The Teesta Treaty: A Political Revival for Bangladesh
The Teesta water sharing treaty, a longstanding issue between India and Bangladesh, has once again come into the spotlight as Bangladesh's new interim government is pushing for the resumption of dialogue with India. The treaty, which has been stuck in limbo for years, centers on the equitable distribution of the waters of the Teesta River, which flows through both countries. As one of the 54 transboundary rivers between the two nations, the Teesta’s waters have become a focal point for diplomacy, negotiations, and even tension.
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| Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Teesta Barrage Bangladesh |
In recent developments, Bangladesh's interim government advisor on water resources, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, has emphasized the need for both upper-riparian and lower-riparian countries to adhere to international water-sharing principles. If a treaty remains elusive, Bangladesh might seek recourse through international forums like the UN, marking a significant shift in India-Bangladesh relations if diplomatic efforts do not succeed. This renewed effort reflects the shifting political landscape in Bangladesh and the ongoing challenges that both nations face regarding water management.
💻 Table of Contents:
- Teesta: A Humanitarian Crisis in Bangladesh
- Background of the Teesta Water Dispute
- Bangladesh's Renewed Push for Dialogue
- Teesta River Project: Navigating New Geopolitical Realities Post-Hasina Era
- Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
- US-Led Indo-Pacific and Bengal Basin Geopolitics
Teesta: A Humanitarian Crisis in Bangladesh
The Teesta River is a highly sensitive issue for both India and Bangladesh. A long-standing water-sharing agreement between the two countries is urgently needed for nearly 250 million people, but geopolitical tensions have prevented it from being implemented. The Teesta originates in India’s Sikkim, flows through West Bengal, and enters Bangladesh through Rangpur before merging with the Brahmaputra River. Over 30 million people depend on the river for their livelihoods, with the majority living in Bangladesh’s Teesta basin.
The reduced water flow in the Teesta River has had a serious impact on food production, particularly winter crops. According to the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Bangladesh loses around 1.5 million tons of Boro rice annually, which accounts for 8.9% of the country’s total rice production. IFPRI also estimates that by 2030, rice production could drop by 8%, and by 2050, it may decrease by 14% due to the ongoing water shortage.
Since 1947, the Teesta River has been a source of conflict because its catchment areas were given to India. In 1972, the India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission was established, and in 1983, a temporary agreement was made to share the Teesta waters, with India receiving 39% and Bangladesh getting 36%. A water-sharing draft was finalized in 2011, with India expected to provide 37.5% of Teesta’s water to Bangladesh during the dry season. However, opposition from the Indian state of West Bengal stalled the agreement, leaving the issue unresolved for over a decade. Despite multiple promises from the Indian government, the situation remains unchanged, further straining bilateral relations.
A long-term solution requires joint water management and development between India and Bangladesh. The Teesta crisis is not just a political issue but a humanitarian one, affecting millions. A peaceful resolution could foster trust and cooperation between the two nations, highlighting the need for urgent international collaboration on water-sharing policies.
Background of the Teesta Water Dispute:
The Teesta River is the fourth largest river in Bangladesh, following the Brahmaputra, Padma, and Meghna. It is the main source of water for surface irrigation in six districts: Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogra, Gaibandha, and Joypurhat. Additionally, the river plays a vital role in the region's economy and ecology, supporting a variety of plants and animals, including several rare species. Currently, there are a total of 47 hydropower projects in Sikkim and West Bengal within the Teesta River basin, which have created obstacles to Bangladesh's legal rights to water access and management.
The Teesta River water conflict arises from differing claims over water sharing between India and Bangladesh. India currently utilizes 55% of the river's water, while Bangladesh asserts its right to 50% of the water flow from December to May each year, a period when the flow significantly decreases.
The Teesta River, which originates in the Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it merges with the Brahmaputra River. Spanning over 414 kilometers, the river plays a crucial role in agriculture and livelihoods, particularly for Bangladesh, where the river's water is vital for irrigation and farming. The dispute centers on the allocation of the river's water between India and Bangladesh, with Bangladesh seeking a larger share than it currently receives.
Negotiations over water sharing have been ongoing since the 1980s, with both countries establishing temporary agreements, but a permanent resolution has remained elusive. The most significant step toward an agreement occurred in 2011, when a draft of the Teesta water-sharing treaty was prepared during the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka. However, the deal was derailed by the opposition of West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, who cited concerns over water scarcity in her state.
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| Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Teesta River from Teesta Bridge |
Bangladesh's Renewed Push for Dialogue:
In recent developments, Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has made it clear that restarting talks with India on the Teesta water-sharing issue is a top priority. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the interim government's advisor on water resources, has been vocal about the need for both countries to adhere to international principles on the equitable distribution of water.
In an interview with PTI (Press Trust of India), Hasan emphasized that both upper-riparian and lower-riparian countries must adhere to international norms and legal entitlements in water-sharing agreements. “We need to restart the process and dialogue regarding the Teesta treaty,” Hasan said, underlining the importance of resolving the issue amicably. She also pointed out that the Ganges water-sharing treaty, signed in 1996, is set to expire in two years, adding urgency to the need for a comprehensive approach to water management between the two countries.
Bangladesh, as the lower riparian country, has long advocated for an equitable share of the Teesta's waters. However, the West Bengal government's opposition, particularly under Mamata Banerjee's leadership, has been a major roadblock. Banerjee has argued that her state faces water shortages and cannot afford to allocate more water to Bangladesh without risking the needs of her own population. This internal political dynamic in India has complicated the negotiations, leaving Bangladesh frustrated by the lack of progress.
Beyond the Teesta water-sharing issue, another pressing concern for both India and Bangladesh is flood management. The two countries are frequently affected by monsoon rains that lead to devastating floods, particularly in low-lying delta regions like Bangladesh. In recent years, these floods have become more severe, driven by changing climate patterns.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan pointed out that joint efforts between India and Bangladesh on early warning mechanisms could help mitigate the impact of floods. Currently, only eight of the 54 transboundary rivers between the two nations are covered by water-sharing agreements, leaving many areas vulnerable to flooding without adequate prior information or coordination. Rizwana Hasan said, stressing the need for better communication and cooperation to prevent the loss of life and property during floods.
Teesta River Project: Navigating New Geopolitical Realities Post-Hasina Era
The Teesta River project in Bangladesh aims to modernize water management and enhance irrigation in the north-western region, which frequently suffers from flooding and drought. However, its progress has been delayed due to India's concerns about security, particularly regarding Chinese involvement in the project. The barrage is a 615-meter-long concrete structure with 44 gates that can handle 12,750 cusecs of water, diverting 280 cusecs for irrigation through a canal on the right bank.
After widespread antigovernmental protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5, 2024, and fled to India. In her place, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has taken over, pledging to address some of the longstanding issues facing the country, including water-sharing agreements with India. India’s involvement in financing the Teesta River Project, once seen as an effort to strengthen bilateral ties, now faces uncertainty as the new government in Bangladesh reassesses its foreign policy. With China already heavily invested in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), the incoming leadership in Dhaka may shift towards a more balanced or even China-leaning approach, complicating India's strategic plans.
The Teesta River, crucial for millions in Bangladesh, has long been a source of contention between the two nations. With India’s proposal to fund the river’s restoration in direct competition with China's Belt and Road Initiative-backed project, the regime change could pivot the future of water diplomacy in South Asia. Bangladesh, grappling with water scarcity, flooding, and food security concerns, may prioritize regional cooperation that maximizes national benefits, regardless of traditional alliances.
This new political dynamic could also open the door to a possible trilateral approach involving India, China, and Bangladesh, where all three nations cooperate to manage the river more effectively. However, given India and China’s long standing rivalry, Dhaka’s diplomatic balancing act between the two powers will be critical in shaping the future of the Teesta River Project and its broader geopolitical implications for South Asia.
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Challenges and Opportunities Ahead:
While the renewed push for dialogue is a positive step, several challenges remain. The most immediate hurdle is the opposition from West Bengal, which has consistently blocked progress on the Teesta treaty. For India, balancing the interests of its own states with its obligations to Bangladesh as a friendly neighbor is a delicate diplomatic task.
Moreover, the complexities of water-sharing agreements between upper-riparian and lower-riparian countries are well-documented. The Teesta issue is not just about the allocation of water; it also involves broader questions of resource management, sovereignty, and international law. Both India and Bangladesh must navigate these complexities carefully to avoid further tensions.
On the other hand, the changing political landscape in Bangladesh presents an opportunity for renewed negotiations. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus and advised by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, appears committed to addressing the issue with a sense of urgency. If both countries can find common ground, the Teesta treaty could serve as a model for resolving other transboundary water disputes in the region.
Bangladesh is dealing with a diplomatic challenge in balancing the interests of India and China regarding the $1 billion Teesta River project. While China offers economic benefits and infrastructure development, India is concerned about its strategic security and aims to limit China's influence in the region. India's recent offer to fund the project, following China's proposal, puts Bangladesh in a difficult position as it navigates these geopolitical pressures while prioritizing its sovereignty and development.
US-Led Indo-Pacific and Bengal Basin Geopolitics:
The United States has reaffirmed its stance against any one country dominating the Indo-Pacific, seeking to maintain a free, open, and secure region. This aligns with Bangladesh's own Indo-Pacific outlook, which focuses on fully utilizing the economic potential through free navigation and regional cooperation. During a meeting in early September 2023 between Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Mira Resnick, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security, the two countries emphasized their shared vision for the region. The dialogue also touched on key security issues, including energy and cyber security, with both nations recognizing the growing importance of frequent engagement given their multifaceted relationship.
Additionally, Bangladesh is navigating crucial geopolitical challenges, such as the Teesta water-sharing issue with India, which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina plans to address in her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Simultaneously, Bangladesh continues to manage its relationship with global powers like the United States and Russia, discussing issues such as human rights, sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the Russia-Ukraine war's impact on food and fertilizer security. The evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Bengal Basin, influenced by global and regional powers, highlight the strategic importance of Bangladesh's position in the Indo-Pacific.
Conclusion:
The Teesta water-sharing treaty remains a critical issue for both India and Bangladesh, with far-reaching implications for their bilateral relations. While the road to an agreement has been fraught with challenges, the renewed push by Bangladesh's interim government offers a glimmer of hope. As both nations grapple with the impacts of climate change, flood management, and resource scarcity, the need for a comprehensive water-sharing agreement has never been more urgent.
Through dialogue, adherence to international legal principles, and a commitment to humanitarian cooperation, India and Bangladesh have the potential to resolve the Teesta dispute and strengthen their relationship for the future. The coming months will reveal whether this renewed effort can finally bring about the long-awaited agreement or if the issue will continue to linger unresolved.
