India sticks to bilateral framework

India has called for water-related issues with Bangladesh to be handled through existing bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), as Dhaka looks beyond New Delhi for support for the long-delayed Teesta river project.

The position underscores the continuing sensitivity of water sharing between the two neighbours, particularly over the Teesta, where a proposed agreement reached in 2011 has yet to be implemented.

Bangladesh is now exploring Chinese investment in the Teesta project while continuing to seek a solution with India. Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday that the two countries share 54 rivers and that cooperation over their common waterways should continue through established institutional channels.

“There are several rivers which are shared between Bangladesh and India. In fact, to pinpoint the number, 54 rivers are shared between the two countries,” Jaiswal told reporters.

“All water related collaboration or discussions that have to happen between the two countries have to be done through the bilateral Joint Rivers Commission that we have with Bangladesh, along with the structured dialogue mechanisms that are in place,” he said.

His comments came as Bangladesh has been seeking greater international cooperation on the Teesta project, including exploring Chinese investment, amid continuing uncertainty over the proposed water-sharing agreement with India.

Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee recently said Dhaka did not want its relations with India to deteriorate over the unresolved Teesta issue, while urging New Delhi to take Bangladesh’s interests into consideration.

“The neighbouring country is a friendly country. They have to think that while they have their interests, we also have ours. A friend should protect the interests of a friend.

They will pay attention to our interests. We never want our friendly relations with them to deteriorate,” he said.

The Teesta dispute has remained one of the most contentious issues in Bangladesh-India relations. A water-sharing agreement negotiated in 2011 has remained stalled, largely because of objections from India’s West Bengal state government.

India raises terrorism concerns
Alongside the water issue, India raised concerns over terrorism and security following a recent report by the UN Security Council’s monitoring team on Islamic State, Al-Qaida and associated groups, which referred to Bangladesh in connection with concerns over activities linked to Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Jaiswal described terrorism as a shared security challenge requiring cooperation between countries.
“Terrorism and security matters are something that should concern everybody because it is a common scourge for all of us. We want to together fight this problem,” he said.

The 38th report of the UNSC Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted on 10 August, said AQIS had continued to develop regional logistical and financial networks through decentralised cells.

The report said the November 2025 attack on Delhi’s Red Fort was officially attributed to AQIS and noted “some concern” that the group could seek to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells there.

Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, however, said the government had no specific information to substantiate such a link. She suggested the reference could potentially be connected to propaganda by supporters of the previous Awami League government.

“It could be … because I think I told you the other day that fascist government could very well have done this, and it could also be their propaganda. So we have to look into it,” she told reporters at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

She said neither she nor the Foreign Ministry had information that would allow them to make a definitive assessment, adding that the Home Ministry was examining the matter.

Shama also said Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, who is due to assume the presidency of the UN General Assembly next month, would “definitely” raise the issue with relevant UN authorities.
New Delhi seeks broader engagement

On the broader relationship, Jaiswal said India wanted “positive, constructive and forward looking” ties with Bangladesh based on mutual interests and reciprocity.

His comments came against the backdrop of several sensitive issues between the neighbours, including Dhaka’s request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Our position on the press conference by the former Prime Minister needs no repetition. On the issue of extraditions, our consistent position has been, and you’re well aware of that, that these requests are being examined as part of our established processes,” Jaiswal said.

He offered no fresh indication about the status of the extradition request.

The two countries also remain engaged on energy cooperation. Jaiswal said India’s existing energy supplies to Bangladesh were continuing under current contracts and agreements, while any additional request would have to be assessed in light of India’s own requirements, refining capacity and available supplies.

“As far as the additional request is concerned, we are examining this given our own requirements, given our refining capacity, as also the availability that is there on our side,” he said.

There was also no fresh update on a possible visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Shama said there was no update on the proposed visit, while Jaiswal similarly said information would be shared once there was a confirmed development.

The latest exchanges highlight the breadth of issues shaping Bangladesh-India relations, with water sharing and the Teesta project remaining among the most politically sensitive while security, energy, extradition and high-level diplomatic engagement continue to occupy the bilateral agenda.