Neon Dulal , Lalmonirhat :: A huge mass procession and mass meeting was held in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, demanding start of work under Teesta Master Plan before the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming national parliament elections.
The entire Hatibandha upazila area became alive with this slogan: ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’. Thousands of people from Teestapar participated in this program organized under the banner of ‘Tista River Protection Movement’.
On Thursday (October 9) afternoon, a huge mass procession was taken out under the leadership of Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, the chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement and the organizing secretary of the central BNP. The procession circled the main roads of Hatibandha town and covered a distance of about one and a half kilometers. Men and women, farmers, fishermen, laborers and students from different areas of Teestapar participated in it.
Later, a huge mass meeting was held at the Hatibandha S.S. Government High School grounds. The mass meeting was presided over by the coordinator of the movement and BNP National Executive Committee member Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan.
The speakers said that the Teesta River is the lifeblood of the northern region. The livelihood of millions of people depends on this river. For years, the Teesta dries up due to drought, and again during the monsoon, people’s homes, crops and shelters are washed away in terrible floods.
They complained that although the Teesta Master Plan is talked about, there is no visible progress in reality. They warned of calling for a larger movement if work on this project is not started immediately.
Principal Asadul Habib Dulu said in his speech, “The Teesta River is not just a river, it is a question of the survival of the people of the northern region. The Teesta Master Plan should be started before the elections. If this demand is not implemented, we will announce a big movement on the streets.”
Local public representatives, farmer leaders, affected families of Teesta and representatives of the youth community also spoke at the public meeting. The speakers said that the government should not make political promises but should end the long-standing deprivation of Teesta residents through practical work.
Finally, the entire field trembled with the slogan “Save Teesta, save people” from the Teesta River Protection Movement.
