China’s reported willingness to provide technical and financial support for Bangladesh’s Teesta River management project has triggered renewed diplomatic sensitivity in South Asia, with India responding by reiterating its position on the issue.
At a routine press briefing in New Delhi on Friday (July 3), Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s development cooperation with Bangladesh follows a defined roadmap that is periodically reviewed. He added that India has already communicated its position to Dhaka regarding the Teesta river project.
The remarks came after China recently expressed readiness to cooperate on Bangladesh’s Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TCRMMP), a development closely watched in Indian strategic circles. The issue gained further attention following high-level engagements during Bangladesh’s leadership visit to Beijing.
Bangladesh had earlier indicated interest in Indian cooperation on the Teesta project during a visit to India in 2024, but the initiative did not progress following subsequent political changes.
Diplomatic sources suggest that current India–Bangladesh relations have seen some strain over border and cross-border movement issues, adding further complexity to the evolving water-sharing dynamics in the region.
Geographically, the Teesta River originates in Sikkim, flows through West Bengal, and enters Bangladesh. Its proximity to India’s sensitive Siliguri Corridor, a strategic land link to the Northeast, adds to its geopolitical significance.
Water-sharing has long been a contentious issue between India and Bangladesh. While the 1996 Ganges Water Treaty remains a success, the Teesta agreement has yet to be finalized. In 2011, a proposed deal collapsed at the last moment due to objections from the West Bengal state government.
Bangladesh later turned to alternative cooperation options, including engagement with China. In 2016, Chinese firm PowerChina conducted a feasibility study for the Teesta river project.
Analysts say the renewed interest from multiple major powers reflects growing geopolitical competition in South Asia, with river management increasingly intersecting with regional strategic calculations.
Source: ThePrint.