BNP will implement Teesta Master Plan if voted to power: Tarique Rahman
Awami League government could not get to realise the fair share of Teesta water from India so that the riverbanks in the northern region are going to become a desert, he says
If BNP comes to power, it will go to the United Nations to get the fair share of Teesta water and will implement the Teesta Master Plan, BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman said today (18 February)
"Awami League government could not get to realise the fair share of Teesta water from India so that the riverbanks in the northern region are going to become a desert," he said while virtually addressing the closing ceremony of a 48-hour continuous public rally of Teesta River Protection Movement demanding the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan in Rangpur.
Tarique said the water-deprived people of the northern region on the bank of Teesta want to inform the whole world today that Bangladesh shares 54 rivers with India and getting a fair share of the water of this river is not a matter of mercy for anyone.
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"This is what Bangladesh deserves according to international law, this is what the people of Bangladesh deserve. But what are we seeing? Today we have to agitate for a fair share of the water of an international river. The people of Bangladesh, including the people of the northern region, have to agitate today to get the fair water share," he said.
Pointing to deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, "The murderer who fled to India on August 5 always used to say India will never forget what we gave to India. Today, India has definitely not forgotten Sheikh Hasina. India maintained relations with Sheikh Hasina, not Bangladesh."
"According to international law, Teesta water is our right. Today, we are deprived of our rights due to the unfriendly behavior of the neighboring country. Our right to water in Farakka has not been established in 50 years. Besides, many rivers including Teesta are now silted up causing floods 3-4 times every year and causing huge losses of agriculture and properties," he said.
Tarique Rahman said the River Commission has been rendered ineffective for the past 16 years in the interest of neighbouring India.
"We also want to have good relations with neighbouring countries, but that relationship will be in the interest of the country. If India does not give us fair rights to water, we will make alternative arrangements and go to the United Nations taking the people," he said.
An organisation called Teesta River Protection Movement is organizing a two-day public rally programme at 11 points on the banks of Teesta in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts of the northern region to demand the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.
Lakhs of people participated in these rallies. The main coordinator of which is BNP Organizing Secretary Asadul Habib Dulu.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the two-day programme on Monday.
BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Jonayed Saki, Jatiya Party (JP) President Mustafa Jamal Haider, General Secretary of the Biplobi Workers Party Saiful Haque, BNP Chairperson's Adviser Moazzem Hossain Alal and Vice-Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu were present at different points in the programme.
