Lesson 1/34 min
Treaties and borders with India
Main agreements with India
| Agreement | Date | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Friendship Treaty | 19 March 1972 | 25-year term; signed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi in Dhaka; expired in 1997 and was not renewed |
| Land Boundary Agreement (Mujib–Indira agreement) | 16 May 1974 | Land boundary and enclaves; South Berubari to India in exchange for the Tin Bigha corridor; Bangladesh ratified at once, India only in 2015 |
| Ganges Water Treaty | 12 December 1996 | In New Delhi; 30-year term; Sheikh Hasina and H. D. Deve Gowda |
| Protocol to the 1974 agreement | 6 September 2011 | During Indian PM Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka; opened the way to exchange the enclaves |
Ganges water: one arrangement after another
| When | What |
|---|---|
| November 1977 | Five-year treaty (Ziaur Rahman government) |
| 4 October 1982 | Two-year memorandum of understanding (Ershad government) |
| 22 November 1985 | Three-year memorandum of understanding |
| 12 December 1996 | 30-year treaty (sharing at Farakka) |
The 1996 Ganges treaty
- Water is shared at Farakka every year from 1 January to 31 May, by an agreed formula
- In critical periods Bangladesh is guaranteed a flow of 35,000 cusecs
- The term ends on 12 December 2026
Watch out: What happens after expiry was not settled at the time of writing (November 2026); India's foreign ministry says talks on renewal continue. Check the latest news before your exam.
Enclaves and sea boundary: later events
- 6 June 2015: instruments of ratification of the 1974 agreement and the 2011 protocol exchanged in Dhaka
- Midnight of 31 July 2015: the exchange took effect; Bangladesh received 111 Indian enclaves, India received 51 Bangladeshi enclaves
- 14 March 2012: judgment in the maritime boundary case with Myanmar (ITLOS, Hamburg)
- 7 July 2014: award in the maritime boundary case with India (Permanent Court of Arbitration)
Memory trick: Remember the order: 1972 Friendship (19 March) → 1974 Boundary (16 May) → 1996 Ganges (12 December).
Check yourself
In the 1974 Mujib–Indira agreement, what did Bangladesh get in exchange for South Berubari?
At a glance
- 1
Friendship Treaty: 19 March 1972, 25 years; it expired in 1997 and was not renewed.
- 2
Land Boundary Agreement (Mujib–Indira): 16 May 1974; Berubari for the Tin Bigha corridor.
- 3
Ganges Water Treaty: 12 December 1996, New Delhi, 30 years (ends 2026); Sheikh Hasina and Deve Gowda.
- 4
Protocol to the land boundary agreement: 6 September 2011; enclaves exchanged 31 July 2015 (111 and 51).
- 5
Sea boundary rulings: Myanmar 14 March 2012 (ITLOS), India 7 July 2014 (PCA).