China and Bangladesh Advance Teesta River Project Near India's Border

China and Bangladesh are in talks over the Teesta river management project, a plan that has become sensitive in the region because the river flows from the eastern Himalayas through India's Sikkim and West Bengal before reaching Bangladesh. The Hindu noted that China is one of the world's major dam builders and has extensively developed its own rivers for power and irrigation.

According to Outlook India, Dhaka and Beijing agreed on June 25 to strengthen cooperation on managing the Teesta and other rivers, with Bangladesh seeking Chinese technical assistance. The South China Morning Post reported that the roughly $1 billion scheme would dredge and rehabilitate more than 100 kilometers of waterway that supports irrigation and livelihoods for millions of people.

India had previously offered its own technical assistance for the Teesta basin, reflecting a contest for influence over a shared resource. The project tests how Bangladesh balances its relationships with its two large neighbors.