The project, officially named the “Comprehensive Management and Restoration of Teesta River Project,” is commonly known as the Teesta Master Plan. Both China and India have shown interest in the project at different times. In May 2024, India’s then-Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, during a visit to Bangladesh, expressed India’s interest in investing in the project. The Awami League government, ousted in July 2024 following a public uprising, also favored Indian funding for the project.
During a press conference on July 14, 2024, at Ganabhaban, then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “China is ready, but I want India to take up this project. If India does it, they will provide whatever is needed.” However, 22 days later, the Awami League government fell due to a student-led uprising, and Sheikh Hasina fled to India. On August 8, 2024, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed, which now seeks to implement the project with Chinese funding.
On May 26, the Water Resources Ministry sent a letter to the Planning Commission, mentioning the Chinese loan for the project. In the second week of July, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) sent a letter to the Chinese Embassy. Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud told Prothom Alo on July 5, “The government is keen to implement the Teesta project with Chinese loans, and China is interested in investing. The process is moving forward with mutual consent.” He added that finalizing the project design is the priority, after which the Development Project Proposal (DPP) and financial agreement can proceed concurrently.
According to project documents, the first phase will cost Tk 9,150 crore, with Tk 6,700 crore requested as a loan from China and the remainder to be funded from government coffers. The project is set to begin in 2026 and is targeted for completion by 2029. The Power Construction Corporation of China (Power China), a state-controlled entity, has already completed a feasibility study.
On July 1, the Planning Commission sent a letter to ERD, stating that the project’s estimated cost has been deemed reasonable and approved by the Planning Adviser, allowing for a loan request to China. ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky told Prothom Alo in early July that a letter requesting the loan had been sent to China, and project formulation is ongoing.
The Teesta River, shared between Bangladesh and India, flows through India’s Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. India’s water diversion through dams and riverbank erosion have threatened livelihoods and settlements along the river in Bangladesh. Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, in a written statement to Prothom Alo on July 30, said, “We are working with China’s assistance to ensure water flow in the Teesta and protect people from erosion and floods.”
