Brace for floods in the north and northeast
BANGLADESH’S neighbour and ‘friend’ India is now giving it waters of Teesta. It always does during the monsoon. In the dry season when the farmers in the country’s northern areas cry for water, India does not share water with Bangladesh that it deserves according to the transboundary river water sharing law. But in the monsoon when Bangladesh had adequate water, India inundated it by giving water. As a result, Bangladesh suffers tremendously both in the dry season as well as in the monsoon. Such is the ‘generousness’ of India towards its neighbour.
Like in the previous monsoons, India has opened the gates at Gazaldoba barrage and onrush of water from the upstream has inundated swathes of territories in the north. The Teesta and Surma rivers are now in their full spate following days of torrential rains inside the country and across the border in the neighbouring Indian hills. It is apprehended that the onrush of water from Indian hills towards Bangladesh’s plain is likely to continue for three to four days, leading to a brief spell of flood in the north, particularly low-lying areas. According to a national daily yesterday, India has opened all 54 floodgates of the Gazaldoba Barrage.
Meanwhile, the Rangpur office of the Water Development Board (PUBO) said that the water level at Dalia Point of Teesta Barrage was 40 cm below the water level at one o’clock on Tuesday. Due to heavy rain upstream, the water level in Teesta may rise to near the low tide by Wednesday. Apart from Teesta, water in Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in Kurigram may also continue to rise.
Erosion has already occurred in some areas of the banks of the Teesta. Fearing massive floods, residents at the flood-prone areas are building houses on the dam for safe shelter. The people of the Bagerhat Char area are also reportedly preparing for safe shelter as the river suddenly rises in their houses. People are going to a safe place.
Against these scenarios, the government must remain alert with rescue and relief capabilities so that people can save their lives as well as their crops and livestock. It is, however, really a pity for the Bangladesh government that it fails to make the Teesta water sharing treaty a reality from a country with whom it claims friendship has reached a high plateau.
