Dhaka, 16th Feb 2025: In a significant geopolitical development, the Bangladesh government, under Muhammad Yunus, is reportedly considering involving China in the Teesta River conservation and management project. This move has sparked security concerns in India, given the river’s strategic location and historical disputes between the two neighboring countries.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the Yunus administration has initiated public hearings to build consensus on this decision. Experts believe that China’s involvement could pose a direct challenge to India’s national security interests.
Teesta River and Its Strategic Importance
The Teesta River originates in Sikkim and flows through North Bengal for approximately 305 kilometers before entering Bangladesh. Over the years, the river has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between India and Bangladesh regarding water-sharing agreements. While previous Bangladeshi governments, including Sheikh Hasina’s administration, refrained from involving China in the project, the current government appears to be taking a different approach.
Bangladesh Holds Public Hearing on Teesta Project
On Sunday, the administration of the Rangpur district in northern Bangladesh conducted a public hearing titled “Tista Niye Koronio” (What should be done with Teesta) in Kawaniya. During the hearing, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an advisor to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources, revealed that the Chinese government had already developed a master plan for Teesta’s conservation and management.
“We are in talks with them. They have requested two years to finalize their plan, and we have agreed—on the condition that they consult with the local communities living along the riverbanks,” she stated, as reported by Bangladeshi media.
China’s Role in the Teesta Project
The proposed Teesta project, with an estimated budget of $1 billion, is set to be completed by December 2025. It includes:
- Dredging of the river to prevent flooding and erosion
- Construction of reservoirs and a drainage system
- Development of embankments along the riverbanks
- Establishment of satellite townships on both sides of the river
While this project aims to address Bangladesh’s water management challenges, India has voiced concerns over China’s growing presence in the region, particularly near the Siliguri Corridor—a strategically vital stretch of land connecting mainland India to its northeastern states.
India-Bangladesh Teesta Dispute: A Historical Overview
The Teesta water-sharing agreement has been a contentious issue between India and Bangladesh for decades. In 2011, a proposed deal to share the river’s water was stalled due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This deadlock created an opportunity for China to step in, and in 2021, Beijing presented its proposal to assist Bangladesh in managing the river.
With the current Bangladeshi government engaging China, Indian officials and security analysts fear that the move could undermine India’s influence in the region.
Security Concerns for India
According to The Telegraph, river expert Tuhin Subhra Mandal, based in Balurghat, warned that the public hearing was a strategic move to facilitate China’s involvement in the project. “It is absolutely clear that Bangladesh’s interim government is paving the way for China’s participation in this project,” he stated.
A retired Indian military officer from Siliguri also raised alarms over the development. He noted that the point where the Teesta enters Bangladesh from India, near Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar, is only 100 kilometers from the Siliguri Corridor—India’s crucial land link to the northeastern states.
India’s Response and Future Implications
While there has been no official statement from the Indian government regarding this development, security experts suggest that India may need to reassess its diplomatic strategy with Bangladesh. Given China’s history of infrastructure investments in South Asia, including projects under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), analysts caution that Beijing’s involvement in the Teesta project could lead to greater Chinese influence in Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh moves forward with the project, regional geopolitical dynamics are expected to shift, potentially reshaping India’s strategic calculations in the coming years. The outcome of this development will likely depend on how New Delhi responds to the growing Chinese footprint in South Asia.
