WATER SHARING SCENARIO BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND INDIA: A STUDY TOWARDS FUTURE PROSPECTS

Abstract

South Asia is one of the most fertile, densely populated, and rich regions in the
world in terms of abundant water resources. There are three common rivers
in this region, which flow through different countries. The first trans-boundary
water conflict in South Asia occurred between India and Pakistan on the Indus
River in 1948. Later, Bangladesh being the lower riparian country and sharing
54 rivers had similar problem with India. The major dispute evolved around the
Farakka Barrage. However, other issue gradually popped up is water sharing of
Teesta River. Despite several bilateral negotiations, Bangladesh could not pursue
India to achieve a fair share of the trans-boundary river’s water, especially in case
of Teesta. In 1996, Bangladesh and India signed thirty-year water sharing treaty,
that remains the last and only treaty between the two countries. In Bangladeshi
perspective, this treaty could not bring permanent solution to the water crisis in
Bangladesh. This research is a quest for answers of these concerns. In order to
do that, number of tools for data collection was applied that includes documents
study, surveys, random interviews of the sample population from the site,
specialists interview and the researchers own experience. The analyses of these
methods have helped painting a comprehensive picture of existing scenario.
Apart from all the bottlenecks there is no denying the fact that an amicable treaty
on water sharing will go a long way in fostering friendly relationship between
Bangladesh and India. The findings of the research validate the hypothesis.