Bangladesh wants new Ganges water-sharing deal with India: Minister

Bangladesh wants a new water-sharing agreement with India on the Ganges rather than simply renewing the existing treaty, with a guarantee clause to ensure the country receives its fair share of water based on availability, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said Thursday (September 24).

Speaking to reporters after opening a high-level river dialogue in Dhaka, Anee said the proposed agreement should guarantee Bangladesh access to the required amount of water at the appropriate time, particularly during the dry season.

He warned that inadequate dry-season flows without a guarantee mechanism could severely affect agriculture, fisheries and the wider economy, while excessive water during the monsoon could increase the risk of flooding.

The existing 30-year Ganges Water-Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, is due to expire in December. Bangladesh has previously called for restoring a guarantee clause that was included in the 1977 agreement but omitted from the 1996 treaty.

On the Teesta project, Anee said the government has received feasibility studies from both domestic and international sources and is receiving technical assistance. He said work is underway to complete the necessary studies and make the project visible soon, in line with the government's commitments.

The minister said the government is considering implementing the Teesta project through its own financing or a government-to-government arrangement, with the final decision to be based on feasibility findings.

Earlier, speaking at the “Kollolini: A River Dialogue 2026,” Anee described rivers as a backbone of Bangladesh’s economy and called for coordinated efforts to protect them from pollution and other pressures.

The dialogue brought together government agencies, development partners, experts, researchers and civil society representatives to discuss river management and protection.