Farmers in northern Bangladesh are struggling with water rationing and increased irrigation costs as a result of historically low inflows of river water, brought about by India holding back an unprecedentedly high amount of water on the Teesta basin.
This makes it more urgent than ever to ensure swift progress on water-sharing talks with India.
Our boro paddy farmers are being forced to resort to outrageously expensive means of irrigation. Getting underground water using shallow pumps is 12 times more expensive that using the river water that Bangladesh would have gotten naturally had it not been for India’s barrage in West Bengal constructed almost four decades ago.
There have been many stop start efforts over the years to resolve this issue. Political parties, including the CPB, have recently been conducting marches, and the BNP plans to hold one as well to highlight the need for these talks.
With the Indian general election in progress, and various campaigning politicians articulating hostility towards the idea of a water-sharing treaty, the Bangladesh government must make sure that it keeps up sustained diplomatic pressure on India.
A fair resolution to the matter must be reached for the sake of Bangladeshi farmers, and to protect the nation’s interests under international law.
Bangladesh and India have a staggering 54 rivers in common. As such, our two nations have a practical need as well as a moral duty to resolve water-sharing issues for the greater good.
