Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for environment, forests, climate change, and water resources, on Wednesday said that discussions with India regarding the fair share of water from common rivers will take place soon.
She emphasised the need for information on the number of structures on shared water bodies, expected rainfall, and the availability of water.
“No country has the right to claim an international river as solely theirs. One cannot say, ‘After using water for my people, I will consider others.’ There is no way to justify that,” Rizwana said at a seminar titled “Bangladesh's Fair Rights on Common Rivers,” held at the Pani Bhabhan on Green Road in Dhaka on Wednesday (September 25).
The seminar, organised by 29 environmental organisations and the World Rivers Day 2024 Celebration Council, featured Syeda Rizwana Hasan as the chief guest. Special guests included Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, and Muhammad Amirul Haque Bhuiyan, Director General of the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Mihir Biswas, convener of the World River Day celebration council and joint secretary of the environmental organisation BAPA, presided over the event.
Rizwana emphasised that while international laws govern water rights, access to information on upstream water levels is a traditional right of downstream countries like Bangladesh.
"We may not be able to stop floods, but with the right information from India, Nepal, and China, we can take preventive measures to protect lives during catastrophic floods," she said.
India built 54 dams on 36 of 54 transboundary rivers
The seminar highlighted that India has constructed 54 dams and barrages on 36 of the 54 recognised transboundary rivers shared with Bangladesh.
Despite international laws regulating such construction, India often bypasses these regulations, resulting in disruptions to the natural flow of water in Bangladesh.
The environmental organisations presented data showing that India, Nepal, and China unilaterally control the upstream portions of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin.
The diversion of water for hydropower generation has severely impacted Bangladesh’s rivers, particularly during the dry season.
In the Ganges River basin alone, India has built over 180 dams. The same river system that flows through India's northeastern "Seven Sisters" region hosts around 30 dams, barrages, and reservoirs.
The Teesta River, considered the lifeline of northern Bangladesh and India, faces significant water flow disruption due to India's construction of over 10 dams and reservoirs, with five more in the pipeline. Three specific dams built on transboundary rivers have become especially problematic for Bangladesh.
Recommendations
Several recommendations were made during the seminar for the protection of transboundary rivers, including:
Reconstitution of the National River Protection Commission: This body would monitor the conditions of all transboundary rivers in Bangladesh and neighboring countries, and take necessary multilateral actions.
Revision of the Ganges Treaty: Swift action is needed to renew and revise the existing treaty, including adding a guarantee clause. The new treaty should also ensure the daily flow of water into Bangladesh is publicly available through social media.
Conclusion of the Teesta Treaty: The government should prioritize water diplomacy with countries in the Ganga-Yamuna-Meghna basin, ensuring Bangladesh’s water rights are at the forefront of its foreign relations.
Recognition of Remaining Transboundary Rivers: Bangladesh should push for recognition of all remaining transboundary rivers and pursue rights through international courts. Signing the United Nations River Convention (1997) and empowering the Joint Rivers Commission should also be a priority.
The seminar underscored that the protection of rivers is essential to Bangladesh’s survival and well-being.