Bangladesh Approves Massive Padma Barrage To Counter India’s Farakka Impact Before Treaty Ends

Added: 2026-05-16

Bangladesh has approved a massive Padma Barrage project costing nearly Tk 34,497 crore to counter the downstream impact of India's Farakka Barrage, which has been causing reduced dry-season water flow, salinity intrusion, and river degradation in Bangladesh. The project, approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, aims to store more water domestically and improve irrigation, navigability, biodiversity conservation, and hydropower generation. This decision comes just months before the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is set to expire, highlighting the ongoing water dispute between the two nations.