On 19 October, tons of of scholars and activists gathered at Chittagong College, forming a human chain close to the Shaheed Minar. Holding placards and flaming mashaal torches, they marched in protest, demanding swift implementation of the long-delayed Teesta River Grasp Plan and a “fair proportion” of water from the river, in keeping with state-run information company Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Organised largely by college students from the Rangpur division, the protest mirrored rising frustration over what many see as continued water injustice and India’s alleged affect over Bangladesh’s water insurance policies. The Teesta River, essential to agriculture and livelihoods in northern Bangladesh, has lengthy been the centre of a deadlocked water-sharing dispute with India.
Demonstrators argued that the China-backed Teesta undertaking might rework the nation’s north by bettering irrigation, creating jobs, and boosting financial growth. The protest concluded with calls to safeguard nationwide pursuits and guarantee water justice for Teesta-dependent areas.
This rally adopted a sequence of torchlight demonstrations throughout 5 northern districts simply days earlier, signalling a coordinated push from the grassroots. The Dhaka Tribune reported that hundreds took to the streets within the Rangpur division demanding the fast implementation of the Teesta Grasp Plan.
Why Teesta Issues
The Teesta River originates within the japanese Himalayas, flows via West Bengal in India, and enters Bangladesh earlier than merging with the Jamuna. For many years, Dhaka has accused New Delhi of proscribing water movement in the course of the dry season, hurting agriculture and livelihoods. Within the monsoon, nevertheless, the river typically causes flooding, main Bangladesh to demand higher year-round water administration.
Regardless of quite a few rounds of talks, no formal settlement has been reached. West Bengal’s sturdy opposition to water-sharing has repeatedly stalled a possible deal. In the meantime, public impatience in Bangladesh has grown, particularly within the north, the place farmers and residents rely closely on the river.
The difficulty took a brand new flip in March this yr when Bangladesh’s interim authorities chief Muhammad Yunus visited Beijing and formally requested China’s help for a 50-year river administration grasp plan. The proposal consists of complete river engineering, dredging, dam building, and water storage services to higher handle each drought and flood circumstances. Chinese language firms have been invited to take part within the undertaking, which is estimated to price 6,700 crore taka in its first part.
China’s involvement within the Teesta plan has stirred unease in Delhi, notably due to the river’s strategic location. The proposed undertaking web site lies near the slim Siliguri Hall, also known as the Rooster’s Neck, a 20-kilometre strip connecting India’s northeast with the remainder of the nation.
Safety Issues And Regional Implications
Indian safety analysts view the plan as greater than only a growth undertaking. Its proximity to the Rooster’s Neck raises crimson flags, particularly amid experiences that Bangladesh is reviving its Lalmonirhat airbase, positioned close by. Though Bangladeshi army officers have denied any Chinese language function within the base’s growth, strategic specialists stay cautious.
Commentator Brahma Chellaney has warned that Chinese language involvement in each the river undertaking and the close by airbase might improve Beijing’s surveillance capabilities in a delicate area. The opportunity of Chinese language personnel or infrastructure close to the Indian border has added a brand new layer to the Teesta dispute, reworking it from a bilateral difficulty into a possible regional flashpoint.
Kallol Mustafa, a Bangladeshi analyst, echoed these issues in The Every day Star, noting that India’s unease stems from the chance of Chinese language engineers and technicians being stationed near a crucial army hall.
Political Undercurrents
The rising momentum behind the Teesta undertaking additionally displays shifting political dynamics in Dhaka. With basic elections approaching, opposition events such because the Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) are reportedly throwing their help behind the China-backed plan. Tarique Rahman, the exiled son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the BNP’s de facto chief, has expressed help for the undertaking.
Whereas Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had beforehand signalled a desire for working with India on the Teesta plan, current public stress and a altering political panorama seem like nudging Dhaka nearer to Beijing. Bangladesh has additionally signed on to the Belt and Highway Initiative, additional deepening ties with China.
Earlier this yr, former Cupboard Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar instructed The Unbiased (UK) that the Teesta undertaking would permit Bangladesh to construct a big reservoir to retailer water in the course of the monsoon, lowering dependence on India in the course of the dry months.
A River Caught Between Three Powers
With the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty set to run out in 2026, unresolved water-sharing points and China’s rising footprint in Bangladesh are elevating new issues in Delhi. For India, the Teesta difficulty is not nearly water; it’s about strategic house, affect, and the fragile stability in South Asia.
As Bangladesh pushes forward with its personal plans, presumably with out India’s involvement, Delhi is being compelled to reckon with a shifting actuality on its japanese entrance. The Teesta, as soon as an emblem of shared assets, is now quick changing into a degree of divergence, caught within the currents of politics, growth, and geopolitics.