[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

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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.​

 

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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.​