Teesta water sharing is the people’s demand of the northern region
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photo: Barta24
The livelihood of crores of people in the northern region of the country is largely dependent on the Teesta River. The inequality in sharing Teesta River water, which is common with India, has been going on for a long time. Due to India's discriminatory behavior, the people of this region suffer from water scarcity during the dry season. Floods due to low water during the rainy season, river erosion is destitute. Again, due to water scarcity during drought, cultivation of lakhs of farmers in Teesta is disrupted. Although demands have been made for a long time to overcome this situation of Teesta River, no one has taken effective steps to implement river governance or master plans.
The long-standing Teesta water distribution and implementation of river projects have become a popular demand in the northern region of the country. Under the banner of the Teesta River Protection Movement with the slogan 'Jago Bahe-Tista Bachao', ordinary people of five northern districts - Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari are spontaneously participating in the two-day program of the BNP, regardless of party affiliation, under the banner of the Teesta River Protection Movement.
On Monday (February 17), tents will be set up at 11 points of the Teesta river, including Kaunia Bridge, Mahipur Bridge and Teesta Barrage, under the slogan 'Jago Bahe, Save Teesta', for 48 consecutive hours. The life stories of the people on the banks of the Teesta, that is, their joys and sorrows, are being presented through drama and music for two days.
This program has been organized to increase pressure on India to solve the problem of water sharing of the common river, including the Teesta Treaty, and to protect the interests of the country.
Ashikur Rahman, a resident of Teesta, Kaunia, Rangpur, said, the Teesta Master Plan was a project. The previous government did not implement it due to delay. India drowned us with water during the rainy season. Again, due to lack of water, we cannot cultivate in the dry season. We want equal rights to Teesta water.
Kaunia Upazila BNP President Emdadul Haque Bhorosa said that lakhs of people will participate in this program at 3 points in Gangachara, Kaunia and Pirgachha upazilas of Rangpur. Thousands of people in these three upazilas have been displaced due to Teesta. Water is not available even during drought. Therefore, there is no alternative to implementing the Teesta Master Plan to save this region.
Teestapar fisherman Enamul Haque said that our ancestors used to fish in the Teesta River all year round. The fish of the Teesta River used to go all over the country. Now, even if we can catch fish for 2/3 months of the monsoon, it becomes difficult to feed our families during the rest of the time. Many fishermen have changed their profession due to lack of water. The call of the boatmen on the Teesta River is not the same as before. He also demanded that the Teesta Master Plan be implemented quickly.
Chief Coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee, BNP Organizing Secretary Principal Asadul Habib Dulu said, the implementation of the Teesta Agreement and Master Plan is not the work of any individual, group or political party. This is a movement of the people of Rangpur Division. As this movement has become a public demand, there is spontaneous participation of the people of Teestapar in it. I hope there will be a large crowd for two days. The acting chairman of BNP will join virtually at 11 points in 5 districts on the evening of February 18. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the Teestapar rally on the 17th. In addition, leaders of various political parties, including BNP central leaders, will come to Teestapar to show solidarity.
