Teesta River Dispute: Bangladesh Faces Water Scarcity and New Challenges
The Teesta River, a lifeline for millions in Bangladesh, has been a source of disagreement with India for nearly 40 years. Bangladesh relies heavily on the river for farming and daily life. About 7.3 percent of the country’s people depend on the Teesta. It also helps irrigate about 14 percent of Bangladesh’s farmland.
The dispute is about sharing the river’s water, especially during the dry season. India controls the upstream parts of 54 rivers that flow into Bangladesh. This gives India a strong position in water negotiations. Bangladesh needs at least 4,500 cusecs of water for its Teesta Barrage Project. However, reports show the flow has dropped to around 400 cusecs recently. This lack of water harms farming in northern Bangladesh. For example, about 100,000 hectares of land cannot grow winter crops.
The Teesta River flows for about 414 kilometers. Around 121 kilometers run through Bangladesh. The India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission began talks in 1972. In 1983, a plan suggested India get 39 percent of the water and Bangladesh 36 percent. This plan was never fully put into action.
A new draft agreement in 2011 proposed 42.5 percent for India and 37.5 percent for Bangladesh. But India’s West Bengal state government objected to this. Officials there said releasing more water would hurt their farmers. They also noted that Bangladesh’s water demand grew after its Teesta Barrage opened in 1998. West Bengal has its own irrigation and power projects on the river.
Since 2011, India has taken water from the Teesta on its own. The West Bengal government even dug more canals in 2023 to redirect water. This has worsened the water shortage in Bangladesh. People in five northern districts, including Rangpur and Lalmonirhat, face hardship. Their canals are dry, and fishing nets are empty.
Adding to this complex situation, China has offered to invest in a major Teesta River project in Bangladesh. This offer creates a new challenge for Bangladesh. India views China’s growing presence in South Asia with concern. Bangladesh must carefully balance its development needs with its foreign policy goals.
Experts say Bangladesh should not depend too much on any one country. It should protect its national interests while keeping good relations with both India and China. While political obstacles may change, the physical lack of water in the Teesta River remains a major issue for Bangladesh.
