Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, while linking the outcome to renewed hopes of progress on the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh.
BNP Information Secretary Azizul Baree Helal said the result under the leadership of West Bengal’s Suvendu Adhikari could improve ties between Dhaka and Kolkata and help resolve the Teesta dispute. He also praised the leadership of the BJP in the state and said the political shift could strengthen relations between Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Helal alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had been an “impediment” to the Teesta Barrage agreement. He expressed hope that the new political situation would align with efforts by the Narendra Modi government to finalise the water-sharing pact.
The Teesta dispute remains unresolved despite multiple attempts, including a proposed 2011 agreement during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit, which sought equitable distribution of river waters but stalled due to West Bengal’s objections.
Earlier arrangements in 1983 also remained unimplemented.
