Once vital for northern Bangladesh, the Teesta is shrinking and destabilising lives. Floods, erosion, sand mining and stalled water-sharing talks fuel demands for swift action and resilient river management.
Once a lifeline and symbol of hope for communities in northern Bangladesh, the Teesta River is now drying up, leaving livelihoods and local economies in jeopardy. Farmers, fishers and residents along the river are facing an uncertain future as water levels drop and riverbanks erode. The looming national elections have amplified calls from local communities demanding urgent action to save the river.
Both China and India have expressed interest in investing but geopolitical complexities have delayed final decisions. Environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said work is underway to establish a sustainable framework for the project by December 2026.
The Teesta, a critical river for northern Bangladesh, continues to suffer from decades-long delays in water-sharing agreements with India, compounded by climate change-induced floods and erosion that regularly displace thousands. In 2025, diplomatic efforts, major project announcements and extreme weather events kept northern districts on high alert. Yet, the Teesta water-sharing treaty has not seen progress.
The year’s monsoon season was particularly harsh for the Teesta basin. In July and August, excessive water releases from the Gazoldoba Barrage caused widespread flooding in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur. In early October, a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal combined with upstream surges pushed water levels at Dalia Point 40 centimetres above the danger mark. Damage to the Teesta-3 dam in Sikkim has further disrupted natural flow patterns, leaving riverside charlands vulnerable to unexpected flooding.
The disruption of the river’s natural flow has severely impacted fish breeding, resulting in heavy losses for fish farmers. Illegal sand mining has compounded the crisis. In Nilphamari’s Dimla and Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha and other areas, heavy machinery continues to extract sand, altering the river’s course and accelerating erosion. Authorities’ efforts to curb illegal sand extraction have largely failed.
Analysts note that disagreements between India’s central government and West Bengal have delayed the treaty, while Bangladesh’s attention increasingly shifts to the Ganges ahead of the 2026 water-sharing treaty deadline. In the absence of an agreement, Bangladesh is moving forward independently with the Teesta Mega Plan, estimated at nearly Tk 12,000 crore, which includes river dredging, construction of permanent embankments and the development of satellite cities and economic zones.
In September, residents of Lalmonirhat held torch-lighting campaigns at four riverside points, raising the slogan “Wake up, save the Teesta.” Local leaders emphasise that their demand goes beyond relief aid. They are calling for fair water distribution and sustainable river management.
Professor Asadul Habib Dulu, chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement, said, “The Teesta Mega Plan has awakened the nation. People across Bangladesh support our movement and the implementation of the project. Once, the Teesta sustained our lives, rice in the home, fish in the ponds, livestock in the barns. Now, there is only despair.”
The Teesta’s plight underscores the urgent need for cross-border cooperation and climate-resilient river management to safeguard livelihoods and the fragile ecosystem of northern Bangladesh.
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, stressed the importance of equitable water management, saying, “Fair water sharing is not just a demand of the Teesta riverside communities; it is essential for the survival of northern Bangladesh’s agriculture, fisheries and local economies. Without cooperation and timely action, we risk losing a river that has nurtured generations.”
He added, “The Teesta, the lifeline of northern Bangladesh, is in crisis. Immediate action is needed to preserve the river. Without the rapid implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan, cultivated land and settlements will be lost and the region’s biodiversity will suffer.”
