BNP's long march starts

The BNP has started its march towards Nilphamari's Teesta Barrage from Dhaka.

The two-day march--intended to focus on Bangladesh’s demand for its legitimate share of Teesta waters from India and to decry government's failure in ensuring it-- started from Dhaka's Uttara area on Tuesday morning.

It was led by BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The marchers 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 march.

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

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

In a rally at the Airport roundabout Tuesday, Mirza Fakhrul said :
"This long march is not against the government. This march is to protect the people's livelihood, environment and agriculture of the country."

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, with India.

This remains a contentious issues in the bilateral relations of the two neighbours.