Millions wait on Teesta plan
Despite renewed commitments from Bangladesh and China regarding the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP), uncertainty continues to affect millions of residents in northern Bangladesh.
These communities await tangible action to address worsening desertification, river erosion, and water scarcity.
For years, the Teesta has been at the centre of complex regional politics involving Bangladesh, India, and China.
While Dhaka and Beijing have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to the ambitious river management project, implementation has yet to begin, leaving local residents increasingly frustrated.
The latest diplomatic development occurred on 6 May, when Bangladesh formally sought China’s involvement in the TRCMRP during a bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
According to a joint press release, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Bangladesh-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including water resources under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Bangladesh also officially requested Chinese support and participation in the Teesta project.
Despite years of planning, memorandums, and diplomatic discussions, the project remains stalled at the feasibility and technical assessment stage.
The roots of the Teesta crisis trace back to 2011, when Bangladesh and India were expected to sign a long-awaited Teesta water-sharing agreement.
Although negotiations were reportedly finalised, the agreement was not signed due to opposition from the then West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee.
New Delhi has maintained that it cannot move forward without West Bengal’s consent, citing the river’s strategic proximity to India’s Siliguri Corridor, widely known as the “Chicken’s Neck.”
After the collapse of the water-sharing deal, Bangladesh turned to China in 2016, signing a memorandum of understanding between the Bangladesh Water Development Board and state-owned PowerChina.
The project was later prioritised in 2019 and was initially expected to be completed by 2025.
However, officials and analysts note that the project slowed due to geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Chinese involvement.
Former Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming acknowledged these concerns in 2022, stating: “China has some hesitation regarding the development of this project because there are sensitive issues involved.”
The project regained momentum following the political transition in Bangladesh after August 2024.
On 29 January 2025, the Bangladesh Water Development Board renewed its agreement with PowerChina.
Under the renewed terms, PowerChina is expected to complete the project feasibility study during 2026.
Officials estimate the project could cost around $1 billion, with China likely providing the majority of financing through loans, although final arrangements are yet to be concluded.
According to the proposed master plan, around 140 million cubic metres of sediment will be removed through capital dredging, approximately 171 square kilometres of land reclaimed, 110 kilometres of embankments repaired, 124 kilometres of new embankments constructed, and 224 kilometres of roads developed along the river basin.
The plan also includes 82 jetties, transport facilities, flood control, irrigation support, dry-season water conservation, and ecosystem restoration.
At a recent seminar in Dhaka, President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh, Han Kun, described the project as a “master plan” to transform the Teesta from a destructive river into a stable and productive water system.
“Teesta management is not merely an engineering project; it is the key to changing the destiny of the people of this region,” Han said.
“If industrial zones are established on the recovered land, several hundred thousand jobs could be created.
River management will also provide irrigation opportunities and fisheries development throughout the year.”
Meanwhile, local activists say patience is wearing thin. Shafiur Rahman, General Secretary of Teesta Bachao-Nodi Bachao Sangram Parishad, told The New Nation: “When both the government and opposition publicly support the Teesta master plan, where is the obstacle? The people of northern Bangladesh are victims of water discrimination.
Teesta is directly linked to their lives and livelihoods, yet we see no effective implementation.”
Rahman added that an investment of Tk12,000 crore could transform the fate of residents along the Teesta basin, but lamented the absence of concrete steps.
The movement’s leaders have indicated they will wait for the outcome of the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to China before announcing further programmes.
They have also proposed immediate domestic measures, including the formation of a Teesta Authority, government-backed Teesta bonds, special budget allocations for the Rangpur Division, and a dedicated Teesta fund sourced from revenues collected from five districts along the river.
Former ambassador Munshi Faiz highlighted the project’s geopolitical complexity, noting: “Bangladesh may implement the project, but the water still comes from upstream.
If sufficient water does not arrive from the other side, what ultimate benefit will be achieved?”
For the people of northern Bangladesh, the Teesta remains a symbol of both hope and uncertainty, with their livelihoods, agriculture, and regional development hanging in the balance as diplomacy, engineering ambition, and geopolitics continue to intersect.
