BJP win in Bengal rekindles Teesta hopes as Bangladesh blames Mamata for stalled pact

Bangladesh’s ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party has welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in West Bengal, linking the political shift to renewed hopes for resolving the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement. The party squarely blamed the previous Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee for blocking progress on the deal.

Speaking on Wednesday, BNP Information Secretary Azizul Baree Helal said the BJP’s win under Suvendu Adhikari could help align the state government with the Narendra Modi-led Centre, creating conditions for movement on an issue that has remained unresolved for decades.

Helal said the earlier West Bengal government had been the “main obstacle” to the Teesta Barrage agreement, despite strong backing from both Dhaka and New Delhi. He expressed confidence that the change in power would allow the project to move forward, describing the development as a positive step for India-Bangladesh relations.

He also highlighted West Bengal’s strategic importance, noting that it shares the longest border with Bangladesh among Indian states. According to him, improved coordination between Kolkata and Dhaka could ease long-standing cross-border concerns and strengthen bilateral ties.

The Teesta dispute remains one of the most sensitive issues between the two countries. While the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty governs dry-season sharing at Farakka, Bangladesh has repeatedly raised concerns over insufficient water flow during lean months, affecting agriculture and livelihoods downstream. Climate pressures and declining water availability have added urgency to the issue.

With the 1996 treaty set to expire later in 2026, Dhaka has intensified calls for what it describes as a fair share of Teesta waters. However, negotiations have stalled largely due to West Bengal’s objections, with the state citing its own irrigation needs.

A 2011 proposal had suggested a formula allocating 37.5% of Teesta waters to Bangladesh and 42.5% to India, but it collapsed after opposition from the West Bengal government. An earlier 1983 interim arrangement, which proposed 36% for Bangladesh and 39% for India, was never fully implemented.

Despite multiple attempts, including renewed expectations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to Dhaka, a final agreement has remained elusive.

India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, yet only two formal agreements have been signed so far, covering the Ganga and the Kushiyara. Rivers such as the Teesta and Feni continue to be under negotiation, making them central to future cooperation between the two neighbors.

Helal said that even though the BNP and BJP differ ideologically, there is convergence on key issues like the Teesta project and bilateral ties. He expressed hope that the new political alignment in West Bengal would accelerate progress and bring long-awaited relief to communities dependent on the river.