Bangladesh is launching a resolute diplomatic campaign to secure an equitable allocation of transboundary river waters shared with India, signalling a profound shift in its approach to regional water security. Speaking before the thirteenth National Parliament on Sunday, the water resources minister, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, outlined a sweeping strategy designed to safeguard the nation’s vital waterways against the dual threats of upstream infrastructure and climate change.
Addressing the legislative assembly, the minister underscored that attaining a fair share of cross-border river water is not merely a policy objective but a central pillar of the current government’s electoral manifesto. To realise this ambition, Dhaka is set to conduct a comprehensive review of its existing water-sharing treaties and memorandums of understanding with its neighbour, laying the groundwork for updated, long-term agreements.
At the heart of this renewed diplomatic vigour is a commitment to fortifying the Joint Rivers Commission, thereby granting Bangladesh a more robust voice in bilateral negotiations. Furthermore, the government is advocating for a transformative, multilateral approach to basin management. This proposed framework would necessitate unprecedented cooperation among all regional stakeholders, integrating the hydrological interests of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China to ensure the sustainable and fair distribution of water resources.
The impetus for these complex diplomatic manoeuvres is rooted in the stark reality of Bangladesh’s dry season. Minister Annie candidly acknowledged that the volume of water flowing into the deltaic nation during these crucial months has demonstrably diminished. He attributed this critical shortfall to a combination of vast infrastructure developments constructed upstream and the inescapable, compounding impacts of global climate change, both of which are steadily depleting the region’s overall water availability.
Parallel to this international outreach, the government is advancing a formidable portfolio of domestic infrastructure projects aimed at fortifying national resilience. During the parliamentary session, the minister mounted a vigorous defence of the proposed Padma Barrage project, categorising it as a venture of paramount national interest. Essential for the preservation of agriculture, fisheries, local economies, and the broader ecological balance, the barrage has received formal approval following rigorous scrutiny. Expert consultants have already been appointed to ensure the project’s stringent and effective execution.
In tandem with these large-scale engineering endeavours, a massive nationwide programme is underway to revitalise the country’s complex network of waterways. Over the coming five years, the Ministry of Water Resources intends to dredge and re-excavate over nine thousand kilometres of rivers, canals, and reservoirs.
To inject immediate momentum into this initiative, the ministry has also launched a fast-track, 180-day programme. This short-term directive aims to complete the re-excavation of 366 kilometres of canals across the country by this June. It is a critical, immediate measure designed to bolster the nation’s water retention capabilities, providing a vital buffer for local communities ahead of the most severe dry spells.
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