On the second day of the 48-hour sit-in movement demanding a fair share of Teesta River water under the slogan "Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachai" (Wake Up, Save the Teesta River), a large crowd took part in a march along the Teesta riverbanks.
Today (February 18), at 11 am, thousands of participants began the march from the Lalmonirhat railway bridge, passing through Kaunia Upazila in Rangpur, and concluding back at the railway bridge. The march, led by the chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement and an organising secretary of the BNP Asadul Habib Dulu, covered a distance of six kilometers.
At the Teesta Barrage point, local residents of the Tista riverbanks also participated in a separate march.
Reports indicate that the Teesta River, which has not been dredged since its inception, has experienced severe silting of its riverbed. As a result, even light rainfall or upstream runoff causes the river to overflow, inundating local areas and triggering devastating floods along the riverbanks. These floods, along with erosion, have led to the destruction of homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure. Furthermore, following the monsoon, vast stretches of the Teesta transforms into barren, sandy terrain, leaving thousands of hectares of once-productive farmland abandoned.
On the other hand, the Indian government has constructed the Gazoldoba Dam upstream on the Teesta River, using its water unilaterally. During the monsoon season, they release excess water, flooding the Rangpur region, and after the monsoon, the area is left to turn into a barren desert.
Bangladesh has long been demanding its rightful share of the Teesta water. To secure this demand, various social and political organizations have launched multiple movements over the years. Although the previous ousted Awami League government announced a master plan for the Teesta River to address the long-standing demands of the people living along its banks, it failed to implement the plan due to its subservient policy towards India. Consequently, the Teesta River Protection Movement has announced a new initiative, urging the Interim Government to implement the Teesta master plan and secure Bangladesh’s fair share of the river's water.
The 48-hour sit-in movement was officially launched yesterday (February 17) afternoon by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
On the first day of the program, various activities were organized at 11 locations across five districts along the 125-kilometer stretch of the Teesta River. Thousands of participants spent the night in tents at the riverbanks. In the evening, a cultural performance highlighting the heritage of the Rangpur region was held, followed by a documentary showcasing the struggles of the Teesta riverbank residents. The film aimed to shed light on the dire situation of the Teesta River, bringing attention to the issue on the international stage.
This evening, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will address the movement, expressing solidarity with the cause, as the residents of the Teesta riverbanks eagerly anticipate his speech, which they hope will lead to the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan and the fulfillment of their rightful share of the it’s water.
If the master plan is realized, it is expected to transform northern Bangladesh, restoring the vitality of the Teesta River and reviving the livelihoods of boatmen, a vital aspect of life along its banks.
Asadul Habib Dulu, the chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement and an organising secretary of the BNP, said, "The second day's activities of the declared program have begun with the march. The movement will continue until a fair share of Teesta and the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan are announced. If the sit-in program does not work, a larger movement will be formed. We want a fair share of Teesta River water."
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
