Lalmonirhat- Asadul Habib Dulu, the organizing secretary of the national executive committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP and the convener of the ‘Tista River Protection Movement’, said that the Teesta River, which was once a source of happiness and prosperity, is no more, Teesta is now the cause of sorrow in the northern region. The water of this river, which used to flow in a rush, is now flowing below the knees. Therefore, it is important to implement a fair share of water and a master plan to protect the Teesta River and the people of its basin.
He made these remarks at a press conference organized on the occasion of a two-day mass gathering to protect the Teesta River at the BNP’s temporary office at Mission More in Lalmonirhat on Wednesday morning.
Dulu said, “The people of the Teesta banks once had paddy fields full of rice, ponds full of fish, and cowsheds full of cows. They were full of wealth and natural abundance. But now, because of that Teesta, people are destitute due to floods and river erosion during the rainy season, and due to lack of water during the dry season, they are turned into a barren, sandy wasteland.”
He further said, “The previous Awami League government has deceived and mocked us regarding the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan. Therefore, the people of the Teesta region must unite and voice their demands for the protection of this river and the social progress of North Bengal.”
District BNP Joint General Secretary Mominul Haque, Organizing Secretary Afzal Hossain, Municipal BNP Member Secretary Abdus Salam, District Chhatra Dal General Secretary Jahangir Alam, and journalists from various print and electronic media working in the district were present at the press conference.
It is worth mentioning that the ‘Tista River Protection Movement’ has undertaken a mass gathering program of several lakhs of people across the Teesta river basin on February 17 and 18. Seminars, discussions, cultural and anti-social events have been organized in the two-day continuous program. Under the slogan “Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachai”, the rallies will be held at various points on the Teesta river, including Kaunia Bridge, Mahipur Bridge and Teesta Barrage Point, on those two days. In addition to the country’s eminent people, many people of national and international fame, including river researchers, are expected to attend these events.
