In a pivotal move, the International Farakka Committee has called upon Dhaka and Delhi to reinvigorate the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and ink a new agreement for the Teesta, complete with robust guarantee and arbitration clauses.
During a joint statement at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday, Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmed, President of the International Farakka Committee, emphasized the need for a basinwide agreement to sustainably develop the 54 common rivers shared between the two nations.
The statement, echoed by Mostafa Kamal Majumder, convener of IFC, Sirajuddin Sathi, writer and researcher, Tamijuddin Ahmed, Dr. Nazma Ahmad (Vice President of IFC Bangladesh), and journalist Rafiqul Islam Azad, pointed out that water treaties signed by India with Nepal and Pakistan include guarantee and arbitration clauses, successfully safeguarding mutual interests.
In contrast, the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh has not fulfilled its terms, leading to unfulfilled expectations in the diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
Highlighting the historical context, the Farakka Barrage on the Ganges, commissioned in consultation with Bangladesh in 1975, saw unilateral water withdrawals and environmental disasters in Bangladesh, causing strain in bilateral ties.
While a 30-year Ganges water treaty was signed in 1996, set to expire in 2026, Bangladesh faced challenges as the terms were not met, lacking guarantee and arbitration clauses. Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud recently urged the renewal of this treaty and the signing of the Teesta Water Treaty during his visit to Delhi.
The statement underscored the urgency of overcoming weaknesses in the Ganges Treaty at the time of renewal, emphasizing the vital role of guarantee and arbitration clauses.
Turning attention to the Teesta issue, the agreement was slated for signing in 2011 but remains pending due to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s stance. The absence of water release from the Teesta to Bangladesh during the dry season, coupled with severe flood-related damages during the wet season, calls for swift action.
The statement stressed the profound significance of rivers in Bangladesh’s identity and the life and death implications for its people. It urged against unilateral water withdrawals and emphasized the detrimental impact of altering natural water sources for short-term gains through dam construction in Teesta and other shared rivers.
