Thousands to join Teesta Master Plan implementation walkathon tomorrow

Thousands of people affected by river erosion are expected to participate in the walkathon organised by the Teesta River Protection Movement in Rangpur tomorrow (4 May) to demand implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.

After the massive response and participation of 1.5 million people in the 48-hour continuous programmes of the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee held in Teesta region on 17 and 18 February, people are eagerly waiting to participate in the walkathon. 

Colorful rallies, marches, and cultural performances were arranged at 10 points in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Gaibandha surrounded by the river Teesta on 17 and 18 February with the slogan 'Jago Bahe- Teesta Banchai'.  
 
The 48-hour programmes have successfully united the Teesta region people to highlight sorrows of the river, injustice of India in unilateral withdrawal of its water in the world arena and create pressure on the interim government to resolve the problems.
 
Under such circumstances, Teesta River Protection Movement Chief Coordinator and BNP Organising Secretary (Rangpur division) Principal Asadul Habib Dulu informed journalists about the walkathon in a press conference held at a hotel today.
 
Rangpur District BNP Convener Md Saiful Islam, its Member-secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, Rangpur Metropolitan BNP Convener Shamsuzzaman Samu, former District BNP President Emdadul Haque Bharsha, journalists' leader Salekuzzaman Salek, were present at the event.
 
He said preparations have been completed for the Sunday's walkathon with the participation of at least one-lakh river-erosion and flood affected people to demand the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan. 
 
The walkathon will start from the Shapla Square at 3 pm, circle the main streets of the city and end at the Rangpur Zilla School ground. 
 
BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, Vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, environment activists, Teesta River Protection activists and affected people of the Teesta river bank areas will participate in the walkathon. 
 
Dulu said that the previous fascist regime did not give importance to the Teesta Master Plan despite staying in power for 16 years. 
 
"As a result, every year, people's homes and cropland are being lost to erosion in the Teesta River. People are becoming paupers. The cries, pain and inequality of the people along the river Teesta still remain," he said. 

Rangpur is a grain bank. Most of the country's food is supplied from the Rangpur division, he added. 
 
"It is very much appreciable that the interim government has allocated Tk13,000 crore for Chattogram port development, we support that. However, this government does not have a clear position so far on financing the Teesta Master Plan," he said.
 
Dulu said that the interim government's chief adviser visited China. A meeting of the foreign adviser was held with the Chinese ambassador. The results of that meeting have to be brought before the nation. 
 
In addition, domestic and international conspiracies are going on regarding the Teesta Master Plan. Some environmental organizations are opposing the Teesta Master Plan, he added. 
 
"However, when the people of the Teesta region are being affected by river erosion, cropland is being swallowed up or destroyed, and forests are being destroyed, the environmentalists say nothing," Dulu said. 
 
Asadul Habib Dulu said that the implementation of the Teesta Water Sharing Treaty and the Teesta Master Plan is not the demand of any individual, group or political party, but it is the demand of the people of Rangpur division. 
 
"Since this movement has become a public demand, there is spontaneous participation of the people of Teesta riverine areas in it," he said.
 
"Through this walkathon, the issue of discrimination over Teesta water will be made known to the nation and entire world," he said, and urged journalists to ensure broader coverage of the walkathon to make the international community informed once again. 
 
Talking to BSS, riverside resident Nur Hossain of Purbo Mohipur village in Gangachara upazila said that the people have become united centering the Teesta River Protection Movement and they will participate in tomorrow's walkathon.
 
Farmer Monowar Hossain of Sarai Union in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur said that he will participate in the walkathon tomorrow to urge the interim government to implement the Teesta Master Plan and save the people of the Teesta region from decades of suffering.