Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Secretary General of BNP, spoke as the chief guest at a rally titled 'Teesta River Protection Movement' held at the Teesta Rail Bridge point in Lalmonirhat. Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Feb 17, 2025 (BSS) - Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today categorically said that India must provide due share of Teesta water if it wants to be friends of the people of Bangladesh. 
 
“India must stop border killings and behaving like a big brother towards us...We want to stand on our own feet and get our due share of Teesta water…Of course, we want to see India as a friend and that friendship will be based on mutual respect and by paying dues,” he said.
 
The BNP Secretary General was addressing as the chief guest at a rally styled “Teesta River Protection Movement” at the Teesta Rail Bridge point in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila demanding fair share of Teesta water and implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan here this afternoon. .
 
The Teesta River Protection Movement organised the rally as part of the 48-hour continuous programmes with the slogan “Jago Bahe Teesta Banchai” simultaneously at 11 points in five districts on the Teesta river bank.
 
Chief Coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement and Organizing Secretary (Rangpur division) of the BNP Central Executive Committee and former Deputy Minister Principal Asadul Habib Dulu chaired the function.
 
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said India is not providing due share of Teesta water and on the other hand, it is giving shelter our enemy allowing her to stay like a “king” in New Delhi from where she has been issuing different types of orders.
 
The BNP Secretary General said, “The today’s struggle is the struggle of our life and death. We will never allow this struggle to stop without winning it for the sake of our people in the region.”
 
He told the interim government, “You (interim government) talk about neutrality. But, you can’t stay here neutral. You have to open your mouth here. You have to tell India that we want a fair share of our water.”
 
“We have always talked about the Teesta water. During the Pakistani era, Pakistan said it. When Bangladesh emerges, Bangladesh continued telling the same,” he added.
 
When the Awami League came to power, everyone thought that India as a friend of Awami League will make Teesta water available for our people. “But, on contrary, Awami League used to sell Bangladesh in the last 15 years, But it has not been able to bring a single drop of the Teesta water,” he added.
 
The BNP Secretary General said, “Not only Teesta, India has constructed dams in the upstream of all 54 common international rivers obstructing normal flow of waters in the downstream... India takes away our water and generates electricity.”
 
Besides, he said, “The people of our country cannot grow paddy and crops here, the fishermen cannot catch fish. They are deprived of their livelihoods. Everyone is going through these troubles.” 
 
Laying emphasis on holding election soon for establishing peace, the BNP Secretary General said sometimes they say that “we only talk, vote and vote. The reason for voting is to elect leaders. How will the people’s representatives be elected without voting?” 
 
“That’s why we are talking about the election. Moreover, if there is an election, peace will return to the country. There will be no more unrest. Stability will come. So, hold elections soon and give power to the people's government.”
 
Appreciating Principal Asadul Habib Dulu for uniting people of five districts along the Teesta River through his historic call ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “We will take the movement launched by brother Dulu up to its end.”
 
“Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, a leader of the oppressed people, organised the historic Farakka March demanding the Ganges water sharing, our brother Dulu has done the same by calling people ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’ for the demand of getting due share of Teesta water,” he said.
 
The BNP Secretary General said, “It is not merely a slogan, it is crucial for survival of the people living along the Teesta river.”  
 
He said, “When India opens their dams or gates of barrages, flood water wash away our houses, properties and villages. And again the whole area dries up when India closes their dams or barrage gates causing unending sufferings to our people.”
 
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “Nothing can be achieved without struggles. We will bring Teesta water through struggles and establish our rights. Let us become united and call again ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’ to win in this struggle for survival.”
 
Earlier, BNP Standing Committee Member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku, BNP Vice-Chairman Samsuzzaman Dudu, President of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Mostafa Jamal Haider, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, BNP Joint Organising Secretary (Rangpur division) Abdul Khaleque, Rangpur Metropolitan BNP Convener Shamsuzzaman Samu, its Member-Secretary Advocate Mahfuz Un Nabi Don, Rangpur District BNP Convener Md Saiful Islam, its Member-Secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, among others, addressed the rally. 
 
Simultaneously, such programmes were organized at 10 other points along the Teesta river in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha districts today, the first day of the two day event.
 
BNP Standing Committee Member Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku and Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Junaid Saki addressed two rallies held at both sides of the Mohipur Bridge at the juncture of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur and Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat this afternoon.
 
President of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Mostafa Jamal Haider and General Secretary of Biplobi Workers Party Saiful Haque addressed the rally held at Teesta Rail Bridge area in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur.
 
BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Moazzem Hossain Alal addressed the rally held at Sarishabari area under Ghorialdanga union of Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram district.
 
BNP Standing Committee Members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury addressed the rally at Pakarmatha area under Thetrai union of Ulipur upazila in Kurigram district.
 
BNP Vice-Chairman Barkatullah Bulu addressed the rally held at the Haripur Bridge point in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha district. 

Later, cultural programmes were organized at all rally venues. Bhaoyaiya music, Polli Geeti, Baul song, solo performance, guest artists’ songs, dual performance, poetry recitation, Zari song, dual Bhaoyaiya featured the programmes.
 
Thousands of enthusiastic people gathered at the both sides of the Teesta river turning the rallies into places of festivities in greater Rangpur.