Teesta River Dispute
India-Bangladesh Water Diplomacy
The Teesta River originates in Sikkim, flows through West Bengal, and enters Bangladesh in the Rangpur division. An ad-referendum agreement was reached in 2011 to share Teesta waters (India 42.5%, Bangladesh 37.5%), but was blocked by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who objected to the allocation. The dispute remains unresolved and is a major irritant in bilateral relations.
- India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers; formal agreements exist for only the Ganges (1996 treaty, expiring 2026) and the Kushiyara (2022 MoU)
- The Teesta provides nearly 14% of Bangladesh's total river flow
- During the Yunus interim government, China offered to finance a $1 billion Teesta River comprehensive management and restoration project
- India views China's entry into Teesta water management as a strategic encroachment in its sphere of influence
- The Joint Rivers Commission (India-Bangladesh) was established in 1972 to address shared water resources
● Tracked since February 17, 2026 · last seen July 03, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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