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{{Short description|Bangladesh-India geopolitical dispute}}
{{AI-generated|date=August 2025}}

[[File:Tista Barrage Bangladesh.jpg|thumb|The Teesta Barrage represents a critical point of geopolitical tension between Bangladesh and India, where upstream water control by India impacts Bangladesh's water security, affecting regional stability and cross-border relations in South Asia.]]

The '''Teesta Water Dispute''' involves a geopolitical challenge between [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]] regarding the allocation of the [[Teesta River]]'s water resources.<ref>{{Cite web | author=Anuttama Banerji | title=India Must Settle the Teesta River Dispute With Bangladesh for Lasting Gains | publisher=The Diplomat| date=2021-04-09 | url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/india-must-settle-the-teesta-river-dispute-with-bangladesh-for-lasting-gains/}}</ref> Originating in [[Sikkim]], India, and flowing through [[West Bengal]] before entering Bangladesh, the Teesta River spans 414 kilometers and is important for agriculture and [[irrigation]], particularly in northern Bangladesh. This river supports the livelihoods of many in the region and is a critical factor in the broader diplomatic relations between the two countries, underscoring the need for collaborative water management strategies.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Hasnat | last=Abdul | title=The political economy of Teesta River | work=The Financial Express | date=2024-05-14 | url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/the-political-economy-of-teesta-river}}</ref>

==Historical background==

The dispute over the Teesta River dates back to the [[partition of India]] in 1947, when the river's [[Drainage basin|catchment]] areas became divided between India and Bangladesh. The issue resurfaced after Bangladesh gained [[Independence of Bangladesh|independence]] in 1971. In 1983, a temporary water-sharing agreement was made between the two nations, giving India 39% of the river's water and Bangladesh 36%. However, this arrangement was never formalized into a permanent [[treaty]], and discussions have since been ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Abu | last=Siddique | title=Latest water-sharing deal between Bangladesh, India is 'drop in the ocean' | website=mongabay.com | date=2022-09-14 | url=https://news.mongabay.com/2022/09/latest-water-sharing-deal-between-bangladesh-india-is-drop-in-the-ocean/}}</ref>

Efforts to secure a comprehensive agreement progressed in 2011, with a draft treaty that proposed allocating 37.5% of the Teesta's water to Bangladesh during the [[dry season]]. However, opposition from West Bengal's Chief Minister, [[Mamata Banerjee]], citing concerns about [[water scarcity]] in her state, stalled the agreement. This internal political dynamic in India has posed a significant challenge to resolving the dispute.<ref>{{Cite web | author=Md. Jahid-Al-Mamun | title=India's Teesta River funding: ambition or illusion? | publisher=Asia Times | date=2024-05-22 | url=https://asiatimes.com/2024/05/indias-teesta-river-funding-ambition-or-illusion/}}</ref>

==Geopolitical significance==

The Teesta River is critical to both [[Bangladesh–India relations|India and Bangladesh]]. In Bangladesh, the river supports agriculture in the Teesta Basin, where water shortages have severely impacted agricultural productivity. According to the [[International Food Policy Research Institute]] (IFPRI), Bangladesh loses approximately 1.5 million tons of rice annually due to the water shortage, with future losses expected to rise.<ref>{{Cite web | author=Hasnat Abdul Hye | title=The political economy of Teesta River | publisher=The Financial Express | date=2024-05-14 | url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/the-political-economy-of-teesta-river}}</ref>

In India, particularly in the state of West Bengal, the Teesta is vital for irrigation and power generation. Several [[hydropower]] projects are located in the river's upper catchment areas, and nearly half a dozen districts in [[North Bengal]] depend on its waters. The dispute illustrates the difficulty of balancing domestic needs with international water-sharing agreements, especially in the face of political opposition within India.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Suvojit | last=Bagchi | title=What is the lowdown on sharing of Teesta waters? | work=The Hindu | date=2017-04-08 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/the-hindu-explains-teesta-water-sharing/article17894299.ece}}</ref>

[[File:Lower Dam III across Teesta River, AJTJ P1110122.jpg|thumb|The Teesta Low Dam - III highlights the river's role in India-Bangladesh water-sharing disputes, affecting regional energy and security dynamics.]]

The construction of India's Gazoldoba Barrage, upstream of the Tista Barrage in Bangladesh, has significantly impacted water flow and intensified the Teesta Water Dispute between the two nations. This dispute has broader geopolitical implications, as water scarcity in Bangladesh could affect regional stability, influencing both India's northeastern states and the overall water-sharing dynamics in [[South Asia]]. The Teesta River's water management remains a critical issue in the context of Bangladesh-India relations and regional cooperation.<ref>''Barrage'', Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, edited on 17 June 2021, [https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Barrage accessed 29 September 2024].</ref>

==Recent developments==

In 2024, the Teesta dispute resurfaced following the resignation of Bangladesh's pro-Indian Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]]. The interim government, led by [[Nobel laureate]] [[Muhammad Yunus]], prioritized resuming talks with India on the Teesta River issue.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Bangladesh's interim govt 'keen to restart talks' on Teesta water treaty with India | publisher=The Indian Express | date=2024-09-02 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-teesta-water-treaty-india-talks-sheikh-hasina-modi-9545804/}}</ref> [[Rizwana Hasan|Syeda Rizwana Hasan]], water resources adviser to the interim government, reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to advancing the Teesta water-sharing agreement. After meeting with a [[World Bank]] delegation, she emphasized that Bangladesh would assert its rights over the river while engaging with the local population.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Won't back down on Teesta issue: Rizwana | publisher=The Business Post | date=2024-08-21 | url=https://businesspostbd.com/diplomacy/wont-back-down-on-teesta-issue-rizwana}}</ref>

==Challenges==

The Teesta Barrage Project in India is designed to improve water supply for agriculture in six northern districts of West Bengal and generate 67.50 MW of hydropower. The project includes the Teesta Barrage, Mahananda Barrage, and extensive Canal systems|canal systems. Significant progress has been made in the construction of the barrages and canal distribution systems, enhancing the region's irrigation and hydropower capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web | publisher=Irrigation & Waterways Department, Government of West Bengal | title=Irrigation Section | url=https://wbiwd.gov.in/index.php/applications/teesta}}</ref>

In Bangladesh, the Teesta remains essential for agriculture, supporting millions of farmers in six districts. A fair water-sharing agreement is crucial for ensuring [[food security]] and [[economic stability]].<ref>{{Cite web | author=Hasnat Abdul Hye | title=The political economy of Teesta river | publisher=The Financial Express | date=2024-05-14 | url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/the-political-economy-of-teesta-river}}</ref> The evolving political landscape in Bangladesh, under the [[interim government of Muhammad Yunus]], offers renewed opportunities for negotiations on the Teesta treaty.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Yunus calls for resolving issues over Teesta water-sharing treaty with India | publisher=The Business Standard | date=2024-09-06 | url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/yunus-calls-resolving-issues-over-teesta-water-sharing-treaty-india-934966}}</ref> However, Bangladesh faces diplomatic challenges in balancing its relations with both India and China, particularly regarding the $1 billion Teesta River project backed by China. While China offers infrastructure development, India is concerned about the strategic security implications and seeks to limit China's influence in the region.<ref>{{Cite web | author=Kamal Uddin Mazumder | title=Teesta River Project Pushes Bangladesh Into China-India Cold War | publisher=The Diplomat | date=2024-05-22 | url=https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/teesta-river-project-pushes-bangladesh-into-china-india-cold-war/}}</ref> According to Dr. Lailufar Yasmin, professor of international relations at the [[University of Dhaka]], Teesta Project is a "[[Wiktionary:litmus test|litmus test]]" for Bangladesh in its relations with [[Bangladesh–India relations|India]] and [[Bangladesh–China relations|China]].<ref name="bbcbangla">{{cite web|first=Tafsir|last=Babu|title=আমেরিকা–চীন–ভারত, পররাষ্ট্রনীতিতে কোনদিকে ঝুঁকছে বাংলাদেশ?|trans-title=America–China–India, on which side Bangladesh is leaning in foreign policy?|url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/articles/c0e7pq1ll73o|website=[[BBC Bangla]]|date=5 April 2026|language=bn}}</ref>

The evolving [[geopolitics]] of the [[Bengal Basin]], with the U.S. expressing concerns about regional dominance, underscores Bangladesh's strategic importance within the broader [[Indo-Pacific]] framework.<ref>{{Cite web | title=US against dominance of any particular country in Indo-Pacific: Foreign secretary | publisher=The Business Standard | date=2023-09-05 | url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/us-does-not-want-dominance-any-particular-country-indo-pacific-region-foreign-secretary}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Teesta River]]
* [[Bengal Basin]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bangladesh–India relations]]
[[Category:Water disputes in India]]

Teesta Water Dispute - Revision history

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