Bangladesh turns to China for $1B Teesta River project as India ties falter

Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has formally requested Chinese assistance for the long-delayed Teesta River restoration project, a US$1 billion effort to dredge and rehabilitate 102km (63 miles) of the waterway. The river, which originates in the eastern Himalayas and flows through India’s Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, has been shrinking every dry season, threatening the livelihoods of millions. Dhaka had previously sought India's help for years, but the project remained stalled due to unresolved water-sharing disputes and political sensitivities in West Bengal. The formal request came after Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on May 6, where Wang reaffirmed China's readiness to align its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Bangladesh's development priorities.

The move has significant geopolitical implications, particularly because the Teesta flows near the Siliguri Corridor—a narrow strip of Indian territory connecting the country's northeastern states to the rest of India. By bringing China into the project, Bangladesh is effectively testing its relationship with India while deepening ties with Beijing. Analysts see this as a strategic pivot that could reshape regional water security and infrastructure dynamics. For China, the project offers an opportunity to expand BRI influence in South Asia and gain a foothold near a critical Indian transit route. For India, it risks losing leverage over a neighbor it has long counted as a close ally. The development underscores the growing competition between India and China for influence in Bangladesh and the broader region.