In what could signal a shift in regional political dynamics, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday formally congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its electoral victory in West Bengal. Talking to ANI, Azizul Baree Helal, Information Secretary of BNP, praised the performance of Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP.
“Congratulations to the winner BJP party Suvendu Adhikari. I think this victory of BJP under the leadership of Suvendu Adhikari will ensure that the relationship between West Bengal and the Bangladesh government will remain the same as before and in a good way. The relationship will be built. Congratulations on BJP’s victory,” Azialzul Baree said
The statement comes amid long-standing cross-border issues between Dhaka and Kolkata. Helal suggested that a change in political leadership could help improve and stabilize relations between Bangladesh and West Bengal.
A key point in the BNP’s remarks was the Teesta water-sharing agreement, which has remained unresolved for more than a decade. Helal specifically accused the outgoing Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of blocking progress on the deal.
Testa Barrage Treaty
The BNP claimed that the previous administration of Mamata Banerjee was an “obstacle” to the Teesta Barrage deal. The party believes that with Suvendu Adhikari at the helm in West Bengal, the state government will now accommodate the Modi administration’s existing desire to complete the deal.
“Actually, earlier we saw that Mamata Banerjee was actually an obstacle for the establishment of Teesta Barrage. Now, in my opinion, since BJP won the elections under Suvendu’s leadership, the Teesta Barrage deal – which was much desired by the Bangladesh government and the Modi government – will help Suvendu. I think now the BJP seeesta Barrage project will be implemented under Suvendu’s leadership. Trinamool Congress,” said Azizul Baree Helal.
Read also | Bangladesh demands higher supplies of diesel and fertilizers from India
India-Bangladesh relations witnessed a major downturn after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus came to power following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024.
The two sides launched efforts to stabilize relations after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accompanied by Foreign Minister Vikram Misri, represented India at the inauguration of Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister in Dhaka on 17 February.
Rahman became prime minister after his party won a landslide victory in the parliamentary polls. In a statement, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said Dhaka would emphasize “stability and continuous development of bilateral relations based on dignity, mutual trust and respect and shared interests” during Rahman’s meetings with his Indian counterparts.
1996 Ganges Water Treaty
The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty regulates the sharing of water during the dry season between India and Bangladesh at the Farakka Barrage. During lean periods, Bangladesh has repeatedly claimed that India releases insufficient water, affecting agriculture and livelihoods downstream, with climate change further exacerbating concerns about reduced flows.
Bangladesh has long demanded a fair share of the waters of the Teesta River, but a final deal has been delayed due to objections from West Bengal, which cites its own irrigation needs. In 2011, during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh, a proposed agreement proposed allocating 37.5% of Teesta waters to Bangladesh and 42.5% to India, but the West Bengal government blocked this due to concerns about the impact on agriculture.
Read also | India and Bangladesh are discussing river water sharing at ministerial level
An interim agreement to share the Teesta was originally reached in 1983, giving Bangladesh 36% and India 39% of the flow, while the remaining 25% remained undecided. However, this arrangement was never fully implemented.
In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka raised hopes of renewed progress in resolving lingering water-sharing disputes through a fair and equitable agreement.
India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, but so far only two formal treaties have been signed, including the Ganga Water Treaty and the Kushiyara River Treaty, while key rivers such as the Teesta and Feni remain under negotiation.
In fact, we have seen earlier that Mamata Banerjee was actually an obstacle to the establishment of the Teesta barrage.
Despite ideological differences between the centre-right BNP and the BJP, Helal said national interests often take precedence over political positions.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- The Teesta Water Sharing Treaty has been unresolved for more than a decade, impacting India-Bangladesh relations.
- Political shifts in West Bengal may affect bilateral negotiations on critical water-sharing agreements.
- The BNP’s recognition of the BJP’s victory signals potential changes in regional dynamics and cooperation.
