BANGLADESH JOINS UN WATER CONVENTION

BANGLADESH JOINS UN WATER CONVENTION

Context

• In 2025, Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to join the UN Water Convention — a global, legally binding framework that promotes cooperation and sustainable management of shared rivers and lakes.
• Bangladesh sees this as a step toward strengthening its water security, but the move also introduces new dynamics in South Asia’s water diplomacy, particularly with India, which shares 54 transboundary rivers with Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND

• Full Name: Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
• Adopted: 1992 in Helsinki
• Entered into force: 1996
• Administered by: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Opened globally: 2016 (available to all UN member states)

NATURE OF THE CONVENTION

It is a legally binding international framework that promotes:

• Equitable and sustainable management of shared water resources
• Cooperation between riparian (river-sharing) countries
• Prevention of water-related conflicts

KEY FEATURES

• Cooperative Framework : Requires countries sharing transboundary waters to cooperate through agreements, data-sharing, and joint institutions.
• Equitable Use Principle: Ensures fair and reasonable utilization of shared waters while preventing significant harm to other riparian nations.
• Conflict Prevention: Provides mechanisms for peaceful resolution of water disputes, helping strengthen regional stability.
• Alignment with SDGs:
  • Directly supports SDG 6.5 (Integrated Water Resources Management).
  • Indirectly advances SDG 2 (food security), SDG 7 (clean energy), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 16 (peace and institutions).
• Global Expansion: Since 2018, several non-European countries — such as Chad, Ghana, Iraq, Nigeria, The Gambia, Namibia, and Panama — have joined, making it a truly global water governance platform.

WHY BANGLADESH JOINED?

• Water Vulnerability:
  • 50% of its population lives in drought-prone areas; 60% is exposed to floods.
  • 20–25% of land gets submerged annually.
  • Over 65 million people lack safe sanitation.
• Climate Change Impacts:
  • Salinity intrusion, rising sea levels, and declining farmland productivity.
• River Dependency:
  • Over 90% of Bangladesh’s surface water originates outside its borders — mainly from India and China.
• Hydro-political Concerns:
  • China’s Motuo Hydropower Project (2025) on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) raised concerns about reduced downstream flows.
  • Upstream interventions by India and China affect Bangladesh’s agriculture and deltaic ecosystems.

By joining the Convention, Bangladesh aims to secure an international legal mechanism to protect its water interests and promote transparent, rules-based water cooperation.

INDIA & UN WATER CONVENTION

• India is not a signatory to the Convention.
• India prefers bilateral and basin-level arrangements, which allow direct negotiation and flexibility tailored to regional realities.

Key Examples:

• Indus Waters Treaty (1960) — with Pakistan.
• Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996) — with Bangladesh.

India’s Approach:

• Emphasises mutual trust, direct dialogue, and sovereign management of shared waters.
• Maintains that multilateral mechanisms may “externalize” bilateral issues and reduce flexibility in negotiations.

Hence, Bangladesh’s accession could reshape regional water diplomacy, providing Dhaka a stronger international legal platform to raise issues related to the Teesta and Ganga rivers.

INDIA BANGLADESH WATER RELATIONS: KEY ISSUES

• Ganga Treaty Renewal (2026):
  • The 1996 Treaty, ensuring minimum flow for both sides, is due for review.
  • Both countries may seek updated terms reflecting climate change and current water demands.
• Teesta River Dispute:
  • Long-pending issue; Bangladesh seeks a larger share of water for agriculture, while India cites local needs in West Bengal.
• Joint River Framework Proposal (2025):
  • Bangladesh proposed an institutional mechanism for 14 shared rivers — discussions ongoing.

These issues underline the importance of continuous cooperation and data-based policymaking.

REGIONAL & STRATEGIC DIMENSIONS

• Multilateral Trend : Bangladesh’s move could encourage Nepal, Bhutan, or Sri Lanka to explore similar multilateral frameworks.
• China Factor: Bangladesh recently joined a trilateral cooperation initiative with China and Pakistan on climate and development (2025), indicating closer engagement beyond South Asia.
• Strategic Balance: For India, such developments highlight the need to proactively engage with its neighbours to ensure that regional water governance remains cooperative, not competitive.

IMPLICATIONS & WAY FORWARD

For India:

• Opportunity to modernize existing water-sharing treaties to reflect changing hydrological and climatic realities.
• Promote joint river basin management and real-time data-sharing on flow, flood, and sediment levels.
• Strengthen regional confidence-building by promoting transparent, technology-driven cooperation.
• Maintain strategic engagement with Bangladesh to ensure mutual benefits and regional stability.

For Bangladesh:

• Use the Convention to enhance cooperation, not confrontation.
• Continue bilateral dialogues alongside multilateral participation.
• Strengthen internal water management capacity and climate resilience.

CONCLUSION

Bangladesh’s accession to the UN Water Convention marks a new phase in South Asia’s water diplomacy. It highlights the growing importance of legal, environmental, and cooperative frameworks in managing shared natural resources. For India, this development calls for a balanced approach — preserving the success of its bilateral treaties while remaining open to modern, inclusive, and sustainable models of water governance.

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