Environmental groups seek open evaluation, national commission on Teesta River project

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) have urged the government to ensure full transparency, public disclosure of information, and an independent assessment before implementing the proposed Teesta River Restoration "mega project" by Chinese company PowerChina.

The two environmental organisations also called for the formation of a National Teesta Commission comprising local experts to guide sustainable water management and policy decisions on the river.

Speakers made the demand today (2 November) at a discussion titled "Teesta River in Crisis: What Is the Way Forward?" organised at the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) auditorium in Dhaka.

Presenting the keynote paper, Dr Md Khalekuzzaman, global coordinator of BEN and professor at the Commonwealth University in the United States, said about 20 million people living along the Teesta basin have been suffering due to India's unilateral control of the river's flow, water shortages in the dry season, flooding during the monsoon, and severe riverbank erosion.

"PowerChina first proposed the Teesta project in 2016, which later became a point of geopolitical tension between India and China," he said.  

However, the project's feasibility study and pre-development project proposal (PDPP) were kept confidential, he added. 

Dr Khalekuzzaman noted that the government had recently shared a limited and revised version of the feasibility study with BAPA and BEN, but said many critical questions remain unanswered.

He further warned that turning Teesta into a 204-kilometre enclosed channel would harm the river's ecosystem.

"Restoring the Teesta naturally means re-establishing its connections with tributaries, canals, and wetlands, allowing the river to flow freely and replenish groundwater reserves. Enclosing it will only turn it into an artificial canal, threatening its health," he said.

Participants at the discussion proposed several measures, including the formation of a Teesta River Commission with Bangladeshi experts, re-evaluation of PowerChina's proposal, development of an alternative nature-based plan, and assigning the Bangladesh Army to oversee project implementation.

Professor Anu Muhammad, member of the Committee for Democratic Rights, said, "A river cannot be forcibly reduced to one-third of its natural size. Such actions will damage the river, the environment, and the lives of people along its banks."

Criticising the government's rush in decision-making, he said, "Why is there so much hurry in every project? Like previous governments, this one also seems impatient. The Teesta master plan requires public participation. The government must explain what is being done and how. The claim of flood control under this project sounds good, but it won't actually control floods."

He added that whether the project succeeds or fails, the people will ultimately bear the burden of repaying the Tk12,000 crore loan with interest, underscoring the government's duty to disclose all information publicly.

Rashed Khan, general secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, said, "India claims to be our friend but has never proven it. If China helps with the Teesta, why should we refuse? However, the project must ensure accountability."

Engineer Md Belayet Hossain, former additional director general of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, said, "The Teesta Barrage was originally designed to serve as supplementary irrigation, but that objective has not been achieved. Rivers in Japan and Bangladesh differ greatly, but if the Teesta's sediment is properly managed, it could even fund its own maintenance."

Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers' Party, said Bangladesh continues to face "severe inequality" from India over the Teesta's waters.

"We have failed to build effective diplomacy with West Bengal through cultural and trade links like Hilsa, mangoes, and Benarasi silk. While we support joint river management, any one-sided deal with China should be reviewed. The project should involve coordination with India and Nepal — the other countries sharing the river basin — instead of rushing toward short-term fixes," he said.

He also added, "The government has already made decisions beyond its jurisdiction regarding ports. It should not take up any project that excludes public opinion."

Lutfar Rahman, former director general of the National River Conservation Commission, said, "We need nature-based solutions, not quick fixes."

Ruhin Hossain Prince, former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said, "Bangladesh is already a victim of imperial dominance. We must not escape one sphere of influence only to fall under another. The Teesta project should be reviewed before taking a time-bound decision."

Alamgir Kabir, general secretary of BAPA, said, "We are not against the Teesta master plan itself, but we urge the government to take our recommendations into serious consideration before implementation."