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The Ganges water sharing treaty between Bangladesh and India, signed in 1996, is set to expire in 2026. Ahead of this, New Delhi is planning to review the treaty’s terms and renew it under a new framework aligned with India’s interests. This information was reported by the Indian media outlet Times of India on Friday, June 27, 2025.
According to the report, following the termination of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, India is now considering amendments to the Ganges water sharing agreement with Bangladesh. Indian authorities believe that the 1996 treaty’s framework is outdated and does not meet current demands driven by climate change, agricultural expansion, power generation, and river port management. India’s water needs during the dry season have increased significantly, and the existing treaty fails to address these requirements adequately.
India’s proposal includes drawing an additional 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs of water from the Farakka Barrage between March and May each year, citing the necessity of this extra water for its developmental activities. Given that the Farakka Barrage is located in West Bengal’s Malda district, the state government’s opinion carries significant weight. According to Times of India, both the Indian central government and the West Bengal government support the proposed changes, arguing that the current treaty does not provide the required water volume.
The 1996 treaty, signed under the leadership of then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stipulates that during the dry season from January to May, the Ganges water at the Farakka Barrage is shared between the two countries based on a specific formula. Notably, from March 11 to May 11 each year, the two nations alternately receive 35,000 cusecs of water every 10 days. However, India now seeks to significantly increase its share during this period.
Since the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage in 1975, water from the Ganges has been diverted to the Hooghly River to keep the Kolkata port operational. Bangladesh has long alleged that this diversion has reduced water flow in the Padma River, leading to desertification in its southwestern region, adversely affecting agriculture, fisheries, and biodiversity.
Analysts view India’s move to revise the Ganges treaty, following the abrogation of the Indus treaty with Pakistan, as a signal of significant shifts in South Asia’s water diplomacy. For a downstream country like Bangladesh, this presents a major challenge. Discussions are ongoing about whether Bangladesh’s interests will be adequately protected in any new agreement.
No official response has been received from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Water Resources. However, it is anticipated that the issue will be discussed in future meetings of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC).
AI/MR
