Bangladesh is confronting renewed tensions over transboundary river management as the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, signed in 1996, approaches its expiry in December 2026. Technical teams from both countries have begun preliminary discussions, but India has informally suggested a new formula based on water flow at the Farakka point, which Bangladeshi experts deem unfair. The uncertainty over renewal has revived concerns about equitable water distribution, particularly as Bangladesh continues to suffer from reduced dry-season flows, salinity, and environmental degradation linked to upstream control.

The article highlights that India’s unilateral management of shared rivers has long disadvantaged Bangladesh, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and navigation. The Farakka Barrage, Teesta water-sharing deadlock, and Tipaimukh Dam project are cited as examples of India prioritizing its strategic and domestic interests over regional fairness. Bangladesh’s government is advancing the Padma Barrage project to retain dry-season water, though experts warn of potential ecological side effects.

The author urges Bangladesh to strengthen water diplomacy, enhance research capacity, and mobilize international support for binding transboundary river governance to safeguard national interests and environmental security.