BNP launches march demanding ‘due share’ in Teesta waters

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Teesta River as seen from Darjeeling, West Bengal. Riverine Bangladesh is criss-crossed by dozens of main rivers with 54, together with Teest, originating from India.

Bangladesh’s fundamental opposition BNP on Tuesday launched a protracted march demanding a “due share” within the waters of the Teesta river, raking up the contentious difficulty that has been a serious irritant in ties with India.

A convoy of fifty minibuses and automobiles carrying leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) started the march in the direction of the Teesta Barrage bordering Lalmonirhat district the place the Teesta river makes its manner into Bangladesh from India.

“Our lengthy march will not be a programme in opposition to the federal government. Moderately, we’re holding the programme for guaranteeing folks’s due share of Teesta water… BNP is waging the marketing campaign for Teesta’s water as it’s a life-and-death query for Bangladesh,” BNP’s performing secretary common Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir mentioned at a quick rally earlier than the beginning of the march from Uttara space right here.

He mentioned the demonstration is aimed toward enabling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s authorities to take a stronger stance to understand the justified calls for for Teesta water and different widespread rivers whereas making the worldwide neighborhood conscious of the miseries Bangladeshis should endure.

The BNP demonstration got here as officers mentioned large withdrawal of waters upstream of the Teesta has severely affected the key Boro crops notably in 4 northwestern districts, typically known as the granary of Bangladesh.

They mentioned the water circulation within the Teesta river has dropped to 650 cusecs from 3,500 cusecs round this time final 12 months.

Throughout his final month go to to New Delhi, Bangladesh’s international secretary Shahidul Haque expressed concern in regards to the drastic fall within the circulation of water of the Teesta.

Nonetheless, political analysts say Khaleda Zia-led BNP is utilizing the march as a possibility to make seen its presence within the political enviornment as its boycott of the January 5 elections largely eroded the morale of celebration activists and supporters because it misplaced an opportunity of turning into a robust opposition within the Parliament.

Bangladesh and India had been set to ink a deal on the problem throughout Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Dhaka go to in September, 2011, however West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly raised objection over the proposed quantum of waters saying it might hurt her state.

She additionally scrapped her tour to Dhaka accompanying Prime Minister Singh.

Senior BNP chief Hannan Shah on Monday mentioned the celebration was briefly having fun with a “trip or hibernation” whereas addressing a dialogue.

BNP, in a press release earlier, mentioned the celebration leaders would stage six road facet rallies on its option to the Teesta Barrage website and conclude the march holding one other rally at Dalia space of Lalmonirhat.

State Minister for Dwelling Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday mentioned the federal government would prolong its help to the lengthy march supplied BNP holds the demonstration peacefully.

Nonetheless, Mr. Khan issued a word of warning in opposition to any exercise to disrupt peace, saying stern authorized actions can be taken if any such state of affairs arose throughout the demonstration.

The water of the Teesta is essential for Bangladesh, particularly within the leanest interval from December to March when the water circulation comes right down to lower than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs.

Drastic fall in water circulation of the Teesta throughout the lean season, particularly in February and March, severely hampers irrigation in Bangladesh.

Sources in Joint Rivers Fee (JRC) mentioned the circulation on the river has weakened considerably within the final 24 years.

Officers mentioned Teesta water is important for irrigating round 6.4 lakh hectares of cropland in Bangladesh’s northwestern half throughout the lean season.

Riverine Bangladesh is criss-crossed by dozens of main rivers with 54 originating from India with just one bilateral treaty signed on the sharing of Ganges water in 1996.

Indian management earlier repeatedly assured Dhaka of signing the deal as early as doable after guaranteeing the consensus of all stakeholders.

Revealed – April 22, 2014 04:40 pm IST