POLITICS
India should think about relation with BD while deciding on Ganges treaty: Deputy Foreign Minister
Bangladesh urges India to consider bilateral ties as talks continue to renew the 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty set to expire in December.
FARABI SAIFULLAH
Collected
BIONIC READING
In a Nutshell:
- Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Shama Obaed said talks with India on renewing the Ganges treaty are ongoing and moving in a positive direction, and separately addressed efforts to secure Hasina's extradition.
- The key figures include Shama Obaed Islam, Indian and Bangladeshi officials handling the request, with India examining it through its judicial channels.
- The 30-year Ganges treaty, signed in 1996, expires in December, and not all rounds of the renewal talks are public. On extradition, India said in April it is examining Bangladesh's request as part of its ongoing legal processes.
Why it Matters
The treaty governs how a major shared river is used, so its renewal carries real weight for Bangladesh's water supply and food security.
- With the agreement due to expire in December, its renewal, or lapse, could directly affect how much Ganges water Bangladesh receives, an issue tied closely to the country's agriculture.
- In the short term, the December deadline puts pressure on negotiators to reach a new arrangement. Over the longer term, letting the treaty lapse without a replacement could severely affect Bangladesh's agriculture and food security.
- The renewal is closely tied to the wider India-Bangladesh relationship. Recently BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the future of strong ties between the two countries hinges on renewing the agreement, signalling that the treaty is viewed not just as a water arrangement but as a test of the broader diplomatic relationship.
Who it matters to
This matters to several parties. These include the two governments at the negotiating table, the farmers and communities who depend on the shared river water, and the experts calling for a careful review.
- Both the BD and Indian governments are engaged in the renewal talks, and Bangladesh has signalled that it hopes the outcome will preserve good relations between the two countries.
- Those who rely on Ganges water for farming stand to be most affected if the treaty expires without a new deal, given the warnings about food security.