Consider Teesta water sharing deal under ‘current circumstances’: Bangladesh FM post BJP’s Bengal win
Following a change of government in West Bengal, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister publicly signalled that Dhaka cannot indefinitely await an India-Bangladesh Teesta water-sharing agreement.
Bangladesh's FM stated that the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project would be a central agenda item during an upcoming Beijing visit, positioning China as "an extremely important friend."
Dhaka emphasized it has its "own work to do" — indicating willingness to advance the China-backed river restoration project independently of any bilateral deal with India.
The West Bengal government change removes the state-level veto that had long blocked a Teesta agreement, yet Bangladesh is no longer certain India will translate this into a signed deal quickly.
India's position was further complicated by the Ganges Water Treaty of 1996, which is due to expire in late 2026 and whose renewal remains uncertain.
Teesta River: Geography and Basin States
The Teesta River originates from the Teesta Khangtse Glacier in the eastern Himalayas at an altitude above 5,400 metres. It flows for approximately 414 km total — roughly 305 km through India (Sikkim and West Bengal) and 109 km through Bangladesh — before joining the Jamuna River at Phulchhari Upazila. The Teesta is the largest river in Sikkim and the second largest in West Bengal.
Key Details
- The basin lies across Sikkim (72.43% of drainage area) and West Bengal (27.57%).
- Total drainage area: approximately 12,540 sq. km across India and Bangladesh.
- In Bangladesh, the river irrigates five northern districts, making it critical for dry-season agriculture.
- The river is fed by Himalayan glaciers and snowmelt, making its flow highly seasonal.
Bangladesh's dry-season agriculture depends on Teesta flows from December to May, a period when India's upstream usage — dominated by the Teesta Barrage at Gajoldoba in West Bengal — sharply reduces downstream volume. This seasonal shortage is the core of the dispute.
Water as a State Subject: India's Federal Constraint
Under Entry 17 of the State List (Schedule VII) of the Indian Constitution, water — including water supplies, irrigation, canals, drainage, and embankments — is a state subject. This means the Union government cannot unilaterally sign international agreements that alter a state's water allocation without the concerned state's consent in practice.
Key Details
- The constitutional position has meant West Bengal's approval has historically been necessary for any Teesta deal.
- In 2011, a draft interim agreement was ready to be signed during a bilateral summit but was withdrawn at the last moment due to objections from the West Bengal Chief Minister.
- The 1983 temporary arrangement gave Bangladesh 36% and India 39% of dry-season flows, with no formal treaty backing.
- Bangladesh sought 50% of flows; India's central government had offered 37.5% in the 2011 draft.
The political change in West Bengal now removes the most prominent state-level block. However, Bangladesh is signalling it will not wait indefinitely for New Delhi to translate this opportunity into a signed agreement.
The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty and Transboundary River Diplomacy
The Ganga Water Treaty (also called the Ganges Water Treaty) was signed in December 1996 for a 30-year term, governing the sharing of Ganga/Ganges flows at Farakka Barrage during the lean (dry) season. It is a landmark of bilateral water diplomacy between India and Bangladesh.
Key Details
- Treaty is set to expire in late 2026, adding urgency to the broader transboundary water negotiations.
- India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers; only the Ganga has a formal water-sharing treaty.
- The Teesta dispute has long been cited as a test case for whether India can manage multi-river basin agreements with downstream neighbours.
- India reportedly floated revised terms for the Ganga treaty renewal that would offer Bangladesh a reduced share, citing climate-driven flow changes.
With the Ganga Treaty expiring in 2026 and Teesta talks stalled for over a decade, Bangladesh is diversifying its options rather than relying on India as the sole development partner for its northern river basin.
China's Teesta River Project: Strategic Footprint
China formally entered the Teesta equation in 2019 when Bangladesh and PowerChina signed an agreement for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. China offered a $987 million loan in 2020 for a project that includes a 102-km embankment from the Teesta Barrage to Chilmari in Rangpur.
Key Details
- The project addresses irrigation, flood control, and river restoration in five Bangladesh districts.
- India views Chinese infrastructure projects in Bangladesh — particularly near the Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) — as carrying strategic security implications.
- The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow strip of land (roughly 22 km wide at its narrowest) connecting northeastern India to the rest of the country; the Teesta basin lies in proximity.
- Bangladesh's current caretaker government has maintained the project as a development priority.
Bangladesh's FM visiting Beijing to discuss Teesta while signalling impatience with India represents a concrete diplomatic shift — China is no longer merely a financial alternative but an active partner Dhaka is choosing to engage.
- Teesta River total length: ~414 km; India portion: ~305 km; Bangladesh portion: ~109 km.
- Origin: Teesta Khangtse Glacier, eastern Himalayas, above 5,400 m altitude.
- 1983 temporary arrangement: India 39%, Bangladesh 36% of dry-season flows.
- 2011 draft agreement (unsigned): India offered Bangladesh 37.5% of lean-season flows.
- China's Teesta project loan: $987 million; includes 102-km embankment from Teesta Barrage to Chilmari.
- India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers; only one — the Ganga — has a formal treaty.
- The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty expires in late 2026.
- Water is a state subject under Entry 17, State List, Schedule VII of the Indian Constitution.
- Bangladesh's demand: 50% of Teesta dry-season flows.