Teesta project construction unlikely before 2029 amid new study plan
Scheduled for completion by March 2028, the new study means physical construction of the megaproject is unlikely to begin before 2029.
Highlights:
- A new Tk23.34 crore feasibility study will precede construction.
- The study is scheduled for completion by March 2028.
- Earlier plans targeted project approval this year and construction in 2027.
- China has welcomed the reassessment and offered technical assistance.
- The study will assess erosion, flooding, sediment, water scarcity and irrigation.
After years of shifting plans and financing proposals, the government is set to commission a fresh feasibility study before committing to construction of the Teesta River Basin Management Project.
Scheduled for completion by March 2028, the new study means physical construction of the megaproject is unlikely to begin before 2029.
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The timeline marks a sharp departure from earlier commitments. Just a few months ago, the Water Resources Ministry indicated the project would secure approval this year, with ground broken in 2027. Although the timeline was presented to the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Water Resources, a new proposal from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) confirms the government will now fund this interim Tk 23.34 crore technical study independently, drawing up a fresh main project proposal once findings are submitted.
Despite a decade of initiatives to execute the 'Integrated and Sustainable Management of Teesta River Basin' project, progress has been repeatedly stalled by geopolitical sensitivities and funding impasses.
In 2016, the BWDB signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese state-owned company PowerChina, which submitted a feasibility study report around 2020. Meanwhile, India also expressed interest in financing the project in 2024.
Though progress languished under the previous Awami League administration, the Planning Commission under the interim government granted in-principle approval on 30 June 2025 for Phase 1 of the 'Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project'. The Economic Relations Division (ERD) subsequently submitted a preliminary project proposal to Beijing targeting a $550.62 million Chinese loan to cover the bulk of the estimated $747.25 million first phase, with the remainder funded domestically.
Procedural steps remain
While the current administration has reaffirmed its intent to press ahead with both the Teesta and Padma Barrage projects, procedural steps remain.
Planning Commission officials noted that before the Tk 23.34 crore feasibility study can gain formal approval, it must be added to the Annual Development Programme's (ADP) list of unapproved projects—an entry omitted from the current fiscal year's ADP "green pages". Following an inter-ministerial meeting last week, steps are now underway to insert the study into the ADP, paving the way for formal sign-off and an expected rollout later this year.
ERD sources confirmed China has welcomed the decision to re-evaluate the basin and offered technical assistance for the upcoming research.
The proposed study will evaluate the river's hydrological, hydraulic, morphological, environmental, and socio-economic dynamics to determine long-term strategies for river stabilisation, erosion prevention, and sediment management.
Divided into two core phases, the initiative will combine baseline analytical research with physical modelling across the entire Bangladeshi stretch of the Teesta—spanning Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha, alongside all connected tributaries.
Analytical baseline
The study component will assess key challenges including erosion, flood risks, sediment dynamics, and water scarcity. It will also explore options for water storage, conservation, and improved irrigation planning based on sustainable use of both surface and groundwater resources.
Physical modelling
Component-2 (physical modelling) will develop scaled hydraulic models to simulate river behaviour, sediment transport, and morphology under different conditions. It will evaluate river training structures, dredging, channelisation, and flow regulation measures, while assessing impacts on flood risk, agriculture, infrastructure, and the Teesta Barrage Project.
Once completed, officials expect the technical blueprint to anchor long-term climate resilience and economic growth across the northern belt—aiming to secure water access, expand irrigation across 750,000 hectares, and protect over one crore residents from catastrophic annual flooding.
