India should act quickly to reach an amicable solution to the Teesta dispute before Bangladesh embraces Chinese cooperation on the issue, writes Anup Sinha for South Asia Monitor
India, Bangladesh must settle Teesta issue in mutual interest (Photo: Wikipedia)
By Anup Sinha Jan 25, 2022
On June 6, 2015, India and Bangladesh decided to implement the 1974 land boundary agreement which marked the long overdue peaceful settlement of all the border disputes between the two countries. Despite the corona pandemic, the Indian leadership graced Bangladesh with its presence during the celebrations of the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th year of Bangladesh’s independence.
These have again reaffirmed India’s long-standing commitment to its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and show the potential of the future course of the bilateral relations between the two countries. But all these friendly exchanges have again failed to address the long bone of contention that still remains — the Teesta river water-sharing dispute. A resolution of this issue can not only benefit Bangladesh but can be mutually beneficial in all respects.
Teesta dispute
Originating in the Panhunri mountains of the Eastern Himalayas, the Teesta, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh through the Fulcharri Upazila of Gaibandha district. The Teesta dispute originated after 1947 when India was allotted the controlling areas of the Teesta river basin.
In 1972, a Joint Rivers Commission between India and Bangladesh was set up to look into the matter. In 1983, an ad-hoc settlement was reached where India would receive 39 percent of its waters and Bangladesh 36 percent. All these years attempts to negotiate a resolution were made but with minimal progress.
In 2011, India’s UPA government reached a deal with Bangladesh where it agreed to give Bangladesh 37.5 percent share of the waters of Teesta while itself settling for 42.5 percent. But this deal was never quite implemented due to opposition from the West Bengal state government led by Mamata Banerjee.
Dhaka leans on Teestsa
Bangladesh, being a lower riparian country, is very much sensitive to bilateral water-sharing issues. Agriculture and livelihood in Bangladesh’s north-western Rangpur region largely depend on the waters of Teesta. A fruitful solution to this problem will not only benefit Bangladesh economically but will also help to strengthen ties between India and Bangladesh. But India has long stalled any feasible solution to this problem.
The last Joint River Commission meeting held almost 12 years ago in New Delhi in 2010 did not address the Teesta water-sharing issue. Moreover, despite sharing a total of 54 rivers between themselves, India and Bangladesh have not signed a single bilateral treaty on water sharing in the last 26 years.
India’s long apathy to resolving the water crisis has drawn Bangladesh towards China. In recent times, China has put forward a proposal for Bangladesh where they offered to dredge and embank large portions of the Teesta river with the purpose of forming a single manageable channel.
Naturally, India has strongly opposed any sort of Chinese inclusion in the region because it does not want China anywhere near the Siliguri Corridor, the most vulnerable portion of India’s landmass. Many experts in Bangladesh have supported China’s proposal due to India’s long silence on the issue but Bangladeshi authorities are still pondering all their options.
India must help Hasina
It is often said that Bangladesh and India are currently witnessing a “golden period” in their bilateral relations. But not addressing such a contentious issue can harm this prevailing harmony. India should act quickly to reach an amicable solution to the Teesta dispute before Bangladesh embraces Chinese cooperation on the issue.
It is well known that Bangladesh has agreed to become a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). But it has also given signals that it still considers India as its most important neighbour and ally. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very much eager to resolve the Teesta issue due to growing domestic pressure. But any further stalling tactics from India may compel her to turn the other way.
This deal will greatly benefit the Indians as well. If a bilateral treaty goes forward, then it will be able to appease all stakeholders within Bangladesh. India will surely be able to strengthen its position as a strong ally of Bangladesh and will be able to develop a robust economic and diplomatic partnership. So it is in India’s best interest to act quickly on the matter and cement the “golden period” in its bilateral relations with Bangladesh.
(The writer is a Dhaka, Bangladesh based researcher on South Asian affairs. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at sinhaanup1990@gmail.com)
Read more at: https://www.southasiamonitor.org/spotlight/india-bangladesh-must-settle-teesta-issue-mutual-interest