[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

[Saif]

Teesta river bank protection work to begin soon: Rizwana

Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (Saturday) said work will begin soon to protect about 20 km of banks of the Teesta River. She said the Ministry of Finance has approved Tk 243 crore to protect 43 km of river banks in the erosion-prone area of Teesta, BSS reports. However, r

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Teesta river bank protection work to begin soon: Rizwana
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Mar 22, 2025 23:47
Updated :
Mar 22, 2025 23:47

Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (Saturday) said work will begin soon to protect about 20 km of banks of the Teesta River.

She said the Ministry of Finance has approved Tk 243 crore to protect 43 km of river banks in the erosion-prone area of Teesta, BSS reports.

However, riverbank protection work on 20 km banks of the river Teesta will begin this year, and the work on the banks of the 23 km will also start quickly.

The water resources adviser said this while addressing a discussion on the Reform in the Water Sector. The Ministry of Water Resources arranged the meeting at the conference room of Pani Bhaban at Green Road in Dhaka on the occasion of World Water Day.

Rizwana said the local offices of the Bangladesh Water Development Board have been instructed to keep enough Geo bags and blocks ready to work on an emergency basis.
In the context of the Teesta mega plan, the adviser said the period of Feasibility Study on the Teesta Mega Plan has been extended to two years on two conditions.

Power China will go to the people living on the banks of Teesta and talk about their plans, she said, adding that it will also talk to those who work on the river.

Rizwana said public hearings were held in five districts and now the expert level talks will be held.

Expert team will also come from China to discuss the issue, she added.

Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan presided over the meeting.

Director General of the Water Development Board AKM Tahmidul Islam, Director General of Bangladesh Wetland and Haor Department Md. Akhteruzzaman and Executive Director of the Institute of Water Modelling SM Mahbubur Rahman also spoke on the occasion, among others.​

 

[Saif]

Dying Padma aggravates water scarcity in north: study

The gradual decrease in the water level of the Padma River has intensified the groundwater depletion in the High Barind Tract, an arid region in the country’s north-western part known for its severe water scarcity...

www.newagebd.net

Dying Padma aggravates water scarcity in north: study
Farakka releases almost four times less water since launch
Suzon Ali . Rajshahi 07 April, 2025, 00:39

The gradual decrease in the water level of the Padma River has intensified the groundwater depletion in the High Barind Tract, an arid region in the country’s north-western part known for its severe water scarcity.

This finding has been revealed in a study titled ‘Simulation of river aquifer dynamics and water scarcity in the left bank of River Ganges (Padma), Bangladesh’. The study findings were published in the Netherlands-based journal ‘Biodiversity and conservation’ in January this year.

Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, a geology and mining professor at Rajshahi University, said that he along with his three colleagues investigated the simulation of groundwater flow characteristics and its dynamic exchanges with surface water for the period of 1980–2020 in the left bank of Padma River.

He said that the study was conducted in an 85-kilometre area on the left bank of the River Ganges (Padma) starting from its entry point in Bangladesh in Chapai Nawabganj district to the Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district covering twelve upazilas of Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Pabna districts.

According to the study, the groundwater level in the Barind region—an area higher than the rest of the country in general, and with much less rainfall—exhibits a declining trend during the dry summer season. Before 2000, however, the groundwater level nearly recovered to its original state during the monsoon.

Since 2000, however, groundwater level in the region has been declining at an alarming rate, failing to return to previous level even during the monsoon.

Over the past four decades, groundwater level in the study area has dropped by 5.22 metres. The present total deficit between groundwater recharge and discharge in the region’s river basin area stands at 20,44,000 litres per year, according to the study.

‘Over exploitation in the upstream is a major cause of scarcity of groundwater,’ the study mentioned.

An analysis of the Bangladesh Water Development Board data from the past five years shows that during the dry season (January–May), the water flow in the Padma River decreased from 2,093 cubic metres per second in 2019 to 1,076 cubic metres per second in 2024.

Before the opening of the Farakka Barrage, located 18km upstream of the India-Bangladesh border, the Padma River had a flow of 3,685 cubic metres per second in 1974.

Along with the reduced river flow, the yearly minimum water level has dropped from 4.59 metres in 2020 to 2.98 metres in 2024, while the yearly maximum water level has fallen from 13.47 metres in 2019 to 12.38 metres in 2024, according to the analysis.

‘The declining value of groundwater level is higher in summer season than that of rainy season because of less amount of groundwater recharge and huge outflow of groundwater from aquifer system towards the river basin due to poor flow of river water as well as over-exploitation of groundwater for irrigation purpose in dry summer season’, the study report explains.

The study predicts that over the next 40 years, the annual deficit between groundwater recharge by rain and discharge or outflow from aquifer systems will reach 8,17,60,000 litres, and the deficit would be even more aggravated if the flow of river water further declines while the withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation increases.

To ensure sustainability, the study suggests implementing coordinated water and land resource management strategies, including rainwater harvesting, creating mechanisms for directing captured rain into the ground, efficient irrigation techniques, crop diversification, soil management and regulated groundwater extraction.

A previous study conducted by the Institute of Water Modelling, a government agency, in 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj between 2018 and 2021 showed that the average groundwater level in the High Barind Tract dropped to 18 metres from 8 metres in the past three decades.

In some specific areas like Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj, the average groundwater level dropped to as low as 46.87 metres in 2021 from 21 metres in 1990.

Meanwhile, cultivation of boro paddy, the country’s main staple crop, has decreased by 10,280 hectares in the Rajshahi agricultural region compared with the past year’s acreage due to severe water scarcity, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension officials.

Boro cultivation in the region largely depends on irrigation by extracting groundwater but, the farmers said, adequate water for irrigation cannot be extracted at places due to groundwater depletion.​

 

[Saif]

Is water war in the offing?

Shorter winter followed by prolonged summer marked by heatwaves with the level of mercury rising over 40 degrees centigrade has become a new normal. The congested cities like Dhaka with receding greenery and advancing concrete cover, are turning into veritable hellholes. The use of cool

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Is water war in the offing?
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Apr 27, 2025 23:20
Updated :
Apr 27, 2025 23:20

Shorter winter followed by prolonged summer marked by heatwaves with the level of mercury rising over 40 degrees centigrade has become a new normal. The congested cities like Dhaka with receding greenery and advancing concrete cover, are turning into veritable hellholes. The use of cooling devices to keep inside temperatures of buildings low is making matters worse. For the heat of the interior of the buildings now goes outside to heat up the overall environment of the cities further. Now to run the cooling devices you need power. To generate that power you have to burn fuel, which is the primary cause of global warming that has given rise to this phenomenon of heatwaves and rising temperatures in the first place. So, it is a vicious cycle we are trapped in. Worse yet, far from trying to find ways to break the cycle, measures are being taken only to maintain the status quo. By burning fossil fuel to generate power and keep the inside of the buildings of cities cool during hot summer, nothing is being ultimately gained. In fact, we are only continuing the policy of the West that gave rise to the climate change. Small wonder that, as a result, least developed countries like Bangladesh are being made to atone for the sin that the advanced industrial countries committed in the beginning. It is from the first industrial age when it all started. The ongoing heatwaves have definitely to do with the overall impacts of climate change. But are we really aware as a climate vulnerable nation that one climatic change-related phenomenon after another is increasing the challenge of adapting to it?

Let us have an idea of how the subject of heat or temperature is gradually accumulating before us. A 2023 study, for instance, shows that between 1949 and 2013, temperature has risen in this part of the world at the rate of 0.13 degrees centigrade per decade. By 2050, this rate of temperature rise is predicted to be going up to 1.4 degrees centigrade. Looks like, it is a small amount. But when it comes to the amount of heat it can accumulate, that is huge. The heatwaves and the accompanying temperatures that we are now experiencing is the result of this ever rising rate of temperature. If 40 degrees centigrade and above is now normal. The indications are that things are getting worse. Scientists warn that it is not just the impacts of natural phenomena like El Nino that are behind the ever rising temperatures in recent years. In fact, human actions in the form of, for example, constructing high-rise buildings in great numbers and that, too, in an unplanned way are also a major factor to blame, scientists pointed out. The seasonal patterns have already changed fundamentally. A multinational research done in 2021, revealed that between 1950 and 2021, monsoon rainfalls in the months between May and October decreased. On the other hand, episodic rainfalls increased fourfold in Bangladesh. But alongside, increase in episodic rainfalls, we are also experiencing droughts. The duration of the droughts are getting longer, drying up natural water reservoirs. Here also human actions have a big role to play. But there are still far worse kinds of human actions that destroyed the forests and depleted natural reservoirs below the ground. Those are wars that humans have fought and have been fighting for control of natural resources including water. Though the possibility of water wars that was forecast in the 1970s did not after all take place on a predicted scale, there is no guarantee that such wars will not break out in the future. The main reason for such wars would be the control and diversion of the flow of natural water courses like rivers. Consider the recent faceoff between India and Pakistan, two nuclear nations with common border. Though initially, it was on the diplomatic level over a terrorist attack on tourists leading to around 26 or more deaths, it has now taken more serious turn with India's statement that it has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. If the two neighbours will really come to deadly blows is a different issue, the point to consider here is that the upper riparian has chosen or has threatened to choose the most sensitive weapon, water, to punish its adversary. In fact, most rivers in the world being transboundary in nature, there is a great risk in the future that conflicts, even wars might break out over shared water resources. In such cases, responsibility will lie on the upper riparian nations in the case of the transboundary rivers to be more prudent about the issue. To be frank, whenever there is an option, humans will be prone to use it. Building water control structures to generate power or build dams on rivers to tame them as protection against floods or to divert their course to irrigate lands deprived of water was appreciated in the past when fewer people than now lived on earth. During those times Nature seemed to be abundant and even wild such as the mighty rivers like Padma, Meghna and Jumna in this region in particular. So, humans would then try to demonstrate their power over Nature by taming and harnessing it by various means. International lending agencies like the World Bank would then encourage nations to build dams to control floods, stop erosion or for diverting water to help irrigation. In this manner, most rivers of the world are now in chains. What was once a great boon to the people is now proving to be a bane of many. Meanwhile, the rivers have started to run dry either due to diversion of water by the upper riparian or for natural reasons. For countries with seacoasts like Bangladesh, it has turned further problematic. With the reduction of water flowing in the rivers, salinity increases in the coastal regions, depriving coastal people of sweet water to drink as well as to cultivate lands for agriculture. This calls for creating strong international arbitration mechanism so that countries sharing common rivers could get fair share of river waters whenever any dispute arises between co-riparian countries.​

 

[Saif]

TEESTA IRRIGATION PROJECT: Govt-set rate Tk 480 an acre, farmers pay Tk 1,000 for water supply

Farmers are allegedly paying Tk 1,000 an acre for irrigation water supply from the Teesta Irrigation Project although the government has set the rate at Tk 480 an acre throughout the year.

www.newagebd.net

TEESTA IRRIGATION PROJECT: Govt-set rate Tk 480 an acre, farmers pay Tk 1,000 for water supply
Rezaul Karim Manik . Lalmonirhat 10 May, 2025, 01:09

Farmers are allegedly paying Tk 1,000 an acre for irrigation water supply from the Teesta Irrigation Project although the government has set the rate at Tk 480 an acre throughout the year.

The payment of additional money has led to frustration among farmers in the project area.

However, officials of the Bangladesh Water Development Board claimed that no additional money was being taken from farmers.

The payment for irrigation water is made through local farmers’ associations, they added.

BWDB officials said that about 1 lakh farmers had cultivated boro rice on 1,23,500 acres of land under the project across six districts — Rangpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Bogura.

Irrigation water is supplied through a 750-kilometre canal network from the project.

The government earns about Tk 5.93 crore for supplying irrigation water to 1,23,500 acres of land at the rate of Tk 480 an acre.

Farmers, however, alleged that the local farmers’ associations had collected Tk 12.35 crore from them for irrigation water supply to 1,23,000 acres at the rate of Tk 1,000 an acre.

While leaders of the farmers’ associations paid the government Tk 5,92,80,000 in charges for irrigation water supply, the additional Tk 6,42,29,000 remains unaccounted for, the farmers alleged.

Rashidul Islam, a 65-year-old farmer from Nilphamari’s Dimla upazila, said that he had been growing crops using irrigation water from the project for the past 30 years.

‘I had to pay Tk 1,000 to receive irrigation water for one acre of land despite the government-set rate being Tk 480 an acre. I don’t know where the extra Tk 520 went. I paid Tk 1,000 through the local association. However, they did not give me any receipt against the payment,’ he said.

Abdur Rahim, a 70-year-old farmer from the same area, alleged that the extra money was shared between the association leaders and BWDB officials.

Abdus Samad, gatekeeper at the Teesta Irrigation Project and president of the farmers’ association at Dimla village, said that farmers paid charges for irrigation water through the association.

He said that the association employed workers to clean and monitor the canals in the irrigation area that was why farmers were charged additional money.

‘After paying the government rate, the extra money is spent on the welfare of the association members,’ he claimed.

The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project, situated on the River Teesta in the Doani area of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat, is the country’s largest irrigation project.

There are 78 farmers’ associations in the project area, each with a gatekeeper to assist farmers in supplying water to their land.

Amolesh Chandra Roy, sub-extension officer of the BWDB in Rangpur, said that it was not possible for the BWDB to monitor such a large area without forming farmer associations.

He said that the association leaders must pay the irrigation fee on time.

‘I have not heard of taking any extra charges, and no farmer has complained in this regard,’ he added.

Amitav Chowdhury, BWDB executive engineer at Dalia in Lalmonirhat, said that he was not aware of any information regarding farmers being charged extra money.

He also said that he would investigate the matter and take necessary actions in this regard.​

 

[Saif]

National leaders demand raising Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN

At a mass rally organized on Farakka Long March Day today, national leaders have demanded that the Interim Government raise Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN. On 16 May 1996 Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, leader of the toiling masses led the long march and raised a strong voice against

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

National leaders demand raising Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN
FE ONLINE REPORT
Published :
May 16, 2025 20:59
Updated :
May 16, 2025 20:59

At a mass rally organized on Farakka Long March Day today, national leaders have demanded that the Interim Government raise Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN. On 16 May 1996 Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, leader of the toiling masses led the long march and raised a strong voice against unilateral diversion of water of the Ganges.

Addressing the mass rally as the chief guest Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, member BNP Standing Committee, called for demanding decommissioning of the Farakka Barrage over the Ganges, because it cannot be demolished as is commonly demanded for its adverse impacts in the environment and biodiversity in Bangladesh.

He said the water divertion structures on 54 common rivers created severe problems of desertification, salinity and siltation affecting life and livelihood in Bangladesh.

The speakers said flows of none of the 54 shared rivers passing through Bangladesh, a land of rivers, is guaranteed even after 54 years of independence. They mentioned that Bangladesh has suffered a serious environmental disaster due to the construction of dams or reservoirs upstream of all rivers and diversion of water elsewhere.

The mass rally organized by IFC Bangladesh in collaboration with the New York-based International Farakka Committee (IFC) said that the 30-year Ganga bondage Agreement signed by the autocratic government without guarantee and arbitration clauses will expire in December next year. Before that, it is important to renew this agreement with a guarantee of receiving the agreed amount of water and an arbitration clause.

Another important river, the Teesta, has been on hold for 14 years despite a promise to sign an agreement in 2011. During the dry season, the entire flow of the river is diverted from the Ghazal Doba Barrage in West Bengal, drying up the northern part of Bangladesh. On the other hand, during the rainy season, all the water from the hilly slopes of the river is released, causing several devastating artificial floods in Bangladesh. This washes away crops, homes and homessteads and cause death to humans, draft animals and poultry.

Due to the diversion of water through dams upstream of each of the remaining 52 shared rivers, one-third of the country’s normal annual flooding is stopped during the rainy season, destroying aquatic biodiversity. Water lilies, snails, algae and native fish species that grow in floodplains have almost disappeared. Due to the lack of normal flooding, the crop production capacity of floodplain lands has come down by half. This situation is gradually deteriorating.

IFC Bangladesh President, journalist Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, presided over the rally, and IFC New York Chairman Syed Tipu Sultan, Jatiya Party Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Professor Jasim Uddin Ahmad, National Ganofront Coordinator Comrade Tipu Biswas, BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Abdus Salam, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) leader Khalequzzaman, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gono Sanghati Andolan Chief Coordinator Jonayed Saki, Bhasani Anusari Parishad convener, Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Bangladesh Labour Party chairman, Mustafizur Rahman Iran, BFUJ Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury and DUJ President Shahidul Islam, among others.

They said, hundreds of rivers and tributaries have died due to the lack of normal flow during the dry season. As a result, due to the lack of fresh water flow on the southwestern coast of Bangladesh, salinity has penetrated more than 200 kilometers inland, causing serious damage to agriculture, industry, fish, trees and livestock. Due to the increase in salinity in the coastal water, the valuable Sundari trees of the Sundarbans are disappearing.

Bangladesh, the largest delta in the world, formed by rivers for thousands of years, is about to be destroyed due to the lack of normal water flow of rivers. This is a serious existential crisis for Bangladesh. Seeing this situation, foreign environmentalists said that they do not understand why Bangladesh does not cry out.

For the past 16 years, the autocratic government has been protecting the interests of neighboring India by sacrificing Bangladesh’s just demands for water in exchange for the assurance of staying in power. This situation cannot be resolved through bilateral diplomacy.

Therefore, the speakers said that if Bangladesh’s water problem is to be solved, it must be raised at the United Nations.​

 

[Saif]

Farakka barrage: time for strategic legal action

IN 1975, India constructed the Farakka Barrage near the Bangladesh border, diverting water from the Ganges River into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River to enhance the navigability of Kolkata Port. While this might have initially served India’s economic interest, the consequences for Bangladesh have...

www.newagebd.net

Farakka barrage: time for strategic legal action
Matiul Alam 16 May, 2025, 00:00

IN 1975, India constructed the Farakka Barrage near the Bangladesh border, diverting water from the Ganges River into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River to enhance the navigability of Kolkata Port. While this might have initially served India’s economic interest, the consequences for Bangladesh have been devastating. Ecological degradation, agricultural disruption, economic hardship, and severe freshwater scarcity are just a few issues that have plagued Bangladesh for nearly five decades.

From the onset, the Farakka Barrage has violated essential principles of international river law. Under the ‘No Harm Principle’ articulated clearly in Article 7 of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, any state’s activity must avoid causing significant harm to downstream countries. Yet, Bangladesh has endured massive ecological and economic damage directly linked to India’s unilateral water diversion.

Another vital international law principle, ‘Equitable and Reasonable Utilisation’, demands that shared water resources be utilised fairly. However, Farakka’s operation has systematically deprived Bangladesh of its legitimate water rights, dramatically altering the environmental and socio-economic fabric of the nation, particularly harming agriculture, fisheries, and the globally significant Sundarbans.

India also failed its international obligations to adequately consult and inform Bangladesh before the barrage’s construction and subsequent management, further breaching established diplomatic norms. These actions collectively represent severe legal violations that demand accountability and remediation.

Historically, resistance against the Farakka Barrage is symbolically anchored by the legendary Farakka Long March of 1976, led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. On May 16, 1976, thousands marched from Rajshahi to Farakka, vociferously protesting India’s unilateral water diversion. This event remains a potent symbol of Bangladesh’s enduring struggle for environmental justice and equitable water sharing. Today, commemorating this day highlights ongoing demands for justice and equitable sharing of transboundary waters.

Globally, similar disputes have found resolutions in international courts or arbitration bodies, providing critical precedents for Bangladesh. The Gabčíkovo–Nagymaros case (Hungary vs Slovakia) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), for instance, underscored ecological integrity and fairness in international river use. Likewise, arbitration mechanisms facilitated by the World Bank in the Indus Waters Treaty (Pakistan vs. India) illustrate how impartial mediation can resolve deep-rooted water conflicts. Cases such as the ongoing negotiations around Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam emphasise the necessity of multilateral dialogue, while effective bilateral treaty management between the US and Mexico on the Rio Grande demonstrates sustainable diplomatic models.

Considering these global precedents, Bangladesh must now strategically engage in robust international legal action. Firstly, Bangladesh should immediately commission a detailed, multidisciplinary assessment to quantify ecological, agricultural, and economic losses inflicted by the barrage. Such documentation would underpin claims for monetary compensation from India based on clearly defined international liability principles.

Moreover, Bangladesh must consider petitioning international forums such as the ICJ or the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The ICJ offers formal, binding judgements suitable for complex interstate disputes, while the PCA provides flexible arbitration tailored to environmental and technical aspects of water conflicts. Utilising these forums can elevate Bangladesh’s grievances and catalyse fair, transparent solutions.

Interestingly, internal criticism within India provides Bangladesh with significant diplomatic leverage. Prominent Indian voices, including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and respected environmentalist Rajendra Singh, have openly labelled the Farakka Barrage a ‘curse’, highlighting its adverse impact on Bihar and West Bengal through intensified flooding, sedimentation, and riverbank erosion. These domestic criticisms validate Bangladesh’s concerns and amplify demands for the barrage’s phased decommissioning.

Bangladesh should strategically leverage these internal Indian critiques in diplomatic discussions, advocating for a bilateral review of Farakka’s viability. Bangladesh’s diplomacy must also extend to actively engaging Indian civil society, environmental groups, and media to build consensus for removing this problematic infrastructure.

The current government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, stands at a pivotal juncture in Bangladesh’s diplomatic and environmental future. To succeed, it should promptly assemble a dedicated task force comprising international legal experts, hydrologists, environmental scientists, experienced diplomats, and policy advocates. This multidisciplinary team can guide rigorous assessments, manage strategic international negotiations, and sustain diplomatic momentum toward Farakka’s reconsideration.

Additionally, Bangladesh must ratify and actively utilise the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention. This action will fortify Bangladesh’s legal stance, explicitly safeguarding its downstream rights and responsibilities within international law frameworks. Ratification will send a clear international signal of Bangladesh’s commitment to resolving transboundary water issues through established global norms.

Finally, investing in domestic research and sustainable water management strategies is critical. While Bangladesh pursues justice internationally, it must also build resilience locally, mitigating current ecological damage and developing alternative freshwater solutions to protect millions dependent on the Ganges’ flow.

In conclusion, nearly half a century after its construction, the Farakka Barrage remains an undeniable source of environmental, economic, and diplomatic distress for Bangladesh. Yet, within this challenge lies a profound opportunity. By initiating strategic international legal action, leveraging global precedents, capitalising on rising internal Indian criticism, and strengthening diplomatic channels, Bangladesh can transition from victimhood to proactive stewardship. Dismantling or significantly modifying the Farakka Barrage could mark the beginning of a transformative regional shift from destructive water management toward cooperative, sustainable governance. The time for decisive action is now.

Dr Matiul Alam, a former professor of education, is an honorary educational research scholar at the University of British Columbia, Canada.​