India-Bangladesh Border Tensions Rise | Teesta River Dispute & China’s Growing Influence

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]Making swift moves in West Bengal since the election victory of Narendra Modi's party in the state. The Indian government has cleared a land transfer to its border security force to accelerate the fencing of its frontier with Bangladesh. Dhakadu says it isn't afraid.

[00:00:19]As explained by the honorable home minister and under the guidance and instruction of the honorable prime minister, the state government will transfer the land to the ministry of home affairs in 45 days. The BSF will complete fencing and the issue of illegal infiltrators that we have been facing will also be resolved within a few days. This decision has been taken by the cabinet.

[00:00:42]>> The people of Bangladesh are not afraid of barbed wire. The government needs to talk where it is needed. India needs to be humane on the border. If someone wants to do something, Bangladesh won't just sit and watch. We want dialogue with our neighbors.

[00:00:57]>> And I'm now joined by RT India correspondent Ruta for more on this.

[00:01:02]Rojuta, what's the latest here? And more importantly, can we expect the border fencing as well as the Thista river issue to dominate talks between the two nations?

[00:01:13]So now tensions regarding the security of borders and the Tista river have been a big focal point between ties between India and Bangladesh over the last few months and let's talk about the border issue first. Now a BJP government in India's West Bengal state which also has shares borders with Bangladesh has now sharpened New Delhi's announcement and meas suggestions over the illegal migration and infiltration. They have also given a nod to full fencing of the border and this is one of the biggest and first decisions of the new state government. Now India's border with Bangladesh is over 4,000 kilometers long. Of this over 3,200 kilometers have already been fenced while 864 kilometers still remain unfenced. Officials here have also identified around 174 kilometers as nonfeasible gap areas where fencing is difficult because of rivers, terrains and some habitation.

[00:02:16]Now the Indian government uh looks at this matter and says that this is a solution that fencing is a solution to block illegal migration. However, Dhaka has said and warned India rather that they are using what Dhaka calls an intimidation politics.

[00:02:36]>> We remain prepared to deal with infiltration or any kind of law and order situation along the border. Our position on this has always been clear and we remain alert. Our BGB is on alert.

[00:02:52]Now the second flash point here between India and Bangladesh ties is the Tista river dispute and this has resurfaced again because um it was followed by Bangladeshi officials actually confirming China uh China's role or potential role in financing the Tista river project. And this comes after Bangladeshi minister actually visited his counterpart in China and this only signals that Bangladesh is now leaning towards China.

[00:03:24]>> There was a positive discussion on the TISTA issue and China's Xi Jinping has shown some interest in financing the TTA project. There are technicalities involved, national interests are involved. There are also strategic development considerations connected to it. So it needs a little time and more detailed discussion going forward.

[00:03:46]>> Now the roots of the Thista water dispute between India and Bangladesh actually go back to 1947 which was during the partition time. However, it became more prominent when uh the creation of Bangladesh happened that is in 1971. The two sides has also reached uh an interim agreement in 1983 where India was supposed to receive 39% of waters. Bangladesh was supposed to receive 36% while 25% was unallocated but the agreement was never formally implemented and then came the new proposed 2011 agreement where India was to receive 42% and Bangladesh was to receive 37% but the deal was again blocked by the West Bengal government which argued that the northern part and the northern districts of the state would suffer with water shortages which is why it never got implemented again.

[00:04:44]Now both the border fencing issue and the Tista water issues are one of are two of the key issues that uh will that will see what will happen between India and Bangladesh relations uh forthgoing.

[00:04:58]But however the bigger concern here is that China is going to play a role a strategic role which may influence uh the parts of India's eastern flank. Back to you.

[00:05:11]>> All right, Rojati, thank you very much for getting us all those details.