Bangladesh, May 22 -- Bangladesh and India have opened a crucial round of talks in Kolkata on the future of the Ganges water-sharing agreement and broader cooperation on transboundary rivers, as concerns grow over dry-season water flow, regional water security and environmental risks.

The 90th meeting of the Bangladesh-India Joint Rivers Commission began on Thursday and will continue until Saturday.

Officials familiar with the discussions said the meeting is being closely watched as the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, is set to expire on 31 December 2026.

The talks are being seen as one of the most significant bilateral water negotiations between the two neighbours in recent years.

Officials from both sides believ...