In 1951, two rivers – the Teesta and Ganga – were discussed between India and East Pakistan (which became Bangladesh in 1971).
In 1952, the Brahmaputra was also brought into the discussion. A year after the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971, India and Bangladesh set up the Joint Rivers Commission to exchange information on the river basins and cooperate over their management.
Until the 1980s only three rivers were recognised as “common” rivers. In 1982 Bangladesh proposed six other rivers – the Sangu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gomti, Dharla and Dudhkumar to be formally recognised as transboundary rivers. Slowly this number ....
