The confluence of the Rangeet and Teesta rivers at Teesta Bazaar in Darjeeling, with the Teesta flowing on the right. (Photo: ORF)
The Water Resources Minister of Bangladesh, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Tuesday addressed the issue of water distribution between India and Bangladesh. According to news agency PTI the minister said that Bangladesh does not want its friendly ties with India to deteriorate over the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement”.
The minister also urged that New Delhi should take Dhaka’s interests into consideration while pursuing its own. In his statement Anee said, “The neighbouring country is a friendly country. They have to think that while they have their interests, we also have ours.” while quoting a news portal tbsnews.net from Bangladesh. He also said, “A friend should protect the interests of a friend. We never want our friendly relations with them to deteriorate”. What triggered the remarks?
Anee’s remarks on Sunday come amid a renewed push by Bangladesh to address the Teesta issue. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has also initiated the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project with China’s support, as Dhaka seeks to tackle recurring floods, river erosion and dry-season water shortages in the country’s northern districts.
A fisherman in Mekhligunj, West Bengal, stands on the dry bed of the Teesta River holding a net designed for use in shallow waters. (Photo: ORF, 2016)
What is India-Bangladesh Teesta river issue? The Teesta issue has remained a major contention in India-Bangladesh water cooperation for decades. The Teesta originates in the Himalayas and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it eventually joins the Jamuna, the Bangladeshi name for the Brahmaputra.
While the river is particularly important for agriculture and livelihoods in northern Bangladesh, it is vital for irrigation and power generation in West Bengal. Several hydropower projects are located in the river’s upper catchment areas, and nearly half a dozen districts in North Bengal depend on its waters.
Map is symbolic
What is the current distribution?
India and Bangladesh have discussed sharing the Teesta waters since the 1980s.
An interim arrangement reached in 1983 provided for 39% of the water to India and 36% to Bangladesh, with the remaining 25% unallocated. It was followed by further negotiations, but no comprehensive long-term agreement was reached.
A draft interim agreement was finalized in 2011, which envisaged a sharing formula for the dry season. However, it could not be signed after opposition from the West Bengal government over concerns about the impact on water availability in the state.
The confluence of the Rangeet and Teesta rivers at Teesta Bazaar in Darjeeling, with the Teesta flowing on the right. (Photo: ORF)
When did China intervene?
During his official visit to Beijing in June, Rahman had held high-level talks with Chinese leadership, securing Beijing’s commitment to expedite the technical feasibility study for the contentious Teesta restoration project. Bangladesh’s decision to seek Chinese involvement in the Teesta project has added a strategic dimension to the issue.
Why is it significant for India? For India, the prospect of a deeper Chinese footprint in northern Bangladesh is more sensitive because of the region s proximity to the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow land link connecting the country s northeastern states with the rest of India.
India has maintained that the Teesta issue needs to be addressed through discussions with all relevant stakeholders, including West Bengal. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in July said that India’s views on the proposed Teesta river project had already been conveyed to the Bangladeshi side. He said India would factor in “all related developments” in its “overall approach to the Teesta issue”.
The Teesta issue is separate from the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed by India and Bangladesh in 1996 for 30 years and due to expire in December 2026. The two countries share 54 transboundary rivers and address water-related issues through the Joint Rivers Commission.
