BD, India sit for Ganges talks
Bangladesh and India have opened a crucial round of talks in Kolkata on the future of the Ganges water-sharing agreement and broader cooperation on transboundary rivers, as concerns grow over dry-season water flow, regional water security and environmental risks.
The 90th meeting of the Bangladesh-India Joint Rivers Commission began on Thursday and will continue until Saturday.
Officials familiar with the discussions said the meeting is being closely watched as the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, is set to expire on 31 December 2026.
The talks are being seen as one of the most significant bilateral water negotiations between the two neighbours in recent years.
Officials from both sides believe the outcome could shape the future framework of river cooperation between Bangladesh and India for decades.
Bangladesh’s six-member delegation arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday. The team is being led by Mohammad Anwar Kadir, member of the Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission.
Other members include Bangladesh Water Development Board Hydrology Division Chief Engineer Sajjad Hossain, JRC Director Mohammad Abu Sayed, Water Resources Ministry Deputy Secretary Md Samsozzaman, Foreign Ministry South Asia Wing Director Md Baky Billah and BWDB Sub-Divisional Engineer Md Rumanuzzaman.
Counsellor (Political) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi Mohammad Alamgir Hossain and Second Secretary (Political) at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata Mohammad Omar Faruk Akand will also join the delegation.
The Indian side is being led by a joint secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and a chief engineer from the Irrigation Department of the West Bengal government.
Diplomatic and water resources sources said renewal of the Ganges treaty has emerged as the central issue of this year’s JRC meeting, particularly as it is the final full commission meeting before the agreement expires.
Under the 1996 treaty, Bangladesh and India share Ganges water during the dry season from January to May under a fixed formula based on water flow at Farakka.
According to the agreement, India receives 40,000 cusecs when the flow exceeds 75,000 cusecs, while Bangladesh receives the remaining water.
If the flow remains between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh receives 40,000 cusecs and India gets the rest. When the flow drops below 70,000 cusecs, both countries share the water equally.
Bangladesh has long expressed concern that upstream diversion through the Farakka Barrage has reduced downstream flow during the dry season, affecting agriculture, fisheries, river navigation and ecological balance in the country’s south-western region.
Officials and environmental experts say the declining freshwater flow has also worsened salinity intrusion in coastal districts and parts of the Sundarbans, threatening biodiversity and livelihoods.
As part of the JRC programme, members of the Bangladesh delegation are expected to visit Murshidabad and inspect the Farakka Barrage.
They will observe water flow measurements there before returning to Kolkata for formal discussions on Friday and Saturday.
The issue has gained fresh political significance in Bangladesh after the government approved plans for the proposed Padma Barrage project.
Officials say the project is aimed at improving water retention, ensuring irrigation during the dry season and protecting ecological stability in southern Bangladesh.
The proposed mega project, expected to cost several thousand crore taka, is being viewed as part of Bangladesh’s long-term response to reduced upstream river flow.
Water experts said the Kolkata meeting is taking place at a potentially favourable moment for negotiations because of recent political changes in West Bengal.
For years, unresolved water-sharing issues, including the Teesta agreement, were complicated by differences between New Delhi and the previous West Bengal administration.
Political observers believe a state government aligned with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling alliance could ease coordination between the state and central governments on river diplomacy.
Analysts said this may create a more favourable environment for renewing the Ganges treaty without prolonged resistance at the state level.
Bangladeshi experts are expected to call for a more sustainable formula, greater transparency in flow monitoring and improved data sharing at Farakka.
They are also likely to push for a science-based approach to river management, including basin-wide cooperation, joint dredging and ecological conservation.
Indian officials, meanwhile, are expected to stress the importance of continued regional cooperation and mutual benefit from shared river systems.
Diplomatic sources said a successful outcome from the Kolkata talks could strengthen overall Bangladesh-India relations at a time when both countries are seeking deeper cooperation in connectivity, trade and climate resilience.
However, failure to reach a timely agreement could intensify public and political pressure in Bangladesh over water security and environmental degradation.
The Ganges remains economically, environmentally and emotionally significant for Bangladesh, as millions of people depend on the river system for farming, fisheries and daily livelihoods.
For Dhaka, securing a fair and sustainable share of dry-season water has become not only a diplomatic priority, but also a matter of food security, economic resilience and environmental survival.
