BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said the fair share of Teesta River's water is Bangladesh's rights and it is not a matter of mercy or generosity.
The water-deprived people of the Teesta basin in the northern region want to inform the entire world that the fair distribution of water from the 54 common rivers between Bangladesh and India should be ensured following international law, he said.
While virtually addressing a massive rally from London, held on the bank of the Teesta River in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur, the BNP chairman tried to garner world attention, saying that crores of people in the country’s northern region are being deprived of a fair share of the Teesta River water.
Tarique said that while the fallen autocratic government was in power, they stated, "India will never forget what we have given them." Indeed, when that autocratic government fell in the mass uprising of August 5, the neighbouring country remembered and sheltered them. This neighbouring country does not love the people of Bangladesh; they love the fallen head of that government.
He said that there is no alternative to fighting to save the northern region from desertification. “We must continue our struggle.”
Once upon a time, the mighty Teesta was called the lifeline of this region but it Teesta has now turned into a death trap for the people of the region during both the rainy and dry seasons.
Earlier, BNP announced a two-day programme, beginning from February 17 to February 17 to meet its demand for a fair share of water from the Teesta River and the implementation of the Teesta Mega Project.
The programme has been announced to draw attention to the long-standing water-sharing issue between Bangladesh and India for an inclusive resolution to the water crisis in the region.
bd-pratidin/GR
