India yet to respond as Bangladesh seeks Ganges water treaty renewal
Representational image. File.
The 30-year Ganges Water Shring Treaty between India and Bangladesh has become a new focal point in their diplomatic relations. The treaty is set to expire in December of this year. Ahead of this, Bangladesh has formally requested to sit for discussions on renewing the agreement. However, India has yet to respond to that proposal.
According to sources, Dhaka sent a request to New Delhi on June 8 to initiate talks on treaty renewal. Additionally, Bangladesh has formed an internal committee of experts to prepare for discussions on sharing the waters of transboundary rivers.
Indian government sources claim that discussions on treaty renewal will be held through the established Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) of the two countries. The meeting date will be finalized once a mutually convenient time is determined for both parties.
There are a total of 54 transboundary rivers between India and Bangladesh. On December 12, 1996, the then Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and the then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. The 30-year treaty is set to expire in December 2026.
According to the treaty, water is shared between the two countries from January 1 to May 31 each year based on the flow at the Farakka Barrage. The sharing formula was determined based on water flow data from 1949 to 1988.
When the water flow at Farakka drops below 70,000 cusecs, both countries receive nearly equal shares. If the flow exceeds 75,000 cusecs, India retains about 40,000 cusecs and releases the remainder to Bangladesh. However, during the specific period from March 11 to May 10, both countries are guaranteed to receive 35,000 cusecs of water alternately.
While questions arise over the treaty's future, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing on June 2 that India and Bangladesh have an established bilateral framework like the Joint Rivers Commission for river-related matters. All issues concerning water and transboundary rivers will be discussed through that institutional mechanism.
Meanwhile, India-Bangladesh relations have been under strain for nearly two years due to various reasons. Following the elections in February this year, after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government assumed office, efforts were seen to normalize relations, but progress has yet to be made on several key issues.
In May, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman visited New Delhi. However, important matters such as the renewal of the Ganges Treaty, the resumption of consular dialogue, and illegal immigration remain unresolved.
In the meantime, India has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his capacity as BIMSTEC Chair, to visit New Delhi during the BRICS Summit in September. However, his visit has not yet been officially confirmed. According to diplomatic circles, if the visit materializes, significant progress could also be made regarding the future of the Ganges Treaty.
