Staff Reporter :
Tens of thousands of people from the northern districts and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) sent the message to India that the sharing of Teesta River water is the just right to the people of Bangladesh.
People from five northern districts gathered at the banks of the Teesta River to voice their demand and concerns under the slogan ‘Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachao’.
Addressing a rally in Kaunia in Ranpur, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman virtually addressed the people, stating that Teesta water is the rightful demand of the people of the northern region.
“It is Bangladesh’s rightful claim under international law and a right of the people of Bangladesh.
Yet, we see that today we have to protest to secure our just share of the Teesta River’s water. The people of northern Bangladesh are being compelled to take to the streets. The share of Teesta is not a matter of mercy,” he said.
“If the neighboring country does not give Bangladesh its fair share of Teesta water, we cannot keep waiting for them. We must take matters into our own hands and rethink our relationship with that country,” he said.
Talking about Hasina’s fall, he said, “In August, a murderous autocrat fled the country. This autocrat once said that what she had given to India, they would remember forever. As a result, India only remembers that autocrat but not the people of Bangladesh.”
“Our neighbouring country has given nothing to the people of Bangladesh, only to the autocrat. Every country has issues or good relations with its neighbours, but these should be resolved diplomatically, which has not happened here,” he said.
Tarique emphasised that Bangladesh is being forced to fight for its just share of the Teesta’s water, and the neighbouring country is acting in an unfriendly manner regarding water distribution.
“For 50 years, Bangladesh has suffered from the curse of the Farakka Barrage, and now the Teesta has become another curse,” he said.
He pointed out that millions of people living along the Teesta River are facing both floods and droughts due to this hostile behaviour, causing significant agricultural losses worth millions.
Rahman assured that when BNP returns to power, it will prioritise the Teesta issue.
Additionally, other rivers across the country will be restored and dredged as part of a renewed canal-digging initiative inspired by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s programme, he added.
“The people of Bangladesh and the international community have witnessed the unity of the masses during this crisis. Just as you have raised the slogan ‘Rise, Save the Teesta,’ we must now all collectively say, ‘Rise, Save Bangladesh,’ he concluded.
