Staff Reporter :
A legally binding agreement with a guarantee clause is essential to ensure a fair distribution of joint river water, said Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Sunday.
“To secure our fair share of the 54 rivers, a strong position based on facts must be taken,” he remarked while addressing a seminar titled “Economic Disaster for Bangladesh” on the upstream withdrawal of river water.
He emphasised, “We will do whatever is necessary to achieve this.
” Dr Salehuddin noted the arbitrariness in the region regarding water distribution and pointed out that the recent severe floods in Feni and Cumilla were caused by the unannounced release of excess water from the Dambur reservoir, built on the Gumti River in Tripura.
He further explained that withdrawing water upstream during the dry season creates a severe environmental disaster for Bangladesh, which lies in the lower basin of many shared rivers.
Describing the water crisis as a more pressing issue than the oil crisis, he warned, “This could lead to a third world war.”
He pointed out that Bangladesh, due to its location, is not receiving its fair share of water.
Dr Salehuddin also referenced international agreements, noting that despite political tensions, countries such as those in Southeast Asia, Pakistan, and India maintain agreements on the Mekong River and the Indus River, respectively.
“In Europe, the countries of the Danube River Basin share the water peacefully,” he said, advocating for a similar fair solution in Bangladesh’s case with international assistance.
He also highlighted the drying up of the Hardinge Bridge’s riverbed, urging that this deteriorating environmental situation cannot be resolved without a fair share of water.
Concluding, Dr Salehuddin invoked the ideals of Maulana Bhashani, stating that the people of Bangladesh will always draw inspiration from his struggle to protect water and the environment.
Syed Tipu Sultan, Chairman of the International Farakka Committee, also recalled the August uprising and urged everyone to focus on achieving the goals related to water and environmental protection.
