Bangladesh does not want ties with India to deteriorate over Teesta: Minister
"The neighbouring country is a friendly country. They have to think that while they have their interests, we also have ours," Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said.
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Context
Bangladesh has expressed a strong desire to finalize the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement with India, emphasizing that it does not want bilateral relations to deteriorate over the issue. Dhaka is simultaneously pursuing a comprehensive river management project for the Teesta, notably seeking technical and financial assistance from China, which has raised strategic concerns for New Delhi given the region's proximity to the sensitive Siliguri Corridor. The issue highlights the complex interplay of transboundary water management, domestic politics (specifically West Bengal's opposition), and regional geopolitics.
UPSC Perspectives
Geopolitical
The Teesta water dispute has evolved from a bilateral hydropolitical issue into a significant geopolitical challenge due to the 'China factor'. Bangladesh's engagement with China for the 'Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project' is a strategic pressure tactic to compel India into signing a treaty. For India, a Chinese presence in northern Bangladesh is highly sensitive because of its proximity to the [Siliguri Corridor] (the 'Chicken's Neck'), a narrow strip of land connecting mainland India to its northeastern states. This situation exemplifies how unmanaged bilateral disputes can create vulnerabilities that allow extra-regional powers to expand their strategic footprint in India's immediate neighborhood, complicating the [Neighbourhood First Policy].
Polity
The inability to conclude the Teesta agreement despite the central government's efforts highlights the complexities of [Federalism] in India, particularly regarding foreign policy implementation. The [Constitution of India] grants the Union government exclusive power to enter into treaties and agreements with foreign countries under . However, when these treaties impact subjects on the State List (like water under Entry 17 of State List), domestic political consensus becomes crucial. The West Bengal government's sustained opposition, citing the state's own water needs for agriculture during the dry season, demonstrates how sub-national governments can effectively veto international agreements, creating a tension between federal structure and national foreign policy objectives.
Geographical
The geography of the Teesta River dictates the hydro-politics between the two nations. The Teesta originates in the Himalayas, flows through Sikkim and West Bengal, and merges with the Jamuna (Brahmaputra) in Bangladesh. As an upper riparian state, India controls the water flow, particularly crucial during the lean season (December to May). India has constructed barrages (like the Gazaldoba barrage) for irrigation and hydropower generation in its northern districts. Bangladesh, a lower riparian state, depends heavily on the river's flow for agriculture in its northern districts. The lack of a formalized, long-term sharing mechanism (unlike the [Ganges Water Sharing Treaty] of 1996) leads to recurring crises of floods during monsoons and severe water scarcity during dry seasons in Bangladesh, impacting livelihoods and driving the demand for a comprehensive management plan.