Bangladesh has called for immediate negotiations with India on a new Ganges water-sharing treaty, with leaders of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party stating that future bilateral relations between the two countries would significantly depend on the outcome of the discussions. The existing Indo-Bangladesh Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, is scheduled to expire in December, raising fresh concerns in Dhaka over long-term water security and regional cooperation.

Speaking at a public event in Dhaka, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Bangladesh wants a revised treaty that reflects the “expectations and needs” of its people. Alamgir stated that good relations with India would depend heavily on reaching a new agreement regarding the sharing of Ganges waters, also known as the Farakka Agreement issue. He urged both countries to begin discussions immediately and suggested that any future agreement should avoid fixed expiry periods to ensure long-term stability.

The current treaty was signed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government, which has since been dissolved following political changes in Bangladesh. Alamgir argued that uncertainty over renewal of the agreement has increased anxiety in Bangladesh regarding future dry-season water flows. He also said the existing arrangement should remain operational until a new framework is finalized between the two neighboring countries.

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The Ganges River, known locally as the Padma after entering Bangladesh through the Chapai Nawabganj district, plays a vital role in the country’s economy, agriculture, biodiversity, and water supply systems. Bangladesh, a lower riparian nation intersected by hundreds of rivers, depends heavily on cross-border water flows originating in India. According to BNP leaders, nearly one-third of the country’s population relies directly or indirectly on the river system for livelihoods and ecological sustainability.

The remarks come shortly after Bangladesh approved a major infrastructure project involving the construction of a barrage on the Padma River, which officials said is intended to reduce the negative impact of India’s Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said the proposed project is a matter of Bangladesh’s national interest and does not require discussions with India. The barrage project, expected to be completed by 2033, has already triggered debate among water experts and environmental analysts in both countries.

The Farakka Barrage has remained a sensitive political and environmental issue in Bangladesh for decades. Critics in Bangladesh argue that reduced dry-season water flow downstream has contributed to salinity intrusion, river degradation, ecological imbalance, and agricultural difficulties. India, however, has consistently maintained that the barrage was primarily constructed to improve navigability and flush sediments from the Hooghly River to protect Kolkata Port. Despite recurring tensions, both nations have historically managed water-sharing disputes through bilateral agreements and diplomatic mechanisms, with the upcoming treaty negotiations now expected to become a major test for future India-Bangladesh relations.

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