Khairul Alam; Dhaka : The 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India, signed in 1996, will expire in December 2026.
Both countries have agreed to renew it, and preparations are underway. As part of this process, the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) officials of the two nations will meet in New Delhi on September 9.
A technical team from Dhaka, led by JRC member Mohammad Abul Hossain, will attend the meeting. The main agenda will be the renewal and implementation of the treaty.
Bangladesh and India share 54 rivers, but the Ganges is the only one with a formal water-sharing agreement. The Teesta River issue remains unresolved due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The treaty was signed in 1996 by then Indian Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina. It allows both countries to share Ganges water during the dry season from January to May. Technical teams from both sides regularly monitor the flow to ensure fair distribution.
Earlier meetings of the JRC, including one in March this year, could not reach full consensus, and no official minutes were signed. Still, routine discussions continue.
Diplomatic sources say that while official bilateral talks on renewal have not yet started, India has consulted its domestic stakeholders, including West Bengal, on water needs.
Bangladesh has expressed concern about the reduced flow of the Ganges in recent years and urged India to take necessary steps.
Officials from both sides confirm that despite differences, monitoring and water distribution under the treaty are functioning properly.
The upcoming Delhi meeting is expected to play a key role in moving the renewal process forward before the treaty expires in 2026.