Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is slated to visit India in late November to discuss the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty, which expires on December 12.
The treaty, signed in 1996 by former Indian Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, governs water flow from the Farakka Barrage during the lean season. It has long been a flashpoint, as Bangladesh still demands a guarantee clause reminiscent of the 1977 accord.
Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said the new treaty must restore that guarantee clause, a top priority for the Rahman government. Anee told a seminar at the University of Dhaka that an agreement before December 12 would cement Bangladesh’s water security.
India’s High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi confirmed that the invitation remains open and the country is ready for the visit, but noted that the talks need to reach a consensus before any formal steps. Officials will likely meet in New Delhi or at the Farakka Barrage to hash technical details.
Meanwhile, Rahman is due in Japan from October 26‑29, where he will meet Premier Sanae Takaichi to sign MoUs on trade and technology. The Indian visit depends on the outcome of the Ganga negotiations, and a farmer in Farakka’s Awadh village hopes the new treaty will bring much-needed water for his rice paddies.