Following the establishment of a new Interim Government after Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic exit, Bangladesh is now pushing to resume dialogues with India regarding the Teesta water sharing treaty. The proposed agreement between India and Bangladesh is aimed at sharing the waters of the Teesta River as per international principles. The river, which originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, is a crucial water source for both the regions. The sharing of the river has been a controversial issue since 1972.   

The dispute revolves around the equitable distribution of the river’s waters, particularly during the dry season, to meet the agricultural, drinking water, and other needs of both nations. It is the fourth largest transboundary river shared between India and Bangladesh after the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna River systems. The river’s flood plain covers about 14% of Bangladesh’s total cropped area and acts as a source of livelihood for around 73% of Bangladesh’s population according to an Asian Foundation report. 

Early Agreements 

Attempts at agreement were made as early as 1952 for equitable distribution of the river water with then East Pakistan. However, no formal agreement could be reached. After independence, the water-sharing issues between the newly established nation and India were addressed in the Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of friendship, Cooperation and Peace, 1972. However, Teesta was not specifically mentioned.  

An Ad hoc agreement was reached in 1983 where Bangladesh was given 39% of the water and 36% was allotted to India. 

Teesta Water Agreement in 2011 

A significant milestone was reached in 2011 when a draft agreement was prepared between India and Bangladesh during then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka. The agreement entailed 42.5% of the river’s water for India and 37.5% of the water for Bangladesh, with the remaining water staying in the river to maintain ecological balance. However, the agreement saw opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, who cited scarcity of water in the state as the reason for her disagreement.  

As the agreement was not finalized, the river water continues to be shared based on the existing flow without a legally binding ration. Bangladesh demands an equitable share of the river during the dry winter season as it argues that the current flow does not satisfy the country’s agricultural and domestic needs. However, the same argument is presented by India itself, particularly West Bengal which relies heavily on the Teesta for irrigation.  

Political Significance 

The Teesta Water treaty is a key bilateral agreement pending for over a decade. Bangladesh has claimed to first hold discussions solely with Nepal and India without involving third parties, while endorsing international principles of water sharing. However, the country will likely seek international dialogue if no bilateral agreement can be reached. 

The previous talk regarding the treaty were held in 2021 during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in December 2021. No formal agreement was reached however, the talks instigated a renewed interest in solving the bilateral dilemma. Hasina’s recent ousting posts a challenge for India as Awami League (Sheikh Hasina’s party) had been receptive to India’s concerns regarding the river’s distribution, in contrast to the opposition BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam parties.  

Bangladesh is now eager to resume talks on the distribution of the river, aiming for a bigger piece of the pie. A successful negotiation would help India in establishing strong bilateral relations with Bangladesh. The anticipated Teesta River water deal is also expected to give Delhi more political leverage, which it considers necessary to counter China’s growing influence in the Bay of Bengal region.