BNP’s Teesta long march to start from Airport roundabout

The BNP’s long march to the Teesta Barrage in Nilphamari sets off from the Airport roundabout in Dhaka, instead of its Naya Paltan central office planned earlier, at 8am on Tuesday.

The two-day march, BNP leaders say, is intended to stress Bangladesh’s demand for its legitimate share of the river water from India and to decry government failure to stand up for the country’s rights.

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told reporters at the party’s Naya Paltan office on Monday that the starting venue was changed to prevent traffic a gridlock.

“Generally, traffic jam is common during office hours. So, we’ve decided to start the march from the Airport roundabout to begin the programme early,” the BNP leader said.

File Photo

Led by the party’s Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the motorcade of the road march will kick off from the Airport roundabout at 8am.

The BNP plans to involve the people in its movement to press for an equal share of the 54 trans-border river waters, including the Teesta’s, -- still a sticky issue between India and Bangladesh.

It will hold street rallies at Kaliakoir in Gazipur district, Tangail bypass road, Sirajganj district town, Matidhali intersection in Bogra district, Govindaganj and Palashbari in Gaibandha on the first day of the road march.

After an overnight halt in Rangpur, they will resume the march the following morning.

The programme will end with a rally in Dalia area near the barrage.

To drum up public support for the programme, BNP leader Rizvi, its Standing Committee Members Nazrul Islam Khan and Rafiqul Islam Khan distributed leaflets in front of the National Press Club.