JD(U) Leader Sanjay Jha Opposes Renewal of Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, Citing Bihar's Water Loss

Patna: Janata Dal (United) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha on September 10, 2026 urged the Centre not to renew the Ganga water-sharing treaty with Bangladesh when it expires in December, alleging that Bihar's share of water has been stolen for the last three decades.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Patna after the completion of the first phase of the Nitish Samvad Yatra, Jha said the issue was important for Bihar and alleged that the state had been denied a substantial share of its water.

"This issue is very important for the state. While states in India fight pitched battles over water-sharing issues among themselves, Bihar's water has been stolen for 30 years and transferred to Bangladesh," Jha said.

The Ganga water-sharing treaty, signed between India and Bangladesh on December 12, 1996, is a 30-year agreement governing the sharing of dry-season water flows at the Farakka Barrage. It expires on December 12, 2026.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui