BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

BANGLADESH-INDIA WATER NEGOTIATIONS: CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD

Author: Shanjida Shahab Uddin, Syeda Tanzina Sultana

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/BIISSj2017v38n2

ABSTRACT

Sharing river water between neighbours is a complicated task as it creates upstream-downstream supply disputes. Having the highest number of common rivers with its biggest neighbour – India, Bangladesh has to face common water sharing disputes with that country. To resolve disputes over water sharing, Bangladesh started negotiations with India after its independence, but the country has been facing challenges in reaching a consensus on a formula and mechanism to share the common water. Given this backdrop, the present paper argues that the water negotiations between Bangladesh and India are being affected due to significant negotiation challenges which make the water negotiations a zero-sum game. With this argument, the paper endeavours to examine the challenges of Bangladesh-India water negotiations. To understand these challenges, this paper evaluates historical fact, past and ongoing water negotiations between Bangladesh and India. Some possible solutions are also suggested in the paper to overcome these challenges.