What Happened
- BNP Chairperson's foreign affairs adviser stated that "national interest" will guide the party's approach to the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty, which is due to expire before December 2026.
- The adviser urged India to "make a clean break from the past" and recognize that the Awami League does not exist as a political force in Bangladesh any longer.
- The BNP leadership expressed concern about communal violence in India and communal rhetoric in Indian elections, framing it as an issue that affects Bangladesh's minority communities and bilateral trust.
- The BNP seeks a "fair and balanced" renewal of the treaty, signaling dissatisfaction with the existing 1996 arrangement that many in Bangladesh view as skewed toward Indian interests.
- Technical teams from both countries were expected to meet within two years regarding renewal, but those meetings reportedly did not take place.
Static Topic Bridges
Ganga Water Treaty (1996) -- Provisions and Controversy
The Treaty on Sharing of the Ganga Waters at Farakka was signed on December 12, 1996 by Indian PM H.D. Deve Gowda and Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina. It is a 30-year agreement governing the sharing of dry-season flow (January-May) of the Ganges at the Farakka Barrage, located in West Bengal, approximately 18 km from the Bangladesh border.
- Duration: 30 years (1996-2026), set to expire before December 2026
- Sharing formula (dry season, January-May, in 10-day periods):
- Flow at or below 70,000 cusecs: 50:50 split between India and Bangladesh
- Flow between 70,000-75,000 cusecs: Bangladesh gets 35,000 cusecs, India gets the rest
- Flow above 75,000 cusecs: India can withdraw up to 40,000 cusecs, Bangladesh gets the rest
- Guaranteed minimum: Each country receives 35,000 cusecs in alternate 10-day periods during the critical March 11 to May 10 period
- Bangladesh complaint: Studies show Bangladesh did not receive its treaty-mandated share during most dry seasons from 1997 to 2016
- Impact: Affects an estimated 630 million people who depend on the Ganges basin
Connection to this news: The BNP's insistence on "national interest" guiding renewal signals a harder negotiating stance than the Awami League, which signed the original treaty. Bangladesh is likely to demand enforcement mechanisms, climate-adaptive provisions, and a more equitable sharing formula.
Farakka Barrage -- Origin of the Transboundary Water Dispute
The Farakka Barrage is a dam on the Ganges in West Bengal, constructed by India between 1962 and 1975. Its primary purpose was to divert water into the Hooghly River (a distributary of the Ganges) to flush silt from the Kolkata port and maintain its navigability. The barrage's commissioning in 1975 sharply reduced dry-season water flow into Bangladesh, triggering the long-standing transboundary dispute.
- Location: Murshidabad district, West Bengal; ~18 km upstream of the Bangladesh border
- Commissioned: 1975 (construction began 1962)
- Purpose: Divert Ganges water into the Hooghly River to maintain Kolkata port navigability
- Capacity: 2.5 million cusecs; diverts water via a 38.38 km feeder canal
- Pre-treaty arrangements: Short-term agreements in 1977 (5 years) and 1982 (MoU for 2 years) preceded the 1996 treaty
- International dimension: Bangladesh raised the issue at the UN General Assembly in 1976; led to establishment of the Joint Rivers Commission
Connection to this news: The Farakka Barrage remains the physical and political fulcrum of the India-Bangladesh water dispute. Any treaty renewal will revolve around the quantum of water diverted at Farakka and the adequacy of flows reaching Bangladesh, particularly during droughts exacerbated by climate change.
Teesta Water Dispute -- The Unresolved Parallel Issue
The Teesta River dispute is a separate but related transboundary water issue between India and Bangladesh. Unlike the Ganga treaty, no formal agreement exists on the Teesta, despite decades of negotiations. The dispute has become intertwined with domestic politics in India, particularly the role of West Bengal.
- River: Teesta (315 km); originates in Sikkim, flows through West Bengal into Bangladesh
- Catchment: 83% in India, 17% in Bangladesh
- 1983 ad hoc arrangement: India 39%, Bangladesh 36%, 25% unallocated
- 2011 draft agreement: India to get 42.5%, Bangladesh 37.5%; collapsed when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee objected
- Constitutional issue: Water is a State subject under the Indian Constitution (Entry 17, State List); any treaty requires state government consent
- Strategic significance: Bangladesh views progress on Teesta as a litmus test of India's good faith in bilateral water cooperation
Connection to this news: The BNP government's stance on the Ganga treaty is likely influenced by frustration over the unresolved Teesta issue. A comprehensive water-sharing framework addressing both rivers would strengthen the reset of India-Bangladesh ties.
Transboundary Water Governance -- International Principles
International law on shared watercourses is governed by several frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997) and the Helsinki Rules (1966). These establish principles of equitable and reasonable use, the obligation not to cause significant harm, and prior notification for planned measures.
- UN Watercourses Convention (1997): Adopted by UNGA; entered into force 2014; 38 parties; India has NOT ratified
- Helsinki Rules (1966): Non-binding; developed by the International Law Association; introduced "equitable utilization" principle
- Key principles: Equitable and reasonable utilization; obligation not to cause significant harm to other riparian states; duty to cooperate and share data
- India's position: Generally favors bilateral negotiation over multilateral frameworks; has not signed the UN Watercourses Convention
- Harmon Doctrine (rejected): Absolute territorial sovereignty -- the idea that a state can use water within its territory without restriction -- is no longer accepted in international law
Connection to this news: Bangladesh may invoke international principles of equitable utilization to strengthen its negotiating position on the Ganga treaty renewal, while India is likely to continue preferring a bilateral approach, emphasizing existing institutional mechanisms like the Joint Rivers Commission.
Key Facts & Data
- Ganga Water Treaty: Signed December 12, 1996; expires before December 2026 (30-year term)
- Farakka Barrage: Commissioned 1975, Murshidabad, West Bengal; 18 km from Bangladesh border
- Dry season sharing: 50:50 at or below 70,000 cusecs; guaranteed 35,000 cusecs each in alternate periods (March 11-May 10)
- Ganges basin population: ~630 million people
- Teesta catchment: 83% in India, 17% in Bangladesh; no formal treaty exists
- 2011 Teesta draft: India 42.5%, Bangladesh 37.5%; blocked by West Bengal
- Joint Rivers Commission: Established 1972 under the Indo-Bangla Treaty of Friendship
- UN Watercourses Convention (1997): India has NOT ratified; 38 state parties
- Bangladesh election: BNP won 209 of 300 seats (February 2026)