| Abstract: | India and Bangladesh share some of the most complex and climate-sensitive river systems in South Asia. For decades, river water disputes between the two countries have largely been discussed in terms of water sharing arrangements, treaties, and diplomatic negotiations. However, growing climate variability is steadily reshaping the very basis on which these agreements were conceived. Changes in rainfall patterns, increasing frequency of floods and droughts, and declining dry-season flows in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin have added new layers of uncertainty to transboundary water management. This paper argues that India-Bangladesh river water disputes can no longer be understood only through traditional hydro-political frameworks. Instead, they need to be examined through the combined perspectives of climate change governance and environmental politics. By doing so, the study highlights how environmental vulnerability, developmental priorities, and domestic political considerations influence bilateral water relations under conditions of climatic stress. The paper adopts a qualitative and analytical approach, drawing on secondary literature, policy documents, and existing institutional arrangements. Rather than portraying river disputes as outcomes of political confrontation, the study emphasizes the structural and governance-related challenges created by climate change. It suggests that reframing water disputes as shared environmental challenges can open space for cooperation, adaptive governance, and more flexible institutional mechanisms. Such an approach is essential for ensuring sustainable and equitable transboundary river management between India and Bangladesh in an era of climate uncertainty. |
