Rangpur: A festive atmosphere is prevailing along the Teesta River in greater Rangpur as the two-day Teesta River Protection Movement is set to begin tomorrow, demanding fair water sharing and the implementation of the Teesta Mega Plan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee has organized the 48-hour program across all five districts along the Teesta River with the slogan ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Banchai’ to address decades-old sufferings caused by the river. The much-awaited movement has united people living along the Teesta to highlight their sufferings caused by the river and India’s unilateral withdrawal of its water on the global stage, and to urge the interim government to resolve the issues.
Under the leadership of Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, Chief Coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement and Organizing Secretary (Rangpur division) of the BNP central executive committee, all preparations have been completed. The preparations include the distribution of leaflets, extensive publicity, the erection of stages, the setting up of thousands of tents and toilets, and the arrangement of feeding tens of thousands of people during the two-day program.
As part of the movement, the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee will hold rallies, marches, and cultural programs at 11 points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Gaibandha districts. In Rangpur, the program will be held on the banks of the Teesta, near the Kawnia Railway Bridge under Kawnia upazila, and in the Gangachara Mohipur Bridge area under Gangachara upazila.
Nur Hossain of Purbo Mohibur village expressed that people regardless of their caste, creed, religion, and political affiliations, have become united centering the Teesta River Protection Movement. “Dozens of stages and pandals, along with hundreds of tents, many toilets, and other temporary structures for cultural performances, have been erected under the Teesta Bridge and in the adjoining areas of Mohipur Bazar and nearby villages in Gangachara upazila,” he said.
Local organizers said colorful programs under the slogan ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Banchai’ initiated by BNP Organizing Secretary and former deputy minister Principal Asadul Habib Dulu will be held. Moshiar Rahman, a resident of the same area, hoped that through the Teesta River Protection Movement, local people would be able to inform the world that the neighboring country is not giving the fair share of water of the Teesta River.
Like Nur Hossain and Moshiar Rahman, local woman Saleha Khatun stated, “If the interim government does not implement the Teesta Water Sharing Treaty and the Teesta Mega Plan through this movement, we will continue the programs.” Asadul Habib Dulu remarked that the implementation of the Teesta Water Sharing Treaty and the Teesta Mega Plan is not the demand of any individual, group, or political party, but it is the demand of the people of Rangpur division.
“Since this movement has become a public demand, there is spontaneous participation of the people of Teesta riverine areas in it. I surely hope that there will be a large crowd during the movement,” he said. Through this program, the issue of discrimination over Teesta water sharing will be brought to the attention of the entire world,” he said, urging journalists to provide broader coverage of the 48-hour continuous programs to make the international community aware of the problems faced by the people living along the Teesta River.
“India has been continuing discriminatory behavior with us regarding the Teesta River water. We want to get rid of the situation; it is our demand,” he added. Dulu said that Acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will join virtually at 11 locations across five districts on the evening of February 18.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the Teesta riverside rally on February 17. BNP Standing Committee Members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Babu Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku, Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Bir Bikram, BNP Vice-chairmen Samsuzzaman Dudu and Barkatullah Bulu, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Moazzem Hossain Alal, and other central as well as local leaders of BNP will join the programs.
“In addition, President of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Mostafa Jamal Haider, Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Junaid Saki, General Secretary of Biplobi Workers Party Saiful Haque, and other national leaders will come to Teesta riverside areas to express solidarity with the movement,” Dulu said.