A writ petition has been filed in the High Court, demanding urgent action to prevent flood aggression by India and to ensure Bangladesh’s rightful share of water from transboundary rivers.
The petition was filed on Tuesday by Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan.
The petition names several government officials as respondents, including the secretaries of the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the chairman of the National River Protection Commission.
The petition highlights that there are 54 transboundary rivers shared between Bangladesh and India, with 53 of these rivers flowing from India’s upstream to Bangladesh’s downstream areas.
However, it claims that India is constructing illegal dams and barrages on these rivers, blocking water flow and diverting the rivers’ courses within its own territory.
This manipulation of river courses has led to severe water shortages in the downstream areas of Bangladesh, causing many rivers to dry up and lose their navigability.
The petition further says that when the water levels in Indian parts of these rivers exceed capacity, the Indian government opens the gates of dams and barrages, resulting in devastating floods in Bangladesh.
This has led to the destruction of vast areas of Bangladesh each year, causing widespread damage to homes, farmland, livestock, businesses, and public infrastructure, amounting to losses worth billions of Bangladeshi taka annually.
The writ argues that, under international law, no upstream country has the right to construct dams or barrages on shared rivers without agreement from the downstream country.
It says that India is violating international law by building such structures, which is exacerbating Bangladesh’s water scarcity and increasing flood risks.
The petition also points out that while the Bangladeshi government has repeatedly sought to resolve water-sharing issues with India in a diplomatic and peaceful manner, India has shown no willingness to provide Bangladesh with its fair share of water.
Despite years of negotiations, the Teesta water-sharing agreement remains unresolved due to ongoing conflicts between the central and state governments in India.
The petition further stresses that Bangladesh should sign the United Nations Watercourses Convention (1997), which ensures equitable access to water for downstream countries.
However, Bangladesh’s previous governments, under pressure from India, have not signed this important international treaty.
The petition calls for Bangladesh to pursue legal action in international courts against India’s illegal construction of dams and barrages on the shared rivers and demand compensation for the annual flood damages caused by these actions.
In conclusion, the writ petition calls on the Bangladesh government to sign the Watercourses Convention and take immediate steps to protect Bangladesh’s water rights and the livelihoods of millions of people affected by these cross-border water disputes.
