India Says Ganges Treaty Talks to Continue Bilaterally

File Photo: Farakka Barrage

India on Monday said issues related to the Ganges water-sharing treaty with Bangladesh will be addressed through existing bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC).

Responding to a question on recent remarks from Bangladesh regarding the future of the agreement, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both countries already have established frameworks to discuss water-related matters.

“India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers. The Joint Rivers Commission is a structured bilateral mechanism that addresses issues concerning all shared rivers. Matters related to the Ganges treaty will also be discussed within this framework,” he said.

The remarks came after BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reportedly said that strong bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India depend on the renewal of the Ganges water-sharing agreement, commonly known as the Farakka Treaty.

Signed in 1996, the treaty is set to expire in December this year, making its renewal an important issue in bilateral relations.

Last month, technical experts from both countries visited Farakka to assess water availability during the dry season and later held discussions in Kolkata as part of ongoing consultations on water sharing.