[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

[Krishna with Flute]

China wants Bangladesh to start Teesta project early

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Tuesday said that China was aware of the hardship of people living on the Teesta banks and wanted the planned development project on the trans-boundary river to start soon.

www.newagebd.net

China wants early start of Teesta project
Staff Correspondent 18 February, 2025, 23:47

View attachment 14555
File photo

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Tuesday said that China was aware of the hardship of people living on the Teesta banks and wanted the planned development project on the trans-boundary river to start soon.

Addressing a media briefing at the Chinese embassy in Dhaka, he said China was ready to provide assistance in the implementation of the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, which was hanging in balance as India showed its willingness to support the same during the Sheikh Hasina government in the past year.

He said that China was willing to implement the Teesta project in phases under the government-to-government cooperation and offered to begin the project with flood protection work in 2021.

‘We did not get any feedback yet to implement the Teesta project under the G-to-G cooperation,’ the Chinese envoy said.

Responding to a question, Yao Wen said that China was awaiting response from the Bangladesh side regarding the implementation of the project over the River Teesta flowing through the country’s northern districts from upper riparian India.

‘We are ready to provide assistance in the implementation of the project,’ he said.

When his attention was drawn to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s two-day ‘Teesta River protection movement’ in Rangpur division ending on the day, the Chinese ambassador said that they were aware of the hardship of the people living on the Teesta banks.

‘We want the project start soon—either by China or by Bangladesh herself…It’s Bangladesh’s project,’ Yao Wen said.

Sharing the outcomes of Bangladesh foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain’s recent visit to China, the Chinese ambassador said that China was awaiting a specific proposal for establishing a hospital in Dhaka while the first group of patients from Bangladesh would leave for Kunming this month before Ramadan where three top ranking hospitals were already dedicated for Bangladesh.

He said that travel agencies concerned would offer ‘package service’ incorporating visa processing and all other costs.

Asked about Bangladesh’s request for lowering interest rate for Chinese loans, he said that their interest rate was not more than 2–3 per cent and the rate was universal. ‘China does not attach any conditions,’ he said, adding that it was also cost-effective.

Regarding China’s position on Rohingya crisis at present as international funds for the displaced people sheltered in Bangladesh was diminishing, Yao Wen said that China would continue to help in repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar.

He said that Touhid Hossain’s bilateral talks during the official visit to China in January was the first high-level meeting, effectively advancing the relations between the two countries after the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus took over following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5.

During the regime of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, India in May past year expressed its willingness to support a mega development project on the Teesta inside Bangladesh, where China had already shown its interest and completed a survey there, which led the negotiation to a stalemate.

Later in June 2024, India announced that it would send a technical team to Bangladesh to discuss ‘conservation and management of the Teesta River in Bangladesh’ as the bilateral talks between Hasina and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, then her Indian counterpart, ended in New Delhi without any breakthrough in the long pending water sharing deal on the common river.

New Delhi has long been foot-dragging on the Teesta water-sharing treaty with Dhaka, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of the people in the Rangpur region.

Originating in Sikkim in India and entering Bangladesh through Lalmonirhat, the 315-kilometre-long Teesta travels more than 150 kilometres through half a dozen other districts, including Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Kurigram, before merging with the River Jamuna at Fulchhari.​

BD can take help of China for Tista water management.

 

[Saif]

Teesta plan with China gains pace

Under the deal, POWERCHINA will prepare a concept paper by December and conduct a feasibility study in 2026

www.thedailystar.net

Teesta plan with China gains pace

Photo: S Dilip Roy/Star/ File

After years of delays and uncertainty, the long-awaited Teesta River project has finally resumed its initial work, bringing renewed hope to communities along its banks. The project, if implemented, will curb bank erosion, reclaim land, and store floodwater for use during the dry season.

On January 29, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Chinese state-owned POWERCHINA signed an extension to a memorandum of understanding, pushing the Teesta Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project forward.

Under the deal, POWERCHINA will prepare a concept paper by December and conduct a feasibility study in 2026. After that, the Teesta project will be finalised, according to Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

"We have agreed to give China two years to complete the two tasks under the project," Rizwana told The Daily Star.

While the project's financing remains uncertain, Rizwana said the final cost will depend on the feasibility study. "We certainly expect support from our development partners, and we hope China will step forward," she said.

Early estimates suggest the project could cost $1 billion.

A FRUSTRATING HISTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS

Bangladesh has struggled for years to secure an agreement with neighboring India on the sharing of Teesta River waters. An initial deal was finalised during the tenure of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and was scheduled to be signed in 2011. However, opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who argued it would negatively impact water availability in her state, led to the deal's collapse.

Frustrated by the continued impasse, Bangladesh signed a non-binding MoU with POWERCHINA in 2016 to explore an alternative approach to managing the river's challenges.

At the time, POWERCHINA proposed a comprehensive river management plan, covering bank erosion control, flood management, disaster reduction, land reclamation, transportation, and ecosystem restoration. The initiative also aims to mitigate social and environmental impacts while fostering economic development in affected communities.

Key components of the project include dredging 140 million cubic metres of sediment, reclaiming 171 square kilometres of land, repairing 110 kilometres of embankment, constructing 124 kilometres of new embankments, and developing 224 kilometres of roads. The plan also envisions transportation and jetty facilities at 82 locations.

Currently, POWERCHINA is reviewing its original proposal before launching the feasibility study, according to an official at the Ministry of Water Resources.

THE RIVER'S DECLINE

The Teesta originates in Sikkim, India, and enters Bangladesh through Dimla Upazila in Nilphamari, eventually merging with the Brahmaputra River in Gaibandha. Of its 115-kilometre stretch in Bangladesh, 102 kilometers lie downstream of the Teesta Barrage, a key water control structure.

On November 14, Bangladesh recorded an upstream water flow of 2,800 cubic feet per second (cusecs), prompting the closure of all 44 gates of the barrage to conserve water for irrigation. However, on February 15, India suddenly increased its water release by 800 cusecs, forcing Bangladesh to open six gates to manage the flow.

Teesta water is crucial for farmers in northern Bangladesh, particularly between December and April. The river sustains irrigation for 55,000 hectares of rice fields across six districts: Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura, Joypurhat and Gaibandha.

LOCALS CONTINUE TO SUFFER

Alal Uddin, a 70-year-old farmer from Gaddimari village, five kilometers downstream of the Teesta Barrage, painted a bleak picture.

"There is some water upstream, but the downstream is completely dry," he told The Daily Star.

Nur Islam, a boatman from Aditmari Upazila in Lalmonirhat, shared a similar plight.

"I have no livelihood in the dry season because I cannot operate my boat due to the lack of water," he said.

The situation has deteriorated over the years. With India unilaterally diverting Teesta's waters and constructing multiple upstream projects in Sikkim and West Bengal, Bangladesh has faced worsening seasonal shortages. The riverbed is now filled with sand, making the region more vulnerable to flash floods and severe erosion during the monsoon.

Last week, Adviser Rizwana visited the Teesta region and held a public hearing in Kaunia, Rangpur.

"The interim government is prioritising the Teesta Mega Plan to address the struggles of riverine communities," she said. "We have signed an agreement with China, and the project will be implemented with input from the people who live here."​

 

[Saif]

Which dam has India build over Ganges. tell me the name of dam. I want to increase my knowledge. So far as I know, India uses Ganges as water way from Uttarakhand up to BD. There is no dam inbetween. If it is there, BD friends in add to my general knowledge.

It's not a dam. It's a barrage. Farakka Barrage in West Bengal.

 

[Saif]

Delhi should show neighbourly attitude on Teesta water plans

THE protests that thousands of people, mostly of Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur have held are a rightful reaction to India’s unilateral withdrawal of water of the River Teesta which causes a gradual desertification of Bangladesh’s north. The people have sat in for two...

www.newagebd.net

Delhi should show neighbourly attitude on Teesta water plans
20 February, 2025, 00:00

THE protests that thousands of people, mostly of Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur have held are a rightful reaction to India’s unilateral withdrawal of water of the River Teesta which causes a gradual desertification of Bangladesh’s north. The people have sat in for two days on the river bank in Lalmonirhat, marched along a four-kilometre stretch and held rallies and cultural performances on 11 locations, demanding a fair share of the water of the cross-border river. India’s withdrawal of water upstream has already set in the desertification process, which has harmed the life and the living of the people who live along the river. India’s sudden release of water during the monsoon seasons also causes flash flooding in the region, washing away crops, cattle and houses and leaving a large number of people marooned, without drinking water, food and shelter. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has extended its support, with its ranking leaders having joined in, for the protests that the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee has organised.

India has built at least 30 dams and a barrage upstream the Teesta, never having cared to let Bangladesh know of its obstructing the natural flow of the cross-border river. All these protests are the manifest expression against India, which has high-handedly put on hold the signing of an instrument on the sharing of water of the River Teesta, and six other rivers, which both Delhi and Dhaka agreed on in 2010, in a 50:50 per cent sharing formula, provisioning for a 20 per cent of the water as the environmental flow. Bangladesh and India share at least 54 rivers and India signed an agreement in 1996 only on the water of the River Ganges. India in the middle of 2020 also requested Bangladesh to complete preparations for the signing of the agreement on the water of the River Feni, standing back on its earlier commitment of 2015 to signing both the Teesta and the Feni agreement simultaneously. Such high-handedness of India, manifest in withholding and releasing the water of the River Teesta keeping to its needs and leaving the water sharing agreements of the transboundary rivers on hold, is hardly a sign of a neighbourly attitude.

New Delhi has so far come up with various seemingly illogical excuses in putting off the signing of the agreement on the sharing of the water of the River Teesta. Delhi should realise that a bilateral relation does not work this way. Dhaka should also talk the issues boldly with Delhi to stop the desertification of Bangladesh’s north and other problems caused by India’s delay in settling water sharing issues of common rivers, not only the Teesta but also the Feni and six others already referenced.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

It's not a dam. It's a barrage. Farakka Barrage in West Bengal.

Barrages are very small and has limited holding capacity to hold the water. It can not have any major impact in flow of water.

 

[Saif]

Barrages are very small and has limited holding capacity to hold the water. It can not have any major impact in flow of water.

Barrages are built to divert water not to hold water.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Barrages are built to divert water not to hold water.

What would India do by diverting the water? Where would it divert and use? Ganges split in Tista and other rivers and terminate into Bangaladesh.

 

[Saif]

What would India do by diverting the water? Where would it divert and use? Ganges split in Tista and other rivers and terminate into Bangaladesh.

Farakka Barrage was created to divert water from the Ganges river system to keep Kolkata port from silting.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Farakka Barrage was created to divert water from the Ganges river system to keep Kolkata port from silting.

And where does it go ahead once reaches Kolkata?

 

[Saif]

And where does it go ahead once reaches Kolkata?

Please ask some environmentalist or google it. Thank you.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Please ask some environmentalist or google it. Thank you.

What I want to say is that it goes to BD only. All water ultimately flows through BD.

 

[Sharma Ji]

No water for BD

You are so fond of aping the Arabs ?

Here's gift from India, soon you turn into 🏜 just like your Arab masters muwahahahaaa

 

[Saif]

What I want to say is that it goes to BD only. All water ultimately flows through BD.

You are wrong. Google it.

 

[Saif]

BNP: Indications of a changed foreign policy

Politics have changed. People want to see something new. And BNP displayed this new trend in its 'save Teesta' programme

en.prothomalo.com

BNP: Indications of a changed foreign policy
Maruf Mullick
Published: 22 Feb 2025, 13: 53

BNP's march to save the river Teesta. At Teesta road bridge in Kaunia, Rangpur. Prothom Alo

BNP held a programme with a difference. It held sit-in programmes in 11 places of 5 districts in the north, calling for the river Teesta to be saved. The dry season is on now and Teesta is near dead. The BNP leaders and workers set up canopies on the sandy banks either side of Teesta and held a public meeting for the protection of the river. Throughout the day people talked among themselves, listened to the leaders speak. It was a programme quite unprecedented in nature.

BNP has taken several initiatives in the past to protest the country's rivers and the environment. We have seen that from the very outset of the party. BNP's founder, President Ziaur Rahman, went around the country and excavated or restored 26 thousand km of canals. When Khaleda Zia was prime minister, she banned the use of polythene and three-wheeler baby taxies in the country.

While the other parties are sitting in Dhaka squabbling over whether the national election or the local government elections should be held first, BNP went to the common people. BNP is likely to continue reaching out to the people with such programmes.

The programme this time, 'Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai', aimed to protecting the river Teesta, reminded one of BNP's environment-friendly stance. The liberal social democrats or centre-leftists of the world always place importance on the environment and nature in their political programmes. BNP too has always given importance to the environment.

But these recent 'save Teesta' initiative was no simply about protecting the environment or the river. It was a matter of politics. This gathering delivered a message to the government, as well as to India and China. BNP made its strategic stand clear regarding the protection of Teesta. Firstly, it came before the people of North Bengal with an issue involving public interests. Teesta is intractably linked to the lives and livelihood of the people in the north. India has always deprived Bangladesh of Teesta's waters. By holding back the river's waters during the dry season, it transforms the entire North Bengal into a dry expanse of desert. Then in releases the waters in the monsoon, flooding the region and creating havoc and disaster. The people of North Bengal simmer in fury.

Taking this anger into account, BNP sat and spoke in North Bengal. Along with the people there, they demanded that the river Teesta be protected. They said they would fight to bring in Teesta's waters. BNP said that, if necessary, they would raise the issue of Teesta at the United Nations. They referred to President Ziaur Rahman's speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 1979 regarding Farakka barrage and the withdrawal of Ganges' waters. That put pressure on India and later the Ganges water sharing deal was signed with India.

This 'save Teesta' sit-in programme was an indication of the nature of BNP's future foreign policy. After 5 August, many among Jamaat-e-Islami and the students criticised BNP for the cautious stance it had adopted. It was being said that BNP is displaying a soft stance towards India. But during the 'save Teesta' programme, BNP took up a stern stand and openly criticised India. They said in no certain terms, Teesta water must be given, the border killings must be stopped. They called for an end to the Big Brother attitude. There will be friendship, BNP leaders said, but hinted that if necessary, they would review the foreign policy of 'friendship towards all and malice towards none'.

At the gathering, BNP demanded the implementation of the Teesta mega project. However, they pointed out, it would not be possible for this mega project to be implemented without an elected government. BNP did not mention it directly, but it is common knowledge that China has a mega project with Teesta. India has all along being opposing this. BNP made their stand in favour of this mega project clear. That indicates a possible revival of old friendship between BNP and China. That means that BNP is returning to its original foreign policy.

It was learnt that thousands and thousands of people turned up at the gathering on the sandy banks of the river Teesta. BNP held quite a large public gathering in this region, alongside the 'save Teesta' programme. While the other parties are sitting in Dhaka squabbling over whether the national election or the local government elections should be held first, BNP went to the common people. BNP is likely to continue reaching out to the people with such programmes.

In this one gathering, BNP did many things. It called for the election to be held as soon as possible. It sternly castigated India. It declared its commitment to implement the Teesta mega project, thus taking gaining China's confidence. It also held a colourful festival of the lives and culture of the people in the north. There had been news over the past few days of cultural programmes being shut down in various parts of the country, but by holding the vibrant cultural fest on the banks of Teesta, BNP stressed that as the largest party in the country, it would have contribution and support of cultural activities in the country.

BNP has answered and is answering the criticism that has been aimed at it over the past six months. The political parties should give more attention to national security and national issues rather than this war of words. Politics have changed. People want to see something new. And BNP displayed this new trend in its 'save Teesta' programme. Rather than just spewing out meaningless criticism against India, it raised specific issue of bilateral significance. This gathering gave indications of BNP breaking away from the conventional political mould.

• Dr. Maruf Mullick is a writer and political analyst
• This column appeared in the print and online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten for the English edition by Ayesha Kabir

 

[Saif]

Teesta project: China to get the job if BNP voted to power

BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday told a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that if his party is elected to power in the next election, it will sign an agreement with China to implement the Teesta River water management project.

www.thedailystar.net

Teesta project: China to get the job if BNP voted to power
Says Moyeen Khan in China

Photo: collected

BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday told a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that if his party is elected to power in the next election, it will sign an agreement with China to implement the Teesta River water management project.

"Chinese ambassador in Dhaka has recently made a clear proposal to assist us in developing a project for managing the water of Teesta River," he said during a meeting between a Bangladesh delegation and CPC Deputy Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee Xing Shanping.

Dr Moyeen said the Chinese envoy had sincerely made the offer for the welfare of thousands of people living along the riverbanks.

"On our behalf, I tell you that if the people of Bangladesh elect us to government in the next election, we will be very happy to sign a deal to receive your support in developing a complete Teesta Barrage," he said.

The BNP leader also mentioned that the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, told him he would personally visit the Teesta Barrage area.

The delegation, led by BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, attended the meeting and later joined a banquet hosted by the CPC leader at a hotel in the province.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the 21-member delegation, consisting of leaders from eight political parties, including the BNP, travelled to China for an 11-day visit at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Dr Moyeen said the current government is not taking the Teesta project since it is a transitional administration.

"A stable government will be established through the polls, which will be able to sign the deal and execute the project," the BNP leader told the meeting.

Dr Moyeen also hoped that China would continue supporting Bangladesh in modernising its agriculture and irrigation systems, alongside its cooperation in infrastructure development.

He mentioned that an increasing number of Bangladeshi students are pursuing higher education in China, particularly in science, technology, and modern disciplines, to contribute to national development.

The BNP leader hoped that China would offer more scholarships and enhance student exchange programs to facilitate quality education for Bangladeshi students.

About trade, he said China can supply high-quality essential items at affordable prices to meet the needs of the Bangladeshi people.

In response, CPC Deputy Secretary Xing Shanping reaffirmed China's strong commitment to its ties with Bangladesh, describing the country as a valued neighbour.

She said bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China have strengthened based on mutual cooperation and respect.

The CPC leader assured that China would continue its assistance for Bangladesh's development and the welfare of its people.

"We want to deepen our bilateral cooperation further in the days to come," she said.

She also expressed China's keen interest in investing in various sectors in Bangladesh, including agriculture, clean energy, education, science and technology, and infrastructure development.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshi delegation visits Farakka ahead of water-sharing talks

A team of Bangladeshi experts and officials from the Joint River Commission with India today visited the Ganges at Farakka ahead of talks between the two countries in Kolkata for the renewal of water-sharing treaty of the trans-border river

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladeshi delegation visits Farakka ahead of water-sharing talks

Farakka Barrage. File photo

A team of Bangladeshi experts and officials from the Joint River Commission with India today visited the Ganges at Farakka ahead of talks between the two countries in Kolkata for the renewal of water-sharing treaty of the trans-border river.

The Bangladeshi delegation, led by Md Abul Hossen, member JRC and Md Abu Sayed, director of JRC from Bangladesh side, visited the joint discharge observation sites at Farakka barrage in West Bengal's Murshidabad district which regulates the flow of water to Bangladesh under the bilateral treaty of 1996. The term of the 30-year accord ends next year.

The team, which reached Farakka soon after arriving in Kolkata from Dhaka, will visit the joint inspection sites tomorrow before returning to Kolkata on March 5 for the two-day India-Bangladesh joint committee meeting to be held Hyatt Regency Hotel on March 6 and 7.

The JRC was set up in 1972 to discuss sharing of common rivers.

The bilateral Ganges water-sharing agreement was signed on December 12, 1996 by the then Indian Prime Minister HD Devegowda and former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.

It was during Hasina's official visit to New Delhi and talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June last year that the two sides decided to launch negotiations by the joint technical team for a fresh accord on the Ganges water-sharing.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh, India hold JRC meeting in Kolkata

This was the first meeting of the JRC on the sharing of the trans-border river since the change of government in Bangladesh on August 5 last year

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh, India hold JRC meeting in Kolkata

Officials of Bangladesh and India yesterday held the 86th meeting of the Joint River Commission in Kolkata where they discussed the pros and cons of renewing the 30-year-old Ganges water-sharing treaty which comes up for renewal next year.

This was the first meeting of the JRC on the sharing of the trans-border river since the change of government in Bangladesh on August 5 last year.

Today's meeting formed a technical committee and set up broad parameters on which the future of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, signed in December 1996, would depend, sources in both sides said.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Md Abul Hossen, a member of JRC.

The technical committee comprising hydrology experts from both sides will meet tomorrow to carry forward the discussions.

The JRC meeting took place after the officials and experts carried out a survey for two days of the current status of the flow in the Ganges at Farakka.​

 

[Saif]

Interim govt should start Teesta Master Plan implementation: stakeholders

Local stakeholders at a views-sharing meeting in Rangpur have demanded to begin implementation of the Teesta Master Plan project with the country’s own funding during the interim government’s tenure. They said that implementation of the proposed Teesta Master Plan project should be ina

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Interim govt should start Teesta Master Plan implementation: stakeholders
BSS
Published :
Mar 10, 2025 21:17
Updated :
Mar 10, 2025 21:17

Local stakeholders at a views-sharing meeting in Rangpur have demanded to begin implementation of the Teesta Master Plan project with the country’s own funding during the interim government’s tenure.

They said that implementation of the proposed Teesta Master Plan project should be inaugurated during the tenure of this interim government to save the livelihood of the two crore people of the Teesta basin, the lifeline of the north.

They came up with the opinion at the meeting with stakeholders on the proposed Teesta Mega Plan project for integrated management and restoration of the Teesta River at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner on Monday afternoon.

Chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal, representatives of Water Development Board (WDB), Power China, leaders involved in the river protection movement, political leaders, victims of the Teesta floods, and media personnel attended the event.

At the beginning, Power China’s consultant engineer Md Mokbul Hossain presented a documentary on the proposed Teesta Master Plan project. Later, the stakeholders participated in the discussion.

Power China’s Country Manager Han Kun, Rangpur metropolitan BNP convener Shamsuzzaman Samu, district BNP convener Md Saiful Islam, its member-secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, environment activist Faridul Islam, central committee member of the State Reform Movement Kanak Rahman, Rangpur metropolitan convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Imtiaz Ahmed Imti, its district convener Imran Ahmed, Shamsur Rahman Sumon of Begum Rokeya University’s Riverine Club, Sohanur Rahman of Green Voice and local journalists spoke.

They demanded that all the parties affected by the Teesta should be heard. The corporate institutions that are occupying the Teesta should be removed, they said, adding that the Teesta should be freed from encroachment.

At the meeting, Chief Engineer of the Northern Rangpur Zone of the Water Development Board Md Mahbubur Rahman said that in addition to the video recording of the speeches of the participants in the meeting, all the suggestions are being noted.

“All of this will be presented to the Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan. Only then a final outline of the implementation of this project will be made,” he said.

Power China’s Country Manager Han Kun said that the Teesta Master Plan project will not have any impact on the geopolitical context because it is a commercial project, it will benefit people and will not be harmful to the environment.

“We have come to implement the project on the Teesta River at a time when the people here have lost their land and property. That is why we have come to listen to the people here,” he said.​

 

[Saif]

International Day of Action for Rivers: The shrinking Padma

School teacher Rakibul Islam used to cross the mighty Padma at the Shilaidah point in Kushtia every day to reach his school. But this year, his journey has become even more arduous due to the expanding shoals in the river.

www.thedailystar.net

International Day of Action for Rivers: The shrinking Padma
Declining water levels fuel shoal expansion, threatening livelihoods

Rivers are the lifelines of Bangladesh, shaping its geography, economy, and culture. However, unchecked encroachment, pollution, and water withdrawal from upstream have left many rivers struggling to survive. Once-mighty rivers like the Padma, Bhairab, and countless others are drying up, forming vast shoals, disrupting agriculture, and forcing fishermen to abandon their livelihoods. The worsening crisis demands urgent attention and action. On this International Day of Action for Rivers, let's have a look at two of our rivers, which once used to flow gloriously, but are now being choked to death due to a lack of sustainable management, dredging, and pollution control.

School teacher Rakibul Islam used to cross the mighty Padma at the Shilaidah point in Kushtia every day to reach his school. But this year, his journey has become even more arduous due to the expanding shoals in the river.

"The 4-kilometre-wide river has narrowed to just 300 metres. Now, I have to cross over 3.5 kilometres of shoal, which is both costly and time-consuming. This year, I am forced to stay in Kushtia instead of commuting," said Rakibul, a teacher at Gangadhardiar Government Primary School in Pabna Sadar upazila.

A visit to different points of the river revealed excessive shoal areas developing across its course, severely affecting agriculture and fishing.

Farmer Abdul Malek from Mokarampur in Bheramara upazila of Kushtia, who used to cultivate paddy on the riverbank near Hardinge Bridge during the dry season, said this year the land has become uncultivable due to excessive sand accumulation.

"As the water recedes, the entire riverbank is getting covered in sand, making the land infertile for crops," he said.

Many farmers who prepared seedbeds in early winter lost their crops as vast sand fields developed along the riverbanks.

Apart from that, fishing communities are also facing challenges due to the shrinking water space.

"Five to six years ago, I could catch 5 to 10 kg of fish daily. Now, I barely get 2 to 3 kg," said Bodhon Kumar, a fisherman from Pakshey in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila.

Around 75 fishermen living near Hardinge Bridge are experiencing the same crisis, he claimed.

Meanwhile, despite concerns over water shortage, officials say the recorded flow at Hardinge Bridge has increased this year compared to last.

According to the Joint River Commission, the flow of water at Hardinge Bridge in January last year was 63,113 cusec, 48,518 cusec, and 48,359 cusec in three cycles.

This January, the recorded flow increased to 69,643 cusec, 64,186 cusec, and 64,672 cusec.

Similarly, in February last year, the flow was recorded at 43,926 cusec, 34,697 cusec, and 35,751 cusec, while this February, it rose to 59,202 cusec, 49,984 cusec, and 42,886 cusec.

"The flow of water has increased at the Harding Bridge due to more water discharge from upstream," said Zahedul Islam, executive engineer of Regional Hydrology Department.

However, asked about the formation of shoals, he said the water level still remains low, and due to a lack of proper dredging, silt is being accumulated, forming shoals in different points.

According to experts, the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty (1996) ensures that Bangladesh receives a fixed share of water from India's Farakka Barrage between January and May each year, but this allocation is not enough to sustain the Padma.

The 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is set to expire this year, prompting Bangladesh and India to begin discussions on its renewal.

However, experts emphasise the need for a fair water-sharing agreement based on international regulations.

"Since the construction of the Farakka Barrage, we have been deprived of our fair share of water, leading to the gradual destruction of the river," said Mizanur Rahman, a wetland activist and member of the Bangladesh Water Development Board.

Despite the increased flow at the Padma this year, the water level remains a lot less than ideal, and the level is still declining, leading to the expansion of shoals, he also said.

"We have been receiving an insufficient share of water for years, leading to the gradual destruction of the Padma," he said, adding that to save the river, Bangladesh must negotiate a fair share of water in accordance with international regulations.

Talking with the Daily Star, Abdul Hamid Khan, Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Pabna unit, emphasised the need for urgent action.

"Proper dredging is essential to keep the river flowing. Additionally, establishing reservoirs could help maintain water levels throughout the year," he said.

Meanwhile, encroachers and sand traders continue to exploit the river.

During a visit at Hardinge Bridge, dozens of trucks were seen moving across the vast shoal, carrying sand extracted from different points.

Experts warn that such unregulated sand mining is altering the river's natural course and further damaging its ecosystem.​

 

[Saif]

Govt concerned about low water flow in Ganges

Bangladesh has expressed concern over low water flow in the trans-boundary river Ganges...

www.newagebd.net

Govt concerned about low water flow in Ganges
Staff Correspondent 13 March, 2025, 23:33

File photo

Bangladesh has expressed concern over low water flow in the trans-boundary river Ganges.

‘The joint technical committee found that although Bangladesh got share of Ganges water as per a treaty with India, the flow of water was low. So, we expressed concern in a recent meeting in India,’ foreign ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told the weekly media briefing at the ministry in the capital Dhaka on Thursday.

He said that the technical committee should work out modalities in case of the low water flow in the Ganges, flowing down through Bangladesh as the River Padma.

The joint team collects data from January to May every year as per the treaty to measure water flow and determine whether each country is getting its due water share, he added.

The issue was discussed when officials of Bangladesh and India held the 86th meeting of the Joint Rivers’ Commission’s joint committee in Kolkata of West Bengal in India in March 6-7.

The technical level meeting was held on March 7, the foreign ministry official said.

Earlier in February, Dhaka raised the issue of renewal of the 30-year Ganges water sharing treaty with New Delhi as Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar held a meeting on the sidelines of a conference in Muscat in Oman as the 30-year deal between the two neighbours is set to expire in 2026.

India has long been withdrawing water upstream as the two countries share 54 rivers, adversely affecting the lower riparian Bangladesh.

Asked about New Delhi’s response to Dhaka’s request for the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the foreign ministry spokesperson said that they did not get any response as yet.

He earlier said that they had sent all necessary documents with the letter requesting the Indian government to extradite Sheikh Hasina who fled to India for shelter on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising.

On December 23, 2024, the foreign ministry sent a note verbale to its Indian counterpart, requesting the extradition of Sheikh Hasina who is facing an International Crimes Tribunal warrant for her arrest on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity during the July-August mass uprising along with scores of murder cases.

Amid rising demands for extradition of the ousted prime minister for trial, the foreign ministry requested its Indian counterpart to send her back.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, has been staying in India since the mass uprising ousting her 15-year autocratic regime on August 5, 2024.

The regime ouster led to the formation of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8.​