

The rapid development of theChinese economy has caused increased trade and economic activity between China and Eastern South Asia. China is the largest trading partner of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal while Hong Kong is one of Bhutan's chief trading partners. TheIndian economy has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies although its eastern and northeastern states have had lower economic growth than northern, western, or southern India. According to theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF), theBangladeshi economy was the world's second-fastest-growing major economy in 2016, but the country faces challenges of political instability and infrastructure shortages.

The2017 China India border standoff developed on theDoklam plateau, located on the tri-nation border between Bhutan, Indian Sikkim, and Chinese Tibet.

The geography of Bangladesh is varied and has an area characterised by three distinct features: a broad deltaic plain subject to frequent flooding, elevated forested plateaus, and a small hilly region crossed by swiftly flowing rivers. The country has an area of 147,610 square kilometres (56,990 sq mi) and extends 820 kilometres (510 mi) north to south and 600 kilometres (370 mi) east to west. Bangladesh is bordered on the west, north, and east by a 4,095-kilometre (2,545 mi) land frontier with India and, in the southeast, by a short land and water frontier (193 kilometres (120 mi) with Burma (Myanmar). On the south is a highly irregular deltaic coastline of about 580 kilometres (360 mi), containing many parallel rivers and streams flowing into the Bay of Bengal. The territorial waters of Bangladesh extend 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi), and the exclusive economic zone of the country is 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi). Bangladesh has atropical monsoon climate.

TheSundarbans in Bangladesh, which is shared with India, is aUNESCO World Heritage Site.Cox's Bazar Beach is one of the world's longest beaches.

Bhutan is roughly the size of Switzerland. It is located on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas, landlocked between the Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh to the west and south. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. Elevation rises from 200 metres (660 ft) in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). The highest peak in Bhutan isGangkhar Puensum at 7,570 metres (24,840 ft).

The climate in Bhutan varies with elevation, from subtropical in the south to temperate in central areas and alpine in the north, with year-round snow in the north. Western Bhutan has the heavier monsoon rains; southern Bhutan has hot humid summers and cool winters.

The bulk of the East India region lies on theIndo-Gangetic plain, with a coastline on the Bay of Bengal. It includes the states ofWest Bengal,Bihar,Jharkhand, andOdisha. The region is bounded byNepal,Sikkim, andBhutan in the north,Bangladesh in the east, the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on the west, and the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in the south. It is connected to the Seven Sister States of Northeast India by the narrowSiliguri Corridor. West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north, to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The region lies in thehumid-subtropical zone.

Thelandlocked region of Northeast India includes the states ofAssam,Arunachal Pradesh,Mizoram,Manipur,Meghalaya,Nagaland,Sikkim, andTripura. It has land borders with China, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The region is usually categorised into theEastern Himalaya and theBrahmaputra and theBarak Valley plains. Northeast India has a predominantly humidsub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons, and mild winters. The region is covered by the mighty Brahmaputra–Barak River systems and their tributaries. Geographically, apart from the Brahmaputra, Barak, and Imphal valleys and some flat lands in between the hills of Meghalaya and Tripura, the remaining two-thirds of the area is hilly terrain interspersed with valleys and plains; the altitude varies from almost sea level to over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) abovemean sea level. The region's high rainfall, averaging around 10,000 millimetres (390 in) and above, creates problems of ecosystem, high seismic activity, and floods. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have a montane climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers.

Nepal is the world's93rd largest country. Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: mountain, hill, and southern lowland plains (theTerai). These ecological belts run east–west and are vertically intersected by Nepal's major, north to south-flowing river system. The southern lowland plains bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The Hill Region (Pahad) abuts the mountains and varies from 800 to 4,000 metres (2,600 to 13,100 ft) in altitude with progression from subtropical climates below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) to alpine climates above 3,600 metres (11,800 ft). The Lower Himalayan Range reaching 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft) is the southern limit of this region, with subtropical river valleys and "hills" alternating to the north of this range. The Mountain Region (Himal), situated in the Great Himalayan Range, makes up the northern part of Nepal. It contains the highest elevations in the world, includingeight of the ten highest mountains.

The climate of Nepal includessubtropical,temperate,subalpine andalpine zones.

Bangladesh is the world'seighth most populous country, with a population of more than160 million.Bengalis are the largest ethnic group, withBengali Muslim a majority, followed byBengali Hindus,Bengali Buddhists, andBengali Christians. The country has a significantUrdu-speaking minority and numerous minorityindigenous ethnic groups. TheBengali language is theofficial language.Dhaka,Chittagong,Khulna,Sylhet, andRajshahi are among the country's largest cities and towns. Bangladesh'slife expectancy is ranked third in South Asia.

Bhutan has the second-smallest population in South Asia after theMaldives. Bhutan's three main ethnic groups are theNgalop,Sharchop, andLhotshampa. The state religion isBuddhism. The official language isDzongkha. Bhutan has a significant Nepali-speaking minority.Thimphu andPhuntsholing are the largest cities.

With an estimated population of 226 million,East India has a multi-lingual and multi-ethnicIndo-Aryan population.Kolkata,Patna,Asansol,Durgapur,Bhubaneshwar,Siliguri andDarjeeling are among the area's largest cities.Northeast India has a population of 45 million. It has a multi-ethnicTibeto-Burman andAustric population, except in Bengali-majority Tripura.Guwahati,Agartala,Shillong,Imphal,Aizawl, andGangtok are the major towns and cities.Hindi and English are the federal official languages of India while most states also have their own official language.

Nepal has a population of 25 million, which is the world's41st largest. Nepal is a multiethnic Himalayan nation withNepali as the official language.

Listed as one of theNext Eleven, theeconomy of Bangladesh ranks39th in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and29th in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). In the fiscal year 2018–2019, Bangladesh registered exports worth US$40.53 billion and imports worth US$55.44 billion. Its major trading partners include the European Union, the United States, China, India, Japan, Australia,Malaysia, and Singapore. ThePort of Chittagong is Bangladesh's busiest port, as well as the busiest in Eastern South Asia. Bangladesh's chief export istextiles. It is the world's second-largest textile exporter after China.^[30] It is largely self-sufficient inpharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, steel rods, ceramics, glass,food, and numerous other sectors. Bangladesh has significant natural gas, limestone, and coal reserves. Thejute trade has been historically important. Bangladesh's financial sector is one of the largest in South Asia along with those of India and Pakistan. TheDhaka Stock Exchange andChittagong Stock Exchange are its principal capital markets.

Bangladesh has the second-largestforeign exchange reserves in South Asia. Itscredit rating is also the second-best in the region after India.

TheNepal Bangladesh Bank was set up by Bangladesh'sIFIC Bank in neighbouring Nepal.

Theeconomy of Bhutan is notable for itshydropower,ferroalloys, apples,red rice, construction materials, andtourism sectors. Bhutan's main trading partners are India, Bangladesh,Thailand,Hong Kong,Japan andSouth Korea.Phuntsholing is Bhutan's financial center. TheRoyal Securities Exchange of Bhutan is the main stock exchange. TheBank of Bhutan and the Bhutan National Bank are the largest financial institutions. The SAARC Development Fund is based inThimphu.

Bhutan ranks first ineconomic freedom andease of doing business, is second in per capita income, and is theleast corrupt country in South Asia.

East India'sJharkhand andOdisha states have rich mineral deposits. East India is also notable forDarjeeling tea. Northeast India has one of the world's oldestpetroleum andtea industries. Tourism is also important for the region's economy. Kolkata is the principal financial center of eastern and northeastern India, being home to theCalcutta Stock Exchange. ThePort of Kolkata is the region's principal gateway and is also used by Nepal and Bhutan. Theport of Haldia is a hub of heavy industry. TheGuwahati Tea Auction Centre is important for the region's tea industry.Jute is a major crop, as in neighbouring Bangladesh.

A cross-border conveyor belt carries limestone from mines inMeghalaya, India, toSylhet Division, Bangladesh, to supply aLafarge cement plant.^[31]

While Kathmandu is Nepal's main commercial center, most of the country's industries are located along the southern border with India. Theeconomy of Nepal relies heavily ontourism,agriculture, food processing, metal production,remittances, carpet making, and textile manufacturing. Nepal's principal trading partners are India, the United States, and China.Binod Chaudhary is Nepal's soleForbes-listed billionaire.^[32]

Thetaka introduced by Muslims is the historical currency ofBengal, Nepal, and Tibet.Arab andPersian traders frequented the region for centuries. One branch of the ancientSilk Road ran between Tibet, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bengal. TheLhasa Newar merchants were active on the trade route until the Chinese takeover of Tibet in the 1950s. TheKathmandu Valley's early prosperity was due to these merchants. Another branch of the Silk Road connected Bengal with China through Burma andYunnan. This route is also known as theTea Horse Road. TheGrand Trunk Road has its eastern terminus in Bengal. The seaports of Bengal were part ofIndian Ocean trade networks with Africa and East Asia. In the 15th century, the Sultan of Bengal shipped a giraffe from Somalia and sent it to China as a gift for the Ming emperor. In the 17th century, Mughal Bengal generated 50% of India's GDP due to its worldwidemuslin and silk exports. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish trading posts in the region. By the 18th century, Bengal attracted Dutch, French, Armenian, Danish, Greek, and British traders.

Bangladesh is aunitary state and aparliamentary republic. TheJatiyo Sangshad is its unicameral legislature. ThePresident of Bangladesh is the ceremonial head of state, and thePrime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government. Thelegal system of Bangladesh is based onEnglish common law and Muslim, Hindu, and Christian personalreligious laws. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has wide powers forjudicial review.Fundamental rights are enshrined in the country's constitution, but thehuman rights situation faces challenges. Bangladesh ranks first ingender equality in South Asia.^[33]

Bhutan is aconstitutional monarchy headed by theKing of Bhutan. Bhutan is aparliamentary democracy, with an electedbicamerallegislature. ThePrime Minister of Bhutan is the head of government. The legal system of Bhutan is a mixture of the semi-theocraticTsa Yig code and English common law influences. Capital punishment was abolished in Bhutan in 2004.

India is afederalparliamentary republic. While the Indian federal government is headed by the ceremonialPresident of India and executivePrime Minister of India, thestates of India are headed by a ceremonial governor and executivechief minister. Indian legislatures include the bicameral national parliament and numerous unicameral and bicameral state legislatures. The federal government can imposePresident's rule in the states. Indian states are not permitted to develop relations with foreign countries, including neighbouring countries within Eastern South Asia unless it is strictly overseen by the heavily bureaucratic federal government. TheIndian legal system is a mixture of English common law, civil law, custom laws, and religious laws. The Supreme Court of India has a notable history ofjudicial activism.Fundamental rights are enshrined in India'sconstitution.

Despite India's democratic framework, much of northeast India is under theArmed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which has been described as "draconian".^[34][35][36]Human rights abuses in Manipur have been a challenge.^[37]

Nepal is afederal republic. ThePresident of Nepal is the head of state. ThePrime Minister of Nepal's role as head of government has been in place for over a century. Nepal has a bicameral parliament. The country continues to transition from a monarchy to a republic. Nepal's legal system is historically based onHindu law but has incorporated influences from English law and other legal systems since modernisation began in the country in the 1950s.^[38] Nepal has seen secularisation since the republic was proclaimed in 2008. Capital punishment has been abolished. Nepal ranked 63rd on the 2016 Rule of Law Index compiled by theWorld Justice Project, which was higher than India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.^[39]

TheBangladesh Armed Forces are the third-largest in South Asia and include theBangladesh Army,Bangladesh Navy, andBangladesh Air Force. Bangladesh is a leading contributor ofUN peacekeeping forces. Bangladesh's main defence partners are the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China. Bangladesh's military was responsible for severalcoups in the 1970s and 1980s.

TheRoyal Bhutan Army is Bhutan's principal defence force. It has an extensive partnership with the armed forces of neighbouring India that includes training and logistics. The Royal Bhutan Army is responsible for monitoring Bhutan's disputed northern border with China.

TheIndian Eastern Command is responsible for the country's security interests in the Eastern South Asia region.

TheIndian Armed Forces is the world's third-largest military force. It includes theIndian Army,Indian Navy, andIndian Air Force. The Indian military is the foremost regional military in South Asia. India is a declarednuclear weapons state. India's main defence suppliers include Russia, the United States, and Israel.

TheNepal Army is responsible for landlocked Nepal's national security. It includes theNepalese Army Air Service. Nepal's military has historically enjoyed a close association with theBritish armed forces due to the recruitment ofGurkhas. Nepal is a consistent contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.

In 2015, theBBIN countries signed an agreement to allow their vehicles (carrying both cargo and passengers) to travel between the countries with an electronic permit. Once implemented, the agreement is expected to replace transshipment costs with cheaper direct transit. However, its implementation has been forestalled by the failure of Bhutan'supper house to ratify the agreement, even though Bangladesh, India and Nepal have ratified. Bhutanese opponents argue that allowing foreign vehicles within the country would pollute its natural environment. In 2018, it was reported that Bangladesh, India and Nepal could move forward with implementation without Bhutan.^[40]

Prior to thepartition of British India, a regime of freedom of trade and transport existed in the region, including free ports in Calcutta,Narayanganj and Chittagong. TheEastern Bengal Railway andAssam Bengal Railway were vital transport arteries. Cross border transport continued after partition of Bengal in 1947. In 1963, an agreement between Nepal and Pakistan allowed free trade and transit through the port of Chittagong inEast Pakistan.^[41] However, cross border railway, bus and water transport became indefinitely suspended after theIndo-Pakistan War of 1965.^[42] After the independence of East Pakistan, Nepal signed a Transit Agreement with Bangladesh in 1976, even though cross border transport through India remained suspended since 1965.^[43]

In 2010, a Joint Declaration by the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India pledged to establish a transit regime for landlockedNortheast India, Nepal and Bhutan through Bangladeshi territory.^[44] The proposed transit is focused on international seaports inChittagong andMongla, as well as theBangladesh Railway andinland waterways. In 2016, the prime ministers of Nepal and India agreed in principle on the prospect of freedom of transit.^[45] In 2017, a joint statement by the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Bhutan also affirmed the principle of freedom of transit.^[46]

In 2016, the first Indian ship made transit through Bangladesh while travelling between West Bengal and Tripura.^[47] ThePort of Ashuganj was officially declared a port of call.^[48]

In 2017, theWorld Bank announced a US$150 million financing agreement for improving infrastructure to develop a transit regime.^[49]

TheInternational Road Transport Union has called for a singular customs system in the region.^[50]

Northeast Indian states import internetbandwidth by using the Bangladeshisubmarine cable in the Bay of Bengal.^[51] Bangladesh also plans to export internet bandwidth to Bhutan.^[52] Nepal imports internet bandwidth from both India and China.^[53]

Bhutan exports electricity to India from four majorhydroelectric facilities.^[54] Bhutan, Nepal and India plan to export electricity to Bangladesh.^[55][56][57]

India enjoys a visa free travel regime with Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh enjoys a visa free regime with Bhutan and its citizens get a visa on arrival in Nepal. However, visa requirements still exist between India and Bangladesh and between Nepal and Bhutan.

There are numerous transboundary rivers in the region, which has been a cause of water sharing disputes. Bangladesh and India share 54 transboundary rivers, but they do not have a comprehensive river management treaty.^[58] There has also been criticism of India's existing water sharing and hydropower agreements with Nepal and Bhutan.^[59][60] Bangladesh and India are also concerned by Chinese efforts to dam theBrahmaputra River.^[61]

• Countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal
• Northern South Asia

• South Asia
• Regions of South Asia
• Geography of India
• Geography of Bangladesh
• Geography of Nepal
• Geography of Bhutan

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