Disastrous diversion of Teesta water 

Given India's latest bid to divert water from the already sucked up river by digging canals, life and livelihood of people in a vast area on the banks of the Teesta are under grave threat. Teesta flows through Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts, all of whom are destined to be water withdrawal victims.  By expressing a note of alarm, the State Minister for Water Resources has said the government is going to send a letter to the Indian government seeking a clarification. As a friendly neighbour, Bangladesh was always in favour of resolving disputes over common rivers through bilateral negotiations, he added.

At this point it's worth remembering how Bangladesh and India in 1996 reached the agreement called the Treaty on the Sharing of the Ganges waters at Farakka. It was aimed at ending the differences between Bangladesh and India. The principal objective of the treaty was to determine the amount of water to be released by India. Placing beside the Farakka case, the one related to the Teesta River still appears to be condemned to an inaccessible impasse. To Bangladesh, it means large tracts of arid land, loss of livelihoods and local economic disaster. Had India been even-handed with a compassionate attitude towards Bangladesh, the Teesta water-sharing dispute would have been over by this time. Instead, the bitterness over Teesta water still galls Bangladesh. Observers feel wont to locate the roots of egotism of some behind-the-scenes quarters active for long in the Teesta water-sharing process. Their memories are fresh about how West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in June 2011 abruptly took a volt-face on signing a deal on the Teesta water-sharing with Bangladesh. It appeared then that her state's interest had an overwhelming  priority to that of her nation. The latest developments related to Teesta water diversion echo her stance vis-à-vis West Bengal's need for the river's water.

At this point the comment of the country's river expert Dr Ainun Nishat could be insightful. He says this (the water diversion) cannot be done without the consent of the central government. He has termed the issue 'political' and has suggested its 'resolution politically'.  Bangladesh State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk hasn't failed to touch upon a most vital aspect of sorting out differences: involving regional forums. If solutions do not come through bilateral talks, 'regional forum' will be an option. The minister has pointed out that Bangladesh and India have agreed at the last JRC (Joint River Commission) meeting that the natural flow of the common rivers will not be disturbed. Only the excess water of the rivers can be withdrawn. Had the condition been followed properly, many of the later complexities wouldn't have cropped up.

According to FE news on May 8, 2022, Bangladesh has sought US$ 938.27 million in loan from China to implement the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project. The project's feasibility study had been completed by Power Construction Corporation of China (Powerchina) two years ago, and the works were slated to start after the signing of the loan agreement. But it was later learned that the ongoing economic recession and the geopolitical considerations had prompted the authorities to backtrack. Meanwhile, uncertainties shroud the issues of Teesta water-sharing and justice for Bangladesh. A diplomatic solution to the problem ought to be the only option in the interest of friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries.