Chief coordinator of Teesta River Protection Movement and Organizing Secretary (Rangpur division) of the BNP central executive committee Principal Asadul Habib Dulu has said people want the Teesta mega project and fair share of its water, reports BSS.
“The Teesta is our life and many people's livelihoods revolve around the river. That river has turned into a desert today. Therefore, a fair share of Teesta water and mega projects must be implemented,” he said.
He said this as the chief guest at a preparatory meeting held at Kawnia Girls’ High School ground in Kawnia upazila here on Thursday afternoon.
The Teesta River Protection Movement organised the meeting to make the two-day continuous programme on February 17 and 18 successful in the Teesta Rail Bridge area demanding the implementation of Teesta mega project and fair share of water.
Dulu, also a former Deputy Minister said, the fascist Sheikh Hasna during her regime has given a lot to India. But they have not received their fair share of Teesta water.
“Due to lack of water, the Teesta has turned into a desert today. In addition, thousands of people have become homeless due to river erosion during the rainy season due to lack of dredging of Teesta for a long time,” he said.
In addition, the golden crops of farmers' dreams are washed away in the floods during the rainy seasons while farmers cannot grow crops during the dry season due to lack of water in the Teesta following unilateral withdrawal of its water by India.
The Teesta is not only a river. “It is an integral part of our culture, tradition, economy and life. The river is our lifeline and we must realize our fair share of the water for our future survival,” he said.
“Therefore, the Teesta River Protection Movement is demanding a fair share of Teesta water and the implementation of the Teesta mega project,” he added.
Chaired by Coordinator of the Teesta Protection Movement Committee and Kawnia Upazila BNP President Emdadul Haque Bharasa, District BNP Member-secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, Kawnia Upazila BNP General Secretary Shafiqul Alam Safi, its former joint convener Rakibul Hasan Polash, addressed the event.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
