The impact of the historic victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the West Bengal Assembly elections is now visible beyond the borders. This major election victory has signaled a positive change in regional diplomacy and politics. Bangladesh’s ruling ‘Bangladesh Nationalist Party’ (BNP) has formally congratulated the BJP on registering a landslide victory in West Bengal. This is not just a congratulation on an election victory, but it has also given rise to a new and strong hope for an early resolution of the decades-old water disputes between the two countries.
Azizul Bari Helal, Information Secretary of Bangladesh’s ruling party BNP, has praised the excellent performance of BJP under the leadership of Subhendu Adhikari in West Bengal. Helal said that he congratulates the winning party BJP and Shubhendu Adhikari. He expressed confidence that this victory of BJP under the leadership of Subhendu Adhikari will ensure that relations between the Government of West Bengal and Bangladesh remain as good and strong as before. The BNP’s response offers a rare and positive moment of diplomatic hope over the long-running cross-border disputes between Dhaka and Kolkata. He believes that this change of power will not only stabilize but also improve bilateral relations between the two sides.
Will Teesta water dispute be resolved after Mamata leaves power?
The most important thing in this entire statement of BNP has been said about the Teesta water sharing treaty, which has been hanging in the balance for more than a decade. BNP leader Helal has directly described the outgoing Trinamool Congress leadership and especially Mamata Banerjee as the biggest obstacle to this agreement.
BNP claims that Mamata Banerjee’s previous administration was obstructing the Teesta Barrage agreement. The party is hopeful that now that power in West Bengal has come into the hands of BJP under the leadership of Subhendu Adhikari, the state government will work with the Modi administration to finalize this pact. Helal clearly said that with BJP coming to power in place of Trinamool Congress, the Teesta Barrage project will definitely be implemented.
What is the old dispute regarding river water?
India and Bangladesh share a total of 54 rivers, but so far only two water treaties have been signed between the two countries (Ganga Water Treaty and Kushiyara River Treaty). The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty regulates the sharing of water at the Farakka Barrage during the dry season, but Bangladesh often alleges that India releases less water during dry months, adversely affecting their agriculture and livelihoods.
A temporary agreement was reached in 1983 regarding Teesta River water, giving 36 percent to Bangladesh and 39 percent to India, but it was never fully implemented. During the visit of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh in 2011, there was a proposal to give 37.5 percent water of Teesta to Bangladesh and 42.5 percent water to India. However, the then West Bengal government strongly opposed it citing its agricultural interests, due to which the agreement remained pending.
How will BNP and BJP come together?
On this important question, BNP leader Helal clarified that even though there is a clear ideological difference between the centre-right BNP and the BJP, national interests always come above party principles. He said that our relations are very good and despite ideological differences, we are completely united on some national issues.
Teesta Barrage and general relations between India and Bangladesh are such important issues where both sides are on the same page. Expressing full hope, Helal said that despite ideological separation, we are together on the basis of issues and with the coming of the new government in West Bengal, our mutual relations will see even greater momentum.
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