A 48-hour sit-in program has begun in Lalmonirhat from Monday demanding fair share of Teesta river water, adoption and implementation of a master plan.
The Teesta River Protection Movement has called for this program with the slogan 'Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai'. Students from various schools and colleges have also participated in this sit-in program.
They joined the sit-in program at 11 points since Tuesday morning. Students from various schools and colleges including Hatibandha Fakirpara Women's College, Hatibandha SS Girls' High School, Goddimari Government Primary School, Barakhata Degree College and others joined this program.
The protesters are staying on the banks of the 115-kilometer Teesta river. The organizers will arrange cooking and folk music there, including spending the night at the site. Apart from this, they will light thousands of torches at night to inform the world about the condition of Teesta.
The students said, “We have to study with great difficulty during the monsoon. Our families and parents have been demanding it for a long time. But in no way did the previous government take any steps to implement the Teesta Master Plan. That is why we have participated in this movement.”
Like other districts of Rangpur division, people have taken up positions at three places in Lalmonirhat district. These include the Teesta Bridge area of Sadar Upazila, the Teesta Bridge area of Mohipur and the Teesta Barrage area of the country's largest irrigation project. People have started coming to various points since the morning on the first day of the 48 hours. Many are also coming in groups with processions.
A stage has been prepared for the two-day stay on the banks of the Teesta, and various arrangements have been made, including a pandal for overnight stays. There are various arrangements including march program, discussions, torchlight displays standing on the Teesta, and documentary screenings.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
