DU Correspondent :
Protesting the water aggression of India to the downstream country Bangladesh and the dams in the inter-border rivers terming it illegal, the Inkibal Manch, a cultural organization led by Dhaka University students, staged a ‘long march’ towards Dambur Dam in Tripura.
The students and people riding ten pick-up vans lunched their march from Shahbagh of the capital carrying national flags in their hand demanding the removal of all one-way dams in the inter-border rivers.
Some people also joined at the march on the way including Jatrabari of Dhaka city.
The protesters claimed that the Indian dams in the inter-border rivers is totally violation of UN Watercourses Convention- 1997 and for those illegal dams, Bangladesh faces unexpected flood every year at the rains and aridity at summer.
They also demanded to initiative of implement the Teesta Master Plan as soon as possible and claiming compensation as per the convention from India due to Bangladesh as a downstream country.
While the march, the agitators chanted slogans_ ‘Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka’, ‘Slavery or freedom, freedom freedom’ and ‘Inkibal Inkibal’. They also condemned and protested the killing at the borders and the use of water as weapons in their slogans.
“Our struggle will be continued until all types of water terrorism and aggression of India are stopped,” Sharif Usman Hadi, convenor of Inkilab Manch said while addressing at the beginning of the march.
“A fascist state has been established in the last 17 years. Because of this fascist, no one could speak or protest against India’s aggression.
But now we have no fascists in front of us. We strongly demand immediate demolition of all illegal dams placed by India on international rivers,” he stated.
The Inkibal Manch also staged a street meeting at Jatrabari intersection and at Chandina of Comilla on the way of the march. Then, they hold a mass rally at the town hall of Comilla.
After the rally, they will take a procession towards Dambur Dam and will march to Bibi Bazar border.