Photo: Collected
A protest march of thousands of people rocked the riverbanks in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday, demanding fair share of the Teesta River water and implementation of the Teesta Master Plan. As part of a 48-hour sit-in organised by the Teesta River Protection Movement, the march began at the Lalmonirhat railway bridge at noon.
The protesters, led by chief coordinator of the movement Asadul Habib Dulu, also BNP's central executive committee organising secretary and former deputy minister, walked through Kaunia upazila in Rangpur before returning to the bridge chanting various slogans like "Jago Bahey, Teesta Bachai".
The river, known for its turbulent flow during monsoon due to upstream water surges, turns into a barren desert-like stretch in the dry season, leaving thousands of hectares of land uncultivated along its banks.
Protesters accused India of unilateral water use through the Gajoldoba Barrage upstream releasing excessive water during monsoon that floods Bangladesh's Rangpur region and withholding it during the dry season, turning the riverbed into a desert.
Various social and political organisations have long demanded a fair share of Teesta waters. The previous Awami League government announced the Teesta Master Plan to address the issue, but its implementation remained stalled due to what protesters called a "submissive policy" towards India.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the 48-hour sit-in protest on Monday. The first day saw cultural events showcasing Rangpur's heritage and a documentary on the plight of Teesta riverbank residents as thousands camped overnight in tents over there.
On the second day, the protest march resonated along the 121-kilometer stretch of the Teesta River, culminating in a mass display of placards demanding river protection. In the evening, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to address the protesters virtually in 11 designated points along the riverbanks.
Chief coordinator of the movement Dulu reaffirmed that the protest will continue until the demand for a fair share of Teesta waters and the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan is met.
