Ganga Water Treaty Nears End: Bangladesh Demands More, India Seeks Shorter Term Amid Tensions

• India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty, regulating flow at Farakka Barrage, expires in 2026, raising renewal concerns.
• Geopolitical tensions, including strained India-Yunus government relations and minority persecution in Bangladesh, complicate renewal talks.
• Original treaty involved PMs Hasina, Deb Gowda, and West Bengal CM Jyoti Basu; current situation sees decreased Ganga flow impacting both nations.
• Bangladesh's Padma River is drying, affecting navigation and irrigation, leading Dhaka to demand a minimum 40,000 cusecs from February to May.
• India may propose reducing the treaty term from 30 to 10-15 years, while West Bengal's demands are crucial for any new agreement.

Why It Matters: Renewal of India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty faces complex geopolitical, environmental, and political challenges.