Bangladesh to seek guarantee from India on Ganga Water Treaty:May approach international forums; 1996 pact expires in December

Bangladesh wants to include a ‘guarantee clause’ in the Ganga Water Treaty with India. Bangladesh’s Water Resources Minister, Shahidur Rahman Chowdhury Annie, made the statement at an event in Dhaka on Tuesday. Shahidur Rahman said Bangladesh could approach international forums if necessary. The India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty is due to expire in December 2026. The agreement sets out the mechanism for sharing Ganga water during the dry season. Against this backdrop, Dhaka is seeking a minimum assured flow of water to be included in the proposed guarantee clause. Bangladesh argues that the current treaty does not ensure an adequate supply of water during the dry season. What are the terms of the India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty? When the river has more than 75,000 cusecs of water: India receives 40,000 cusecs, while the remaining water is allocated to Bangladesh. When the flow is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs: Bangladesh receives the agreed 35,000 cusecs, while India gets the remaining water. When the flow falls below 70,000 cusecs: The available water is divided equally between the two countries, with each receiving 50%. The agreement applies from 1 January to 31 May, when water levels in the Ganga are relatively low. Why does Bangladesh want a guarantee clause? Bangladesh says the existing treaty lays down a water-sharing formula but does not provide a legal guarantee that it will receive a fixed minimum quantity of water. It is therefore seeking the inclusion of a ‘guarantee clause’ in a new treaty. Such a clause would ensure that the downstream country receives a minimum amount of water even when river flows decline. Bangladesh also wants the new agreement to clearly specify how any water shortage would be addressed, and which country would be responsible if the agreed provisions were not followed. According to Bangladesh, a similar provision was included in the 1977 Ganga Water Agreement but was omitted from the 1996 treaty. Dhaka is therefore seeking to restore such a provision in the new agreement.