Tensions between Bangladesh and India increased on Thursday after Dhaka accused New Delhi of releasing large amounts of water from the Dumbur dam in Tripura, resulting in severe floods in eastern Bangladesh districts. Indian officials strongly rejected this assertion, maintaining that it was due to unprecedented rains occurring in this part of the country and urging for continued collaboration with their neighbours on transboundary river management.
The controversy arose when Mohammad Nahid Islam, an adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, alleged that India’s “non-cooperation” and the unannounced opening of the Dumbur dam led to the floods. “Without any prior warning and without giving us time for preparation, the dam was opened. This demonstrates India’s inhuman approach and non-cooperation with Bangladesh,” Islam stated following a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Indian government sources dismissed these allegations as “misplaced narratives” that could harm bilateral ties. They noted that the Dumbur dam, located over 120 kilometers upstream from the Bangladesh border, is a low-height structure that generates power, from which Bangladesh also draws 40 MW. They stressed that the flooding was caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall in the Gumti river’s catchment areas, both in India and Bangladesh, which led to automatic releases from the dam.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement highlighting the need for mutual cooperation in managing the 54 cross-border rivers shared by the two nations. The MEA also pointed out that India continues to provide real-time flood data to Bangladesh as per a bilateral protocol. “This problem requires close mutual cooperation,” the statement read, adding that India remains committed to addressing water resource management issues through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.
The MEA further clarified that heavy rainfall had been ongoing in Tripura since August 21, with the state capital Agartala experiencing severe flooding after receiving 233 mm of rain in a single day. The situation has been exacerbated by power outages that disrupted communication, although India maintained efforts to transmit urgent flood data to Bangladesh.
At the same time, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in Bangladesh stated that eight districts—Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Chattogram, and Noakhali—were heavily affected by floods, causing nearly 1.8 million people to be homeless.
In this situation, India has asked the interim government of Bangladesh not to support narratives that could strain the age-old friendship between the two nations. The two governments have reiterated their determination to resolve disputes through discussions and collaboration.
