Bangladesh is seeking a new or revised Ganges water-sharing treaty with India before the existing 30-year agreement expires on 12 December 2026, with Dhaka calling for an explicit guarantee of its share of the river’s water. Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annee has advocated provisions similar to the guarantee clause in the 1977 agreement, which was absent from the 1996 treaty. Dhaka has emphasised dialogue and diplomatic engagement to address the issue, while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has stated that negotiations should protect Bangladesh’s national interests while remaining acceptable to India and consistent with international water-sharing law. Bangladesh has also sought meetings between the two countries’ joint river and water commissions to facilitate negotiations. Although India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers, the Ganges is the only one governed by a dedicated 30-year water-sharing treaty. The impending expiry presents an opportunity for both countries to negotiate a mutually acceptable framework that addresses water allocation guarantees, strengthens institutional cooperation and supports equitable and sustainable management of shared river resources.
Source: ETPrime