Bangladesh to send a 10-member delegation to India to review the Ganges River Water-Sharing Treaty, at the 88th meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) scheduled to be held in Delhi on September 9.
The JRC was jointly formed by India and Bangladesh to resolve conflicts arising from the sharing of water of trans-boundary Rivers. Bangladesh and India have 54 common rivers. However, the two countries have only one relevant treaty signed in 1996 which oversees the sharing of water of the Ganges River. However, the treaty is set to expire in December 2026.
"In renewing the treaty, Bangladesh plans to demand an average of 40,000 cusecs of water and seek a longer-term agreement on sharing of water of the Ganges River," a senior official of JRC has said.
Meanwhile, the Indian media have reported that New Delhi, after suspending its Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, intends to renegotiate the Ganges treaty with Bangladesh on different terms.
The New Indian Express recently reported that the new treaty may be shorter than the existing 30-year agreement, possibly 10 to 15 years, to provide "flexibility" for future changes in water-sharing.
However, Bangladesh, led by commission member Abul Hossen, will leave Dhaka for Delhi today (8 September) to attend the meeting of the commission.
"Formal discussions on this matter have not yet begun between the two countries. Starting the discussion is a government decision," he said, adding that the commission has made necessary preparations.
"Issues like construction of river embankment to prevent erosion, two-km stretch of the un-demarcated Mahurirchar land and other unresolved matters were scheduled to discuss the meeting," a senior official of JRC told the Daily Observer.
"Bangladesh and India also agreed to exchange data and prepare the frameworks for interim water-sharing agreements of six more transboundary rivers - Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla, and Dudhkumar, The JRC meeting was deferred several times for updating data on six common rivers - which was last updated 34 years ago " the official said.
The JRC meeting was deferred several times for updating data on six common rivers the Muhuri, Monu, Dharla, Khowai, Gumti and Dudhkumar- which was last updated 34 years ago, according to the Foreign Ministry.
"We also have an idea of what India might want. In view of that, Bangladesh's demands and why we need them have also been prepared," Abul Hossen said.
"Representatives of both countries remain at the Farakka Barrage from January to May. They measure the water four times daily and calculate how much water each country receives on a 10-day average. The discussions mainly centre on these issues. However, we also have informal discussions on other matters," he said.
He added that Bangladesh has long faced water shortages in the dry season, affecting the Gorai River and the Sundarbans.
According to sources, Bangladesh will also propose water-sharing arrangements for 14 other rivers, including the Dharla, Dudhkumar, Gomati, Khowai, Monu, and Muhuri.
It wants both countries to follow international procedures in using these waters.
