Water Sharing Geopolitics between India and Bangladesh: Recent Trends

Authors

  • Md. Mizanur Rahman Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University Gopalganj, Department of Political Science

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59890/ijaamr.v2i8.2418

Keywords:

Geopolitics, Dispute, Diplomacy, Strategy, Water

Abstract

The partnership between India and Bangladesh according to water sharing is complex by traditional, geographical, political, sociological, and economical issues. Understanding the present dynamics in water-sharing geopolitics is necessary for understanding the pathways of their bilateral partnership and the conjugation for regional sustainability and improvement. Both countries share almost 54 rivers for example Teesta, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna. These rivers are lifelines for Bangladesh and India, providing essential irrigation water, communication, and indigenous consumption. However, the unequal distribution of water and the influence of climate change have increased challenges over water management procedures. While both countries have contracted diverse treaties and agreements to manage shared rivers, implementation hazards and occasional breaches of trust have channeled their partners. Subsequently, the increasing demand for water due to population enrichment and industrialization shapes modern challenges for stable water mechanisms. This research aims to describe the present dynamics in water-sharing geopolitics between India and Bangladesh, examining the evolving trends, key factors, and their conjugations for regional sustainability and collaboration. By extending the complexities of this critical view of their partnership, this study seeks to contribute to a deeper realization of South Asia's geopolitical arena and prosecutorial dynamics for cooperative water distribution strategies.

References

“Press Information Bureau India.” Press Information Bureau India, Government of India, 5 Oct. 2019, https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1587295.

Abedin, M. A., & Shaw, R. (2015). Climate change, water resources management, and challenges in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin. Climate and Development, 7(3), 221-233.

Ahmed, Imtiaz, Ajaya Dixit, and Ashis Nandy , Water, power and people: A South Asian manifesto on the politics and knowledge of water, Colombo: RCSS, 1997.

Ahmed, N. (2019). The Rohingya Crisis and Its Implications for Bangladesh–Myanmar Relations. Asian Affairs, 50(3), 396-415.

Alam, M. K., & Huq, S. (2018). Transboundary water politics of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river basin: opportunities and challenges for regional cooperation. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 34(6), 931-949.

Alam, M. M., & Ahammad, R. (2019). Climate change impact and vulnerability assessment of water resources in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna river basins. Water, 11(5), 991.

Ali, A., & Nishat, A. (2020). Water resources management and hydro-politics in the Ganges basin: A Bangladesh perspective. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36(4), 700-718.

Ali, M. M., & Khan, M. A. (2018). Socio-Ecological Resilience in India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Case Study of the Brahmaputra Basin. Environmental Science & Policy, 84, 139-148.

Ali, M. M., & Uddin, M. S. (2016). Socio-Economic Implications of India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Case Study of the Ganges Basin. Water Policy, 18(4), 839-853.

Allan, J. A. (2016). The Middle East Water Question: Hydropolitics and the Global Economy (2nd ed.). IB Tauris.

Ansar, A., Flyvbjerg, B., Budzier, A., & Lunn, D. (2016). Does infrastructure investment lead to economic growth or economic fragility? Evidence from China. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 32(3), 360-390.

Ansar, A., Flyvbjerg, B., Budzier, A., & Lunn, D. (2017). Big is Fragile: An Attempt at Theorizing Scale. SSRN Electronic Journal.

Arsenault, C., & Zawahri, N. (2016). Transboundary water politics in the developing world. International Interactions, 42(3), 399-406.

Ashraf, M. A., Maah, M. J., Yusoff, I., Wajid, A., Mahmood, K., & Wajid, U. (2015). Impact of climate change on river flow regime in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna basin. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(24), 20143-20160.

Banerjee, A., & Gupta, A. D. (2018). Climate change, transboundary water sharing, and peacebuilding: a study of the Ganges River Basin. Water Policy, 20(2), 281-296.

Barua, P. (2016). Dams and Politics: Managing Water and Power in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin. The Asia Foundation.

Beyene, A. T., & Letta, G. K. (2019). Climate change impacts and adaptations in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin: a review of current literature. International Journal of River Basin Management, 17(2), 233-242.

Bhargava, Arjun K. “Tremendous Change in India-Bangladesh Relations since 2014.” ORF, Observer Research Foundation, 8 Nov. 2019, www.orfonline.org/research/tremendous-change-in-india-bangladesh-relations-since-57426/.

Bhattacharya, A., & Islam, M. S. (2019). Legal Frameworks and Institutions for India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Comparative Analysis. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 19(1), 59-78.

Biswas, A. K. (2019). India-Bangladesh cooperation on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta: Present status and future perspectives. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 35(2), 296-313.

Biswas, A. K., & Tortajada, C. (2017). Water scarcity in the Ganges river basin: Implications for India and Bangladesh. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(6), 905-924.

Biswas, A. K., & Tortajada, C. (2018). Water, energy, and food security in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river basin. Water International, 43(1), 1-15.

Borgomeo, E., Hall, J. W., Fung, F., & Watts, G. (2016). Water resources in the Ganges Basin: a review of the climate, hydrology, and hydropower potential. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 32(2), 283-298.

Brauman, K. A., Richter, B. D., Postel, S., Malsy, M., & Flörke, M. (2016). Water depletion: An improved metric for incorporating seasonal and dry-year water scarcity into water risk assessments. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 4(1), 000083.

Brown, O., & Crawford, A. (2009). Rising temperatures, rising tensions: Climate change and the risk of violent conflict in the Middle East. International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Burchi, S., & De Nicola, F. (2019). Geopolitics of Water: Reconsidering the Role of Power in Transboundary Water Governance. Water, 11(4), 686.

Burchi, S., & De Nicola, F. (2020). The role of transboundary water governance in promoting peace and regional stability. Water International, 45(3), 303-321.

Carvalho, G., Bastiaanssen, W., & Gupta, J. (2019). Policy perspectives on climate and water: A case study of South Asia. Regional Environmental Change, 19(1), 93-105.

Chakravorty, U., Dar, A. A., & Gopinath, M. (2016). Does conflict affect commodity prices? Evidence from a natural experiment in Kashmir. Review of Economics and Statistics, 98(1), 83-95.

Chatterjee, D., & Mukherjee, A. (2017). Water resources management in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta: a review. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(5), 807-825.

Chaturvedi, A., & Shah, S. H. (2019). Impact of climate change on the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin: a review. Climate and Development, 11(1), 1-18.

Choudhury, A. H., Quadir, D. A., & Debnath, R. (2018). Transboundary water sharing issues between India and Bangladesh: Lessons from the Ganges and Teesta Rivers. Water, 10(11), 1677.

Chowdhury, M. N. A., & Pohit, S. (2019). Impact of climate change on agriculture in Bangladesh: An econometric analysis. Journal of South Asian Development, 14(1), 43-70.

Crow, B., & Singh, N. M. (2016). Rivers as resources: A history of water management in the Eastern Himalaya. Oxford University Press.

Das, P., & Karim, A. (2019). Social Capital and Water Sharing Cooperation: A Case Study of India-Bangladesh Relations. Social Sciences, 8(11), 307.

Das, P., & Khan, M. A. (2017). Stakeholder Perspectives on Water Sharing: Insights from India-Bangladesh Transboundary Cooperation. Water Alternatives, 10(3), 725-744.

Datta, Sreeradha. “Indo‐Bangladesh Relations: An Overview of Limitations and Constraints.” Strategic Analysis, vol. 26, no. 3, 2002, pp. 427–440., doi:10.1080/09700160208450057.

Drishti IAS. “India-Bangladesh.” Drishti IAS, 7 Oct. 2019, www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-bangladesh.

Farhin, Nawaz. “Farakka Barrage Key Factor in Bangladesh’s Water Crisis.” Dhaka Tribune,

Dhaka Tribune, 10 Feb. 2018, www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/environment/2018/02/11/farakka-barrage-key-factor-bangladeshs-water-crisis.

Ghosh, S., & Datta, R. (2018). Hydro-Political Complexities in India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Strategic Analysis. Geopolitics, History, and International Relations, 10(1), 61-78.

Ghosh, S., & Mukherjee, P. (2019). Geopolitical Implications of Water Sharing: A Case Study of India-Bangladesh Relations. Geopolitics Quarterly, 16(3), 82-98.

Ghosh, S., & Mukherjee, P. K. (2018). Power Asymmetry and Water Sharing: India-Bangladesh Relations in Perspective. Strategic Analysis, 42(5), 431-445.

Hoque, M. E., & Salehin, M. (2016). Socio-Ecological Implications of India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Case Study of the Teesta River. Sustainability Science, 11(4), 559-574.

Hoque, M. E., & Salehin, M. (2017). Climate Change Impacts on India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: Challenges and Adaptation Strategies. Climate and Development, 9(4), 347-360.

Hossain, M. A., & Hasan, M. (2020). Transboundary Water Management: India-Bangladesh Experience. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36(3), 437-452.

Hossain, M. A., & Karim, A. (2018). Climate Change and Water Sharing: Implications for India-Bangladesh Cooperation. Climate Policy, 18(1), 73-87.

Islam, M. R., & Karim, A. N. M. R. (2018). Challenges and Opportunities in India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Policy Perspective. Water Resources Management, 32(2), 687-702.

Karim, A., & Hoque, M. (2018). Integrated Water Resources Management in the Ganges Basin: Challenges and Opportunities for India-Bangladesh Cooperation. Journal of Environmental Management, 206, 1147-1157.

Karim, A., & Rahman, M. M. (2019). Governance Challenges in Transboundary Water Sharing: A Case Study of India-Bangladesh Cooperation. Water Policy, 21(4), 787-805.

Kawser, Mohammad Abul, and Md. Abdus Samad. “Political History of Farakka Barrage and Its Effects on Environment in Bangladesh.” Bandung: Journal of the Global South, vol. 3, no. 1, 4 Jan. 2016, pp. 1–14., doi:10.1186/s40728-015-0027-5.

Khan, M. S., & Rahman, M. M. (2019). Economic Valuation of Water Sharing Agreements: A Case Study of India-Bangladesh Cooperation. Water Resources Economics, 27, 1-12.

Lovelle, Madeleine. “India, Bangladesh and the Farakka Barrage.” Future Directions International, Future Directions, 10 May 2016, www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/india-bangladesh-farakka-barrage/.

McDonnell, Tim. “Climate Change Creates a New Migration Crisis for Bangladesh.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 24 Jan. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/01/climate-change-drives-migration-crisis-in-bangladesh-from-dhaka-sundabans/.

Ministry of External Affairs. India Bangladeshi Relations. New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs. September 2017. Web. 20 March 2020. https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bangladesh_September_2017_en.pdf

Ministry of External Affairs. India Bangladeshi Relations. New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs. January 2020. Web. 20 March 2020. https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/bilateral_brief-_Jan_2020.pdf

Mukherjee, Jenia. “The Farakka Barrage: A Review from the Indo-Bangladeshi Perspective after 36 Years .” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 72, no. 2, 2011, pp. 1054–1063., https://www.jstor.org/stable/44145717.

Mukherjee, P. K., & Ahmed, R. (2017). India-Bangladesh Water Sharing Disputes: Legal, Political, and Economic Perspectives. Journal of Water Law, 26(1), 33-50.

Mukherjee, S., & Chowdhury, M. A. (2017). Environmental Impacts of Water Sharing Projects between India and Bangladesh: A Critical Review. Environmental Management, 60(3), 437-452.

Mukherjee, S., & Das, P. (2020). Community Perspectives on Water Sharing Management: Insights from India-Bangladesh Border Regions. Journal of Rural Studies, 76, 184-195.

P

aul, S., & Rahman, M. (2019). Water Sharing between India and Bangladesh: A Critical Appraisal. Water Policy, 21(5), 994-1010.

Paul, S., & Rahman, M. M. (2019). Dynamics of Water Sharing Negotiations between India and Bangladesh: A Game Theoretic Approach. Journal of Hydrology, 572, 380-392.

Rahman, Kazi Saidur, et al. “A Critical Review of the Ganges Water Sharing Arrangement.” Water Policy, vol. 21, no. 2, 27 Feb. 2019, pp. 259–276., doi:10.2166/wp.2019.164.

Rahman, M. M., & Hoque, M. A. (2017). Legal Frameworks for Water Sharing Management: A Comparative Study of India and Bangladesh. International Journal of Water Governance, 5(2), 89-104.

Rahman, M. M., & Hoque, M. E. (2017). Adaptive Governance in Transboundary Water Sharing: Lessons from India-Bangladesh Cooperation. Water Policy, 19(6), 1101-1117.

Rahman, M. M., & Raihan, S. A. (2020). Institutional Framework for Water Sharing Management between India and Bangladesh: Lessons and Prospects. International Journal of River Basin Management, 18(1), 61-79.

Raihan, S. A., & Islam, M. R. (2016). Historical Perspectives on India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: Lessons for Future Cooperation. Water History, 8(3), 367-382.

Raihan, S. A., & Islam, M. R. (2018). The Ganges Water Sharing Agreement between India and Bangladesh: A Critical Evaluation. Water Alternatives, 11(3), 733-754.

Rieu-Clarke, A., & Allan, J. A. (2019). The Ganges Treaty: A Critical Review of India-Bangladesh Cooperation in Transboundary Water Management. Water International, 44(5), 578-596.

Salehin, M., & Hoque, M. A. (2016). Water Sharing Management in the Ganges Basin: Perspectives from India and Bangladesh. Water International, 41(6), 932-950.

S

alehin, M., & Hoque, M. E. (2017). Hydropolitics of India-Bangladesh Water Sharing: A Critical Analysis. Water Resources Research, 53(9), 7412-7427.

Subedi, Surya P. “Hydro-Diplomacy in South Asia: The Conclusion of the Mahakali and Ganges River Treaties.” The American Journal of International Law, vol. 93, no. 4, Oct. 1999, pp. 953–962., doi:10.2307/2555362.

Uddin, M. J., & Islam, M. R. (2018). Political Economy of Water Sharing: Perspectives from India and Bangladesh. Water Policy, 20(4), 769-786.

Downloads

Published

2024-08-29

How to Cite

Md. Mizanur Rahman. (2024). Water Sharing Geopolitics between India and Bangladesh: Recent Trends. International Journal of Applied and Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, 2(8), 569–592. https://doi.org/10.59890/ijaamr.v2i8.2418

Issue

Section

Articles