A team of seven members from Bangladesh has arrived in India to participate in discussions related to the 86th Ganges Water Treaty and to conduct a technical inspection of the Ganges River. Led by Mohammad Abul Hossain, a member of the Joint River Commission (JRC), the delegation includes Midri Jahan, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mohammad Shamshuzzaman, a JRC member (Technical Committee), Mohammad Abul Hossain, Chief Engineer (Sylhet) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Chief Engineer Mohammad Shafiqul Islam (Comilla), and Chief Engineer Mohammad Abu Taher (Dhaka) from the Bangladesh Water Development Board, as well as Dr. Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, Superintendent Engineer of the Hydroinformatics and Flood Forecasting Division.
The team, representing Bangladesh, will later be joined by Monowar Mokarram, Director of the South Asia-1 Subregion of the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Counselor (Political) Tushita Chakma from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and Afzal Mehdad Adnan, the First Secretary (Political) of the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.
Despite the visit, there will be no field study conducted during this trip, as Mohammad Abul Hossain stated that there will be no discussions regarding the Teesta issue. Speaking to reporters outside the airport, he mentioned, “Each year, we undertake this trip for the practical implementation of the Ganges Treaty between the two countries.” According to Hossain, the focus will primarily be on technical matters.
The importance of the Ganges water for Bangladesh cannot be understated, with one-third (38%) of the country’s water dependence coming from the Ganges. Particularly in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, this water holds significant importance.
On their five-day journey, the delegation will visit Farakka on Monday. After conducting various inspections, they will return to Kolkata on the 5th. Subsequently, on the 6th and 7th, there will be a meeting among the members of the Indian River Commission at a five-star hotel in Kolkata.
In December 1996, the then-Prime Minister of India, H.D. Deve Gowda, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, along with the then-Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, signed a water agreement regarding the Ganges. The agreement had a term of 30 years, set to expire in 2026.
According to the comprehensive agreement from 30 years ago, it mentions the specific quantity of water to be supplied from January to May during the dry season. The agreement stipulates that if the river flow exceeds 75,000 cusecs, India will receive 40,000 cusecs, and the remaining water will go to Bangladesh. If the river flow ranges between 70,000 to 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh will receive 40,000 cusecs, and the rest will go to India. In the event that the river flow is below 70,000 cusecs, the water will be shared equally between the two neighboring countries.
Despite ongoing concerns raised by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, regarding the water sharing of the Ganges and Teesta with Bangladesh, the issue has remained unresolved for an extended period.
In a detailed three-page letter to Prime Minister Modi in June last year, Mamata highlighted the crucial impact of water from Farakka on the lives and livelihoods of the people in Bengal. She emphasized the necessity of ensuring the navigability of the Kolkata port through the Farakka Feeder Canal, underscoring its vital role in preserving the bustling maritime activities of the port.
Given this backdrop, the arrival of the Bangladeshi delegation in India and their thorough examination of the Ganges is considered crucial.
