Bangladesh seeks China’s support in Teesta river restoration project

[LeonBlack08]

Bangladesh’s new government, headed by Tarique Rahman, has formally sought China’s involvement and support for the Teesta River restoration project, a move that may cast shadow on New Delhi-Dhaka ties.

The issues concerning the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP) were discussed in a meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency.

The Teesta River flows from the eastern Himalayas through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it is a key source of irrigation and livelihoods of millions of people.

Expressing support for the new Bangladesh government, Wang was quoted saying by BSS news agency that China is ready to promote the alignment of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Bangladesh’s national development strategies and deepen cooperation in traditional areas like economy, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

According to the Chinese official readout, Wang stressed that China’s development of relations with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries does not target any third party, nor should it be affected by any third party.

This is Rahman’s first visit to China after the new government headed by Tarique Rahman took over power in February this year. He arrived here on May 5 and is scheduled to leave on Thursday.

Last month, Rahman was in India. His talks with Indian leaders were closely watched in Beijing as the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus had moved closer to China and Pakistan after the fall of Sheikh Hasina, straining ties between Dhaka and New Delhi.

China has for years shown interest in developing the TRCMRP, located near India’s sensitive Siliguri Corridor connecting the mainland with the North-eastern states.

Against this backdrop, India in 2024 offered technical and conservation assistance for the Teesta basin, reflecting Delhi’s efforts to deepen cooperation with Dhaka on transboundary river management.

Water sharing remains a key issue in bilateral ties, with the India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Treaty signed in 1996 for 30 years to govern dry-season sharing of the Ganges river “ due to expire this year unless renewed.

The development comes at a time when China has expanded its economic and diplomatic footprint in Bangladesh in recent years.

China is Bangladesh’s fourth-largest lender after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, with total loans disbursed since 1975 amounting to USD 7.5 billion, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Bangladesh and China agreed to enhance synergy between their development strategies to advance the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Bangladesh reiterated its firm adherence to the One-China principle and reaffirmed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, while expressing opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence”, the BSS report said.

China, in turn, reiterated its support for Bangladesh in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and expressed support for the development path independently chosen by the people of Bangladesh.

 

[LeonBlack08]

Good decision by Tareq Zia administration. National interest comes first.

Hasina bowed down to Indian pressure and declined the Chinese offer in the past, even after China conducted the preliminary study of Teesta barrage of their own funding. This visibly angered China and they made sure to express it during Hasina's failed visit to China, returning empty handed. Within 3 months of that failed China visit in 2024, she was out of power and country.

 

[Vikramaditya1]

Good decision by Tareq Zia administration. National interest comes first.

Great decision actually, you're building a project, that too by China for a water flow controlled by India.

Hasina bowed down to Indian pressure

No, she realised the reality of such a project. If India was involved in the construction that put onus on India to fast track water sharing agreement. It's called being diplomatic.

 

[hembo]

Great decision actually, you're building a project, that too by China for a water flow controlled by India.

No, she realised the reality of such a project. If India was involved in the construction that put onus on India to fast track water sharing agreement. It's called being diplomatic.

Whatever possibility of resolution of Teesta treaty had developed after Mamata's exit, is being effectively decimated by this action.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Good decision by Tareq Zia administration. National interest comes first.

Hasina bowed down to Indian pressure and declined the Chinese offer in the past, even after China conducted the preliminary study of Teesta barrage of their own funding. This visibly angered China and they made sure to express it during Hasina's failed visit to China, returning empty handed. Within 3 months of that failed China visit in 2024, she was out of power and country.

This and the Burma issue are the two issues with near unanimity in Bangladesh.

Let’s hope BNP can get this done!

Would be a massive feather in their cap and a solid achievement for next election.

BNP needs two terms but need solid achievements to earn a second term.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Great decision actually, you're building a project, that too by China for a water flow controlled by India.

No, she realised the reality of such a project. If India was involved in the construction that put onus on India to fast track water sharing agreement. It's called being diplomatic.

Yes! She was calculating on a Teesta deal once Mamta was out of the way.

But things have also changed in BD so a Teesta deal is no longer viable.

So, having China build a barrage is a no brainer.

India doesn’t release much water in the dry seasons anyway.

India has painted BD into a corner.

BD has no choice but to get China to build it.

My only concern is that will USA allow it?

 

[lightoftruth]

Ganga water treaty expiry gives India a real good opportunity.

 

[Afif]

What is great is that they are going to build a barrage on Padma river also. Although much more expensive but this is what needed. Will allow us to harvest huge amount of water during rainy season and reuse them during Drought.

 

[Vikramaditya1]

Yes! She was calculating on a Teesta deal once Mamta was out of the way.

But things have also changed in BD so a Teesta deal is no longer viable.

So, having China build a barrage is a no brainer.

India doesn’t release much water in the dry seasons anyway.

India has painted BD into a corner.

BD has no choice but to get China to build it.

My only concern is that will USA allow it?

Mamta is out of the way though. You got 5 years and a favorable government in state and centre. Let's see how BD plays it's cards.

 

[uksyl]

Mamta is out of the way though. You got 5 years and a favorable government in state and centre. Let's see how BD plays it's cards.

We (Bangladeshi nationalists not Jamaatis) do not have a problem with India per se, and apart from a natural desire to see Indian citizens (regardless of their faith) being treated equally and not dubbed as belonging to our state (Bangladesh) when they are not and an attempt to engage in ethnic cleansing, Indian affairs are Indian affairs. However when the BJP call Indian Muslims of Bengali ethnicity as 'Bangladeshi' and want to engage in ethnic cleansing that becomes our issue as they have brought our name into it.

If the rights of Muslim citizens of India especially in West Bengal and Assam are respected then we simply look forward to a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the BJP at both centre (New Delhi) and state (Kolkata) level. If the long overdue Teesta agreement can be signed and Mamata Banerjee was an impediment to that and all Indian citizens regardless of their religious faith are respected then good riddance to her, if she was indeed the main obstacle!

 

[Vikramaditya1]

However when the BJP call Indian Muslims of Bengali ethnicity as 'Bangladeshi' and want to engage in ethnic cleansing that becomes our issue as they have brought our name into it.

India BD has a problem with illegal immigrants, and smuggling. Unless we address that problem and curb it, there will always be this ethnic issue. What's worse is, people who have crossed after 71, for whatever reason and made a life will still be affected, his entire generation will be affected because of that mistake. We could have an open border policy but let's be honest, to have such an agreement BD should be significantly rich (3,4X per capita).

If the rights of Muslim citizens of India especially in West Bengal and Assam are respected then we simply look forward to a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the BJP at both centre (New Delhi) and state (Kolkata) level. If the long overdue Teesta agreement can be signed and Mamata Banerjee was an impediment to that and all Indian citizens regardless of their religious faith are respected then good riddance to her, if she was indeed the main obstacle!

They have their own leaders to speak on their behalf. The internal politics of Assam or WB shouldn't be an issue for BD and they'd rather have BD stay quiet on it for obvious reasons. That's why Indian leaders despite the pressure avoid talking about situation of Hindus in BD. This will be detrimental for them.

Teesta agreement was almost signed when Modi first visited BD, Mamta put a road block to it despite having a favorable government in BD. The new government in BD will take time to settle in. So maybe it'll be signed towards the end of this decade. Fingers crossed.

 

[LeonBlack08]

Great decision actually, you're building a project, that too by China for a water flow controlled by India.

No, she realised the reality of such a project. If India was involved in the construction that put onus on India to fast track water sharing agreement. It's called being diplomatic.

It's exactly because of that we need to get it built by China. So that the excess water you dump on Bangladesh to flood in monsoon can be stored and used in dry season - when you unilaterally withdraw causing draught in the affected regions of Bangladesh.

And No. Hasina wasn't trying to be diplomatic, she was just a slave. It's as simple as that.

 

[Prince_]

I really dislike the way India has handled water sharing issues with Bangladesh. Things should have been managed very differently. We are not just two random neighboring countries, as India played a direct and significant role in the creation of an independent Bangladesh.

Given our shared history and the unconditional support India provided to millions of Bangladeshi refugees during 1971, post independence India has at times acted quite harshly toward Bangladesh, especially regarding water sharing policies.

I hope both countries can resolve these issues fairly and strengthen the relationship in the spirit of the historical bond we share. But things have changed a lot in last 2 years with national traitors at the helm of things who strategically crippled our country and made our neighbours hostile towards us.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Mamta is out of the way though. You got 5 years and a favorable government in state and centre. Let's see how BD plays it's cards.

I think it’s too little too late.

Amount of water BD is likely to get plus the goodies BJP will demand - is not worth sacrificing the barrage.

We need to go full steam ahead with China and build the barrage.

India has had plenty of opportunities to follow basic decency and norm.

India has blown it and now needs to face the consequences.

Hopefully, the slavish US relationship left by the idiot Younus - will not be a barrier to China building the barrage.

 

[Vikramaditya1]

It's exactly because of that we need to get it built by China. So that the excess water you dump on Bangladesh to flood in monsoon can be stored and used in dry season - when you unilaterally withdraw causing draught in the affected regions of Bangladesh.

And No. Hasina wasn't trying to be diplomatic, she was just a slave. It's as simple as that.

To dredge the river to store water is a great plan too. But you'll end up paying more to dredge the sediment from a river that moves one of the largest sediments in the world.