Dhaka, Aug. 2 -- With the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between India and Bangladesh set to expire in December 2026, the stakes are rising for both nations as climate pressures and regional politics intensify.
The 1996 treaty, which governs the dry-season flow of the Ganges River at the Farakka Barrage, was a landmark agreement allocating water equitably between the two countries. However, experts say it is now outdated and unfit to manage current challenges, particularly in the face of erratic river flows, upstream diversions, and increased water stress on both sides.
India and Bangladesh share 54 transboundary rivers, but the Ganges remains the only one with a formal water-sharing accord. The treaty's expiry comes at a time when monsoon p...