A Dhaka seminar on Bangladesh-India shared river water distribution called for renegotiating the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty, citing structural weaknesses and urging restoration of its “guarantee clause.” The event, titled “Ganges Water Treaty: Issues for Renegotiation,” was held Tuesday at the BILIA auditorium in Dhanmondi. Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury said the government aims to make the Padma Barrage project plan effective and visible by January-February next year.

Presenting the keynote paper, Dhaka University law professor and former interim government adviser Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh’s share had fallen by about 6.52 percent because the 1996 treaty lacks an assurance of minimum water availability. He said Bangladesh did not receive minimum flow in 15 of 27 critical periods between 2008 and 2016. His recommendations included access to information, restoring the guarantee clause, multilateral basin management involving Bangladesh, India and Nepal, and strengthening the Joint Rivers Commission.

The minister said the barrage concerns nearly seven crore people in 24 to 26 districts. He also expressed hope that the prime minister would present Bangladesh’s firm position on the treaty at the United Nations next month. State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad highlighted navigability problems in 54 rivers.