Bangladesh seeks new Ganges water pact with India ahead of December deadline

Bangladesh on Thursday said it was seeking a new or substantially revised Ganges water-sharing agreement with India, incorporating stronger safeguards and guaranteed dry-season water supplies, ahead of the expiry of the existing 30-year treaty in December.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said Dhaka preferred a fresh agreement of longer duration rather than a straightforward renewal of the 1996 treaty, which is scheduled to expire on December 12, 2026.

Speaking at a seminar titled Rethinking Water Futures: Youth Leadership, Justice and Cooperation, organised at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka, Anee said the government wanted provisions that would protect the country's water requirements during the dry season.

"The 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is set to expire in 2026. The Bangladesh government is seeking a new or revised agreement, rather than simply renewing the existing treaty, including guarantee provisions to protect Bangladesh's required dry season share," he said.

The minister stressed that any future arrangement must adequately safeguard Bangladesh's interests, particularly during periods when water availability becomes a concern for downstream communities.

Guarantee clause sought

Anee said Bangladesh wanted to restore a guarantee provision similar to the one incorporated in the 1977 Ganges water-sharing agreement between the two countries.

He maintained that a longer-term arrangement with stronger safeguards would provide greater certainty over water availability and help address the country's growing water-management challenges.

"We should move forward through a new agreement, preferably for a longer duration and with a guarantee clause," the minister told reporters after the seminar.

He said the government's approach would be guided by the interests of the Bangladeshi people and the country's broader national priorities.

The existing treaty, signed in 1996, established a framework for sharing Ganges waters at Farakka during the dry season. Its approaching expiry has brought renewed attention to the future of bilateral water-sharing arrangements.

Talks through joint commission

Anee said Bangladesh and India were continuing discussions through the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), the bilateral mechanism responsible for addressing issues concerning shared rivers.

He expressed confidence that negotiations could produce an agreement before the current treaty expires.

"Based on the meetings held so far, we are hopeful that the agreement will be completed before December 12, 2026," he said.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir also expressed optimism that outstanding water-sharing issues with India could be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

Speaking on the sidelines of the seminar, Kobir said international law would also provide a framework for negotiations between the neighbouring countries.

He maintained that Bangladesh's elected government would seek an arrangement that protected its national interests while remaining acceptable to India.

India favours dialogue

The developments came a day after India reiterated its commitment to maintaining constructive and forward-looking relations with Bangladesh.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday that New Delhi remained focused on positive engagement with Dhaka, with an emphasis on mutual growth, prosperity and cooperation.

India had earlier confirmed that technical-level discussions concerning the Ganges water-sharing treaty were continuing through established bilateral mechanisms.

In September, Jaiswal said issues relating to the Ganges and other shared rivers would be addressed through the Joint Rivers Commission.

India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers, but the Ganges remains the only river governed by a comprehensive, long-term bilateral water-sharing treaty.

The negotiations over its future are therefore expected to have wider implications for cooperation on shared water resources between the two countries.

With the December deadline approaching, both governments face the task of reconciling their respective water requirements and reaching an arrangement that provides predictability for communities dependent on the river system.