ABSTRACT
The concept of a distinct multinational Himalayan region comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, north-east India and north-west Burma has been gaining currency lately. Geographical contiguity of the countries in the region, its ethnic mix and purportedly shared cultural heritage, economic complementarity and foreign policy desiderata prompted the World Bank to propose formation of a transnational ‘growth triangle’ for the area. Irrespective of the validity or otherwise of the underlying assumptions behind such a formulation, the objective conditions in the region may pose serious obstacles to effective co-operation among the constituent countries.
