Bangladesh, China deepen Teesta cooperation during Rahman's Beijing visit

Bangladesh and China agreed to expand cooperation on the Teesta and other rivers during Tarique Rahman's Beijing visit. The move gains importance as Dhaka balances water diplomacy with India and seeks wider regional support.

In Short

• Rahman asked Beijing for technical help on flood control and dredging
• Dhaka also sought support to curb erosion and improve irrigation
• China offered training opportunities for Bangladeshi experts and water officials

Bangladesh and China on Thursday agreed to strengthen cooperation in the management of the Teesta and other rivers during Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Beijing. The understanding was reached at a meeting between Rahman and Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying, according to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency.

The talks come at a time when water sharing remains an important issue in India-Bangladesh ties. The Teesta project is also a sensitive part of the relationship, even as ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have shown signs of improvement since Rahman's government took office in February after the brief rule of an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus.

During the meeting, Rahman highlighted Bangladesh's ongoing river excavation programme, which is aimed at reducing flood risks, protecting the environment and ensuring proper water resource management, the report said. In this connection, he sought China's support in improving Bangladesh's water resource management and also asked for Chinese technical assistance in the Teesta management project.

Rahman further sought China's assistance in preventing riverbank erosion, improving irrigation systems and enhancing inland water navigation in Bangladesh, the report said. In response, Li assured full cooperation with the Bangladesh government's initiatives in water resource management, it said.

Referring to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Dhaka and Beijing in 2005, as well as the visit of Chinese water experts to Bangladesh last year, Li said cooperation between the two countries in water resource management is practical and research-based. He also said Bangladesh could benefit from China's experience in water management and invited Bangladeshi water experts and officials to receive training in China, the report added.

Rahman arrived in the Chinese city of Dalian from Kuala Lumpur on June 22 after attending a World Economic Forum event. He had chosen Malaysia for his first visit abroad after assuming office earlier this year. On Wednesday, he travelled from Dalian to Beijing by high-speed train and is expected to hold meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials.

Last month, the Rahman government formally sought China's involvement and support for the Teesta River restoration project during Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman's visit to Beijing, BSS had reported. The Teesta flows from the eastern Himalayas through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it is a key source of irrigation and livelihoods for millions of people.

China has for years shown interest in developing the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, located near India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor linking the mainland with the northeastern states. Against this backdrop, India in 2024 offered technical and conservation assistance for the Teesta basin, reflecting Delhi's efforts to deepen cooperation with Dhaka on transboundary river management.

Water sharing remains a key issue between New Delhi and Dhaka, and it has gained added importance as the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Treaty, signed for 30 years to govern dry-season sharing of the river, is due to expire this year unless it is renewed. The latest Bangladesh-China understanding on the Teesta and other rivers comes amid these wider regional discussions on river management and water sharing.

With PTI Inputs

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