Seminar highlights urgency of resolving India-Bangladesh river dispute | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 19, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025
Seminar highlights urgency of resolving India-Bangladesh river dispute

Bangladesh

UNB
15 November, 2024, 09:45 pm
Last modified: 15 November, 2024, 09:46 pm

Related News

  • 32,370 Hajj pilgrims return from Saudi Arabia
  • 82% of citizens find government healthcare services easily accessible: Survey
  • Illegal border-crossing: 14 Bangladeshis return home after serving detention in India
  • Salman F Rahman remanded in fresh case over killing during uprising
  • EC bans posters in national election campaigns

Seminar highlights urgency of resolving India-Bangladesh river dispute

The event brought together experts, academics, and political figures to discuss the dispute’s complexities and explore potential solutions

UNB
15 November, 2024, 09:45 pm
Last modified: 15 November, 2024, 09:46 pm
Photo: UNB
Photo: UNB

A seminar titled "Common River Water and the India Question: What is the Politics of Resolution?" delved into the longstanding India-Bangladesh river water dispute, which has persisted unresolved for over three decades.

Held today (15 November) at Dhaka University's Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium, the event brought together experts, academics, and political figures to discuss the dispute's complexities and explore potential solutions.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury highlighted the intertwined political and security concerns shaping India-Bangladesh relations. He called for a policy of mutual respect and non-interference.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Chowdhury also emphasized the importance of aligning Bangladesh's strategy with international water law and revitalizing the currently ineffective River Basin Commission to protect the nation's river rights.

Former caretaker government adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman criticised what he described as a tendency to prioritize India's demands over Bangladesh's needs. He stressed the importance of balancing relationships with all neighbours while asserting Bangladesh's interests.

Negotiations must prioritise Bangladesh's current and future requirements, rather than deferring to India's dominant position, he argued, adding that achieving equity in water-sharing agreements is vital to securing long-term solutions.

Sheikh Rokon, general secretary of Riverine Peoples, highlighted the historical roots of the problem, pointing out that water-sharing arrangements were neglected during the partition of the subcontinent. No permanent solution for river distribution was established, leading to unresolved disputes over rivers such as the Ganges and Teesta, he explained.

Rokon urged comprehensive agreements on the Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra rivers, arguing that negotiating individually for all 123 transboundary rivers could take centuries.

Mohammad Ejaz, chairman of the River and Delta Research Center, accused India of "weaponising" water flows to exert pressure on Bangladesh. He described how Bangladesh faces floods during the monsoon and drought-like conditions in the dry season, exacerbating its dependency on India.

Citing the success of international river treaties, Ejaz called for cooperative negotiations, referencing the Ganges treaty as an example of progress.

The seminar, chaired by Manjur Moin of Unity for Bangladesh, featured diverse speakers, including Abdullah Kafi Ratan from the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), writer and researcher Altaf Parvez, researcher Afifa Razzak Muna, and Dipti Dutta of Dhaka University's Department of South Asian Studies. Discussions spanned geographical, historical, and political perspectives, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the dispute.

India / Bangladesh / river

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Illustration: TBS
    Bribery rampant in public services: BRTA tops list, law enforcement close behind, finds BBS survey
  • A drone photo shows the damage over residential homes at the impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 16, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Moshe Mizrahi/File Photo
    Israel threatens to 'eliminate' Iran supreme leader Khamenei after Iranian missile strike
  • Illustration: TBS
    Only 27% of citizens feel free to voice political opinions: BBS survey

MOST VIEWED

  • Logo of Beximco Group. Photo: Collected
    Beximco defaults on €33m in Germany, Deshbandhu owes Czech bank €4m
  • The India-Bangladesh integrated checkpost in Fulbari. Photo: Passang Yolmo via Telegraph India
    Import of boulders from Bhutan to Bangladesh stopped by Indian transporters in Fulbari
  • Infograph: TBS
    End of a loophole: Defaulters on foreign loans barred from local bank borrowing
  • Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on the IRIB building, the country's state broadcaster, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
    Israel-Iran War: Russia says Israel's attacks illegal, UAE warns of 'uncalculated, reckless steps'
  • An anti-missile system operates as missiles are launched from Iran, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, 18 June 2025. Photo: Reuters
    Khamenei rejects Trump's demand for surrender, Trump says 'good luck'
  • Soldiers salute Arakan Army chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing during a parade in Myanmar, 6 April 2018. File Photo: Arakan Army deputy chief Brig Gen Nyo Twan Awng/Twitter
    Rohingya militant groups recruit from camps to fight Arakan Army, warns Crisis Group

Related News

  • 32,370 Hajj pilgrims return from Saudi Arabia
  • 82% of citizens find government healthcare services easily accessible: Survey
  • Illegal border-crossing: 14 Bangladeshis return home after serving detention in India
  • Salman F Rahman remanded in fresh case over killing during uprising
  • EC bans posters in national election campaigns

Features

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

Evacuation of Bangladeshis: Where do they go next from conflict-ridden Iran?

20h | Panorama
The Kallyanpur Canal is burdened with more than 600,000 kilograms of waste every month. Photo: Courtesy

Kallyanpur canal project shows how to combat plastic pollution in Dhaka

1d | Panorama
The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

3d | Wheels
Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

3d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Army says will carry out election-related duties in line with govt directive

Army says will carry out election-related duties in line with govt directive

1h | TBS Today
Americans oppose U.S. intervention in Iran

Americans oppose U.S. intervention in Iran

1h | TBS World
Pvt sector's foreign loan rises by $454m on stable exchange rate, reserve in three months

Pvt sector's foreign loan rises by $454m on stable exchange rate, reserve in three months

2h | TBS Insight
Is Israel’s air defense system running out?

Is Israel’s air defense system running out?

3h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net