Thousands rally for fair share of Teesta water, govt defers master plan by 2 more years
A massive protest march took place on the riverbanks in Lalmonirhat today (18 February) as thousands demanded a fair share of Teesta River water and the implementation of the long-delayed Teesta Master Plan.
However, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has announced that the timeline for preparing the Teesta Master Plan has been extended by two years, citing that the plan will be revised taking into account opinions of people from the riverside.
She made the announcement during a ministry session at the Deputy Commissioners' (DC) Conference today.
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The protest, organised by the Teesta River Protection Movement, began at noon at the Lalmonirhat railway bridge as part of a 48-hour sit-in programme which was inaugurated by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday, reports UNB.
Led by the movement's chief coordinator Asadul Habib Dulu, also BNP's central executive committee organising secretary and former deputy minister, protesters marched through Kaunia upazila in Rangpur before returning to the bridge, chanting slogans and urging people to save the Teesta River.
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 unilaterally controlling the river's water through the Gajoldoba Barrage, releasing excessive amounts during monsoon – causing floods in Bangladesh's Rangpur region – and withholding it in the dry season, turning the riverbed barren.
Teesta Master Plan extended by two years
At yesterday's DC conference, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan elaborated on the decision to extend the preparation timeline for the Teesta Master Plan by two years.
She said, "The plan should reflect the opinions of the people from the Teesta area regarding what should or shouldn't be included. The Ministry of Water Resources and the PWDB will gather these opinions, with Power China present at every public hearing."
Power China, the institution responsible for drafting the plan, is expected to submit it to the government by December 2026. However, an interim report will be provided between October and December this year, she added.
"We have given them two years to finalise the plan. After that, the Planning Commission will approve it before submission to the Chinese government," Rizwana further said.
