Bangladesh’s move to seek China’s support for the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP) has drawn close attention in New Delhi, amid concerns over its potential strategic and diplomatic implications for India.
The issue figured during talks between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, with Dhaka formally requesting Beijing’s involvement in the long-pending river project.
The Teesta, which originates in the eastern Himalayas and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, remains a critical transboundary river for India, particularly in terms of water-sharing and regional stability.
The development assumes significance for India as the project site lies close to the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, often described as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, which connects the mainland to the northeastern states.
Chinese interest in the Teesta project has been noted for several years, and Dhaka’s renewed push for Beijing’s participation is likely to be viewed with caution in New Delhi, especially against the backdrop of evolving regional alignments.
According to official readouts, Wang expressed China’s willingness to align Belt and Road cooperation with Bangladesh’s development priorities and encouraged Chinese enterprises to expand investments in the country.
He also stressed that China’s engagement with Bangladesh and other South Asian nations is not directed against any third party.
For India, however, the move comes at a delicate juncture in bilateral ties with Bangladesh, where water-sharing arrangements have remained unresolved. The Teesta water-sharing agreement between the two sides has been pending for over a decade due to differences over allocation.
Also read: Bangladesh hands Teesta project to China, India raises concerns
New Delhi had, in 2024, offered technical and conservation assistance for the Teesta basin as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with Dhaka on transboundary river management.
The latest development also follows a broader shift in Dhaka’s foreign policy orientation. The interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus had moved closer to China and Pakistan after the fall of Sheikh Hasina, straining ties with India.
Rahman’s visit to China, his first since the new government led by Tarique Rahman assumed office in February, comes shortly after his trip to India last month, which was closely monitored by Beijing.
The backdrop is further complicated by the impending expiry of the India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Treaty, signed in 1996 for a 30-year period, unless renewed.
China has significantly expanded its economic footprint in Bangladesh in recent years and is currently the country’s fourth-largest lender, with loans totalling about USD 7.5 billion.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and enhance synergy between their development strategies, underlining Dhaka’s growing engagement with Beijing.
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