01/09/2024
The future of the Teesta River Project remains a critical and contentious issue, significantly shaping Bangladesh’s international relations, particularly with its neighboring country, India, and its strategic ally, China. The Teesta River has long been a source of dispute between Bangladesh and India, with Bangladesh facing significant challenges in securing a fair share of the river’s waters.
However, the recent decision by Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister to sign a $1 billion river development project deal with India, rather than pursuing cooperation with China, has introduced new uncertainties into Bangladesh-China relations. This decision was likely influenced by Bangladesh’s historically favorable diplomatic and economic relations with India, despite ongoing disputes over water sharing. But now with the fall of the Hasina government, there is a looming question of whether current administrations will honor the present Teesta agreement with India or pivot towards China, seeking more favorable terms and leveraging China’s strategic interest in the region. The change in leadership could lead to a reassessment of foreign policy strategies, with significant implications for regional dynamics.
So, the future of the Teesta River Project is a critical test of Bangladesh’s diplomatic balancing act. The decision to favor India over China for the river development deal has injected uncertainty into Bangladesh-China relations and raised concerns about the long-term viability of cooperation
with India. How Bangladesh navigates this complex geopolitical terrain will have lasting implications not only for its own water security but also for the broader strategic balance in South Asia.
This is to see whether the new interim government of Bangladesh will continue the Teesta river project with India or choose to cooperate with China. Partnering with China could benefit China’s strategic interests but it will threaten India’s security, particularly in the Chicken’s Neck region.
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