Bangladesh observed the 50th anniversary of the Farakka Barrage operation on May 16, 2026, amid continuing concerns over its long-term effects on rivers, agriculture, fisheries, and livelihoods. Experts warned that the current Ganges water-sharing treaty, expiring in December 2026, must be renegotiated to include a mandatory guarantee clause ensuring minimum dry-season water flow. They argue that without such assurance, water scarcity and environmental degradation in northern and southwestern Bangladesh will intensify.

Since India began diverting Ganges water through the Farakka Barrage in 1975, vast stretches of the Padma River have dried up, turning once-thriving waterways into sandbanks. Researchers estimate that at least 60 million people have suffered losses in irrigation, fisheries, and drinking water access. The Water Development Board reports that dry-season flow has dropped from 120,000 to 24,000 cusecs, while over 2,000 kilometers of navigable routes have become defunct.

Experts and civic groups called for Bangladesh to raise the issue in international forums, seek compensation for economic losses, and form a regional water forum with neighboring countries to ensure equitable river management.