The BNP has ended its two-day long march towards the Teesta Barrage with a threat of tougher movements if the government fails to ensure Bangladesh’s legitimate share of Teesta river waters from neighbouring India.
Published : 23 Apr 2014, 06:38 PM
Led by the party’s Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the motorcade of the road march had started from the Airport roundabout in capital Dhaka on Tuesday and ended with a rally at Dalia, near the barrage, in Lalmonirhat around noon on Wednesday.
Fakhrul said, “We need some 10,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water during the dry season. As a result of our long march, the water flow in the Teesta river at the barrage point has increased to 3,006 cusecs.”
“We would like to make it clear that we will announce vigorous agitation programmes in future if the country’s legitimate share of Teesta waters isn’t ensured,” he added.
Amid the BNP’s road march, the water flow in the Teesta marked sudden rise, exceeding 3,000 cusec, at the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) point at Dalia in Nilphamari from Tuesday afternoon, but dropped again by a half on Wednesday.
Starting from the Airport roundabout, the long-march entered the Rangpur city on Tuesday evening, halting there for the night.
The march resumed on Wednesday morning. On their way to the Teesta Barrage, BNP leaders held several roadside rallies at Kaliakair of Gazipur, Tangail Bypass Road, Kaddar intersection of Sirajganj, Matidhali crossing of Bogra, Gobindaganj and Polashbari of Gaibandha.
The movement ended with a rally lasting over two and a half hours at Dalia point near the Teesta Barrage.
The leaders, activists and supporters of the BNP and its affiliate bodies joined the rally amid a moderate heat wave.
Fakhrul told the rally, “Our long-march isn’t against the Indian government and its people. We’ve launched the movement demanding our fair share of the Teesta river waters. Our country maybe a small one, but if its 160 million people become united, no one can dominate us.”
The BNP leader claimed that India violated the international laws by constructing barrages on the upstream of the 54 trans-border rivers, including the Teesta.
“We want to establish our rights. The water flow in the Teesta river rose to 3,006 cusecs, thanks to our leader’s (BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia) programme. It’s the primary success of our movement.”
Addressing the Indian government, Fakhrul said, “Our friendly relations with India will be further strengthened when the water flow in the Teesta river will rise up to 10,000 cusecs.”
The BNP stalwart said that the ruling Awami League government would never be able to sign the Teesta river water sharing deal with India because the government had no public support. “And they don’t want to displease those who power they (Awami League) used to come to power.”
He urged the people to unite on the demand of holding an election under a non-party neutral government to establish the people’s government soon.
Fakhrul extended his thanks to the BNP men and media for making their long-march a success.