Bangladesh Plans New Barrage on Padma River, Threatens Renewal of India-Bangladesh Farakka Water Treaty

Dhaka/New Delhi, January 24:
Amid growing diplomatic strain between India and Bangladesh, Dhaka is preparing to move ahead with a long-pending plan to construct a new barrage on the Padma River, a development that could seriously impact the future of the Farakka Water Sharing Treaty, due to expire this year.

The Farakka Treaty, signed in 1996, governs the sharing of Ganga river waters during the dry season through the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. The 30-year-old agreement requires renewal in 2026, but negotiations have stalled amid worsening bilateral relations.

Padma Barrage Plan Raises Concerns in New Delhi

According to Bangladeshi officials, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is preparing to revive the Padma Barrage Project, estimated to cost Tk 50,443.64 crore. The Padma River is the downstream stretch of the Ganga after it enters Bangladesh, making the project strategically sensitive for India.

The proposed barrage is likely to be constructed at Pangsha in Kushtia district, around 180 kilometres downstream of the Farakka Barrage. Analysts warn that such a move could further complicate water-sharing arrangements and undermine trust between the two neighbours.

Treaty Talks Stuck Over Dry-Season Flow

As per reports, Bangladesh is seeking a guaranteed minimum flow of water during the dry season, while India wants flexibility to meet its own requirements. The disagreement has stalled talks on extending the treaty, pushing Dhaka to explore alternative water management measures.

Bangladesh maintains that the Farakka Barrage has significantly reduced water flow into the Padma River, creating irrigation, drinking water and ecological challenges, especially in the country’s southwest and northwest regions.

Under the treaty, India and Bangladesh share Ganga waters annually from January 1 to May 31. However, negotiations in the current politically tense environment are proving difficult.

Political Signals from Dhaka

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman recently said the country must prioritise its own national interests, citing earlier canal and irrigation projects undertaken during the Ziaur Rahman era. He criticised previous governments for failing to safeguard Bangladesh’s water security.

Observers see these statements as part of a broader political shift that could harden Dhaka’s stance in negotiations with India.

China Factor Adds Strategic Dimension

The proposed Padma Barrage has also drawn attention due to China’s growing involvement in Bangladesh’s water infrastructure projects. Beijing is already partnering with Dhaka on the Teesta River Master Plan, and recent visits by Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen to project areas near the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor have raised concerns in New Delhi.

Bangladesh argues that the Padma Barrage would allow it to store excess monsoon water, ensure year-round supply, revive dried-up river systems and support up to seven to eight rivers, covering nearly 37% of the country’s river-dependent regions.

Strategic Implications

Experts warn that unilateral actions on transboundary rivers could strain India-Bangladesh relations further and weaken one of South Asia’s most significant water-sharing agreements. With the Farakka Treaty nearing expiry, the coming months are expected to be crucial for regional water diplomacy.