By Afshain Afzal

In a strange media announcement by Indian authorities on 25 August 2022, where claims are being made that Bangladesh and India have finalized the text of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on interim water sharing of Kushiyara river. Interestingly, no specifying date for the signing of MoU has been announced. One wonders how long New Delhi would be bluffing Dhaka about the finalization lollypop.

As per the details, at the 38th ministerial-level Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting was held in New Delhi, after a gap of twelve years. A 17-member Bangladesh delegation, led by State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque attended JRC meeting while India's Jal Shakti (Water Resources) Minister Gajendra Singh Shakhawat led the Indian delegation. Bangladesh and India discussed several issues related to water-sharing, however, as usual Teesta and Ganga remained in the cold storage, despite touching upon.

If we recall, in October 2019, a MoU was signed in which both sides finalized the design and location of water intake point on the Feni river to meet the drinking water needs of Sabroom town in Tripura. as per the October 2019 Bangladesh-India MoU on this subject. No doubt, the drinking water agreement is important for Tripura state, which has history that remained part of Bengal and even today a good number of Bangali nationals are living there but India played the game in the selection of site and other modalities. There is requirement to revisit it and deprived people of Tripura must be compensated.

In a strange move, New Delhi has warned the participants from Bangladesh not to make any of the decision public as a symbolic announcement is likely to be made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 September 2022. Despite Bangladesh State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque repeated requests to conclude discussion on the long pending Teesta water sharing treaty at an early date, noting concrete was done. Both side accused each other for the delay. However, India side later assured that New Delhi would make earnest efforts in concluding some interim agreement.

The Indian side persuaded Bangladeshi side that the agreement should take its own course and reports from technical team and comments over the feasibility study for optimum utilization of water are to be worked. Interestingly, India is referring report received by Bangladesh under the provision of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996. It is irony that New Delhi is not ready to demolish Farakka and Gajoldoba barrages in order to ensure Bangladesh's water share in the trans-boundary Ganges and Teesta rivers.

India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, of which seven rivers have been identified to reach frameworks of water sharing agreements. No doubt, such measures cannot not be short term as India is stressing generally on data exchange at this stage. New Delhi was reluctant to sign any MoU as Indian side claims that Technical Level Committee of JRC has not yet finalized. Representative of Technical Level Committee of JRC said at the end of meeting, “It cannot do anything overnight meeting as discussion is to be followed by evaluation and reports.” He said, “Exchange of flood related data and information, river bank protection works, common basin management, and also Indian River Interlinking Project were part of discussion and Bangladesh should be obliged as India has agreed to provision of flood related data and information, otherwise it is Bangladesh which is creating delays.”

To conclude, the Ganges Water Sharing Agreement will expire in 2026 and Bangladesh is not happy over 25 August meeting as it was an eyewash. By discussing projects like mere river bank protection works, addressing river pollution, conducting joint studies on sedimentation management etc, the core water issues cannot be resolved. India is more interested in protecting its interests rather than addressing Bangladeshi rights. Dhaka is well aware that India is not serious about resolving the water issues with Bangladesh. It is high time that New Delhi should start with demolition of Farakka and Gajoldoba barrages to ensure Bangladesh's water share in the trans-boundary Ganges and Teesta rivers as well as protect environment.