India has taken a significant diplomatic step by pledging to assist Bangladesh in the conservation and control of the Teesta River, a $1 billion task that was once thought to pass through China. The announcement was made during Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stopover in Delhi, highlighting India’s commitment to its progressive cooperation with Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Prime Minister Hasina at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, said that an Indian technical team would soon travel to Bangladesh to discuss the project.
Over the Teesta River
The Teesta River, which originates from the Teesta Khangse glacier in northern Sikkim, flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh and merging with the Brahmaputra. It is an important source of water for irrigation and hydroelectric power and sustains ecosystems along its course.
China’s interest
China’s interest in the Teesta allocation was made public last December when Beijing’s ambassador to Dhaka announced China’s willingness to make the comprehensive allocation to manage and repair the Teesta River. This has raised strategic security considerations for India, given the sensitive nature of shared water resources and the geopolitical implications of Chinese involvement.
In a special press conference after the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Indian Foreign Minister Vinay Mohan Kwatra highlighted the importance of joint control of water resources shared between India and Bangladesh.
He explained that a technical team has been formed to explore the Teesta water recovery project, highlighting the sensitivity and nature of this factor for both countries. India and Bangladesh boast 54 rivers, and the Joint Rivers Commission provides a key platform to discuss those factors. In addition to the Teesta project, the two countries announced the formation of a joint technical committee to renew the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty.
Strategic Move
India’s announcement is perceived as a strategic move to counter Chinese pressure on Bangladesh over the assignment of Teesta. Beijing had submitted a formal proposal that was estimated to charge $1 billion, prompting India to voice its considerations in Dhaka about awarding the allocation to a Chinese company. Minister Hasina will make a stopover in China next month, India’s participation will help him manage pressure from Beijing. There are concerns about the possible presence of Chinese workers near the “chicken neck”, a narrow strip of land that connects northeastern India with the rest of the country, have been especially high.
Responding to questions from the media, Kwatra explained that the task is not so much about sharing water as it is about technical control of water flows in the Teesta River. This difference reflects the broader context of India-Bangladesh relations, which emphasize mutual cooperation and control of shared resources.
India’s participation in the Teesta River project is part of a broader strategy to collaborate with the development projects of its neighbours. This is evidenced by the recent launch of the Sri Lanka Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, established with a grant of US$6 million from India, aimed at strengthening maritime safety and security in the region.
Participation in the task of conserving and controlling the Teesta River only strengthens India’s strategic partnership with Bangladesh, but it also serves as a counterweight to China’s growing influence in South Asia. This initiative, along with other collaborative efforts, signals a strong framework for long-term cooperation between India and Bangladesh, aimed at fostering regional stability and prosperity.
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