Overview
- BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Saturday that good relations hinge on sealing a new Ganges pact before the current one ends, citing that nearly one‑third of Bangladeshis rely on the Ganges/Padma system.
- Days earlier, Dhaka cleared a Padma River barrage slated for completion by 2033, and the water minister said the project serves national interests and needs no consultation with India.
- India’s foreign ministry says river issues are handled through regular bilateral forums, and Indian analysis reports Delhi may weigh a short‑term replacement deal with state‑level politics in West Bengal seen as a factor.
- Water experts warn the planned Padma barrage could trap more sediment and raise riverbeds in Bangladesh, and they say its benefits depend on a steady cross‑border sharing arrangement.
- The 1996 treaty divides dry‑season flow at the Farakka Barrage using set cusec thresholds rather than a fixed minimum, which requires emergency consultations if flows drop very low.