Ganges Water Treaty renewal looms for India and Bangladesh

Bangladesh has formally requested that India begin negotiations to renew the Ganges Water Treaty, which is set to expire in December 2026. Despite the request being submitted in June, Bangladeshi officials report that no response has been received from the Indian government.

The 1996 agreement, signed by former leaders H. D. Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina, is facing renewed scrutiny due to changing environmental realities, including climate change and shifting water requirements. Experts suggest that future discussions should move toward basin-wide management rather than fixed-location water sharing.

Negotiations face political complexities within India. In Bihar, some political figures have urged the central government not to renew the treaty in its current form, citing concerns over water supplies for drinking and irrigation. In West Bengal, concerns center on riverbank erosion, silting, and the navigability of the Kolkata port. The upcoming renewal process is viewed as a critical test for bilateral relations between Dhaka and Delhi.