Bangladesh-India Ganges Water Treaty Talks

Bangladesh's ruling Bangladesh — Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has stated that the country's relations with India will depend on a new Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, as the existing 1996 agreement is set to expire in December. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the Bangladesh — Bangladesh Nationalist Party, emphasized the need for immediate talks to secure a treaty that meets Bangladesh's expectations and needs. This development follows Bangladesh's approval of a mega project to construct the Padma Barrage, intended to counteract the negative impacts of India's Farakka Barrage. Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee asserted that the Padma Barrage is solely in Bangladesh's national interest and does not require discussions with India, though Ganges treaty talks are ongoing. Water expert Ainun Nishat, who helped draft the original treaty, cautiously supported the Padma Barrage, linking its utility to the continuation of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. India, through its Ministry of External Affairs, maintains that water-related issues are handled via established bilateral mechanisms.