The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Water Resources was informed on Thursday that strong assurances have been received regarding the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India, commonly known as the Farakka Treaty.
The committee was also informed that the main implementation work of the Teesta Master Plan is expected to begin next year.
The first meeting of the committee on the Ministry was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with committee chairman Mohammad Shofiqul Haque Milon MP presiding.
The committee discussed various initiatives including advance preparations to prevent river erosion and tree plantation programmes.
The meeting was informed that the Padma Barrage Project has already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
A presentation was made before the committee on the overall activities of the Ministry of Water Resources including ongoing development programmes, project progress, implementation periods and allocations.
According to the presentation, 93 development projects are currently being implemented under the ministry. A total of Tk 7,832.80 crore has been allocated for these projects in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The committee called for completing the development projects within their stipulated timelines, ensuring proper and efficient use of allocated funds and taking more effective measures to improve public services.
The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty was signed by Bangladesh and India on Dec 12, 1996 for 30 years and is due to expire in December 2026.
The treaty provides for sharing Ganges water at India’s Farakka Barrage during the dry season from Jan 1 to May 31 each year on the basis of a 10-day schedule.
Under the agreement, when the flow is 70,000 cusecs or less, Bangladesh and India receive 50 percent each. If the flow is between 70,000 and 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh receives 35,000 cusecs and India gets the remainder. When the flow is 75,000 cusecs or more, India receives 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh gets the remainder.
With the treaty approaching expiry, its renewal has emerged as a key water-sharing issue between the two countries amid concerns over declining dry-season flows, climate change, rising water demand and downstream ecological impacts.