The people of the five districts along the banks of the Teesta River joined the unprecedented enthusiasm at 11 points in the 48-hour continuous agitation program under the slogan ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’ which started yesterday. Photo : BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Feb 18, 2025 (BSS) - The two-day historic ‘Teesta Protection Movement’ has created a strong unity among the people of five districts along the Teesta river banks and a real hope for getting fair water share and implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan. 
 
On the closing day today, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed the rally virtually, outlined a solution to the Teesta water issue and mentioned the fair water share as a just right of the people living along the river.
 
His inspiring speech and courageous stand on the issue of Teesta water sharing further united the residents of the five northern districts along the Teesta in the genuine hope of getting a fair share of Teesta water in the future.
 
Beginning from yesterday, the 48-hour continuous movement programmes with the slogan ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’ concurrently held at 11 points of the five districts on the Teesta river bank amid unprecedented enthusiasm among the people.
 
Chief Coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement and Organizing Secretary (Rangpur division) of the BNP central executive committee Principal Asadul Habib Dulu coordinated the two-day colourful programmes.
 
Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the two-day programmes and addressed the inaugural day main rally at the Teesta Rail Bridge point in the junction of Rangpur Lalmonirhat districts as the chief guest on Monday.
 
Principal Asadul Habib Dulu presided over the main rally, held at the Teesta Rail Bridge point today, like yesterday.
 
BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Goyeswar Chandra Roy, Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Bir Bikram and Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku, BNP Vice-chairmen Samsuzzaman Dudu and Barkatullah Bulu, President of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Mostafa Jamal Haider, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Junaid Saki, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Moazzem Hossain Alal and other central and local leaders addressed the rallies, held at 11 points in five districts on the Teesta river bank on Monday and Tuesday.
 
As part of the two-day programmes, thousands of people, led by Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, staged today a unique protest against India's water aggression by wading knee-deep in the Teesta at the Teesta Railway Bridge point and holding a placard display show. 
 
The placards were displayed demanding an end to Indian water aggression, a fair share of Teesta water to protect the river from desertification, and the implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan to protect the people of the Teesta banks from floods and erosion. 
 
Earlier, a mass public walkathon started from the Teesta Railway Bridge in the Lalmonirhat side of the Teesta today. 
 
Led by Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, the walkathon ended at the Teesta Railway Bridge via the Teesta Road Bridge and Teesta Railway Bridge point. 
 
Similar programmes were simultaneously performed at the other 10 points in the five districts demanding implementation of the Teesta master plan and fair share of the Teesta water.
 
The approximately 115 kilometers of the 315-kilometer long Teesta basin fall inside Bangladesh territory. 
 
Despite the Teesta being an international river, India unilaterally dammed the water to generate electricity and irrigate about six lakh hectares of land, and sometimes released a very little water for Bangladesh. 
 
The released water, instead of being a blessing, is most of the time bringing a curse to the people of the country; causing untimely floods on the banks of the Teesta at times and increasing the amount of damages year by year. 
 
Meanwhile, farmer Monwar Hossain and Abul Kalam from Sarai union in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur while protesting against the Indian water aggression in the knee-deep water said, “India causes floods and droughts to destroy our farm activities and lives”.
 
Kamrul Ahsan, who hails from Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur, said, "The previous fascist government was giving false hopes of solving the Teesta water problem and implementing the Teesta Mega Plan, but did nothing for us."
 
"Now, we, the people living on the banks of the Teesta River in the five districts of Greater Rangpur, are waiting to see what this interim government does this time."
 
Similarly, many others hailing from different districts said they do not understand any of the laws, but want to cultivate crops properly. They do not understand the water law and do not understand any rules and regulations. 
 
“We want water flow in the Teesta, the fair share of Teesta water and we want immediate implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan," said Abdur Rahim of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
 
People of different professions at the Mohipur rally venue today told BSS that the only solution to protect the quality of life of the people in the five northern districts is the implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan. 
 
The interim government must take steps to protect river-centered agricultural lands, prevent floods and erosion, and protect the chars. 
 
They believe that just as there is a need for a fair share of Teesta water, the issue of protecting the Teesta is also urgent now to save the livelihoods of the people living along the river from the adverse effects of climate change. 
 
Like yesterday, the Teesta River Protection Movement organised protest rallies, marches and colourful cultural performances against Indian water aggression at all 11 points in five districts of greater Rangpur today.