View of the Teesta River from Darjeeling, West Bengal. The riverine territory of Bangladesh is crossed by dozens of major rivers, 54 of which, including the Teest, originate in India.
Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the BNP, on Tuesday began a long march demanding its “due share” in the waters of the Teesta River, raising a contentious issue that has been a major irritant in relations with India.
A convoy of 50 minibuses and cars carrying Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders began marching towards the Teesta Dam, bordering Lalmonirhat district, where the Teesta River flows into Bangladesh from India.
“Our long march is not a program against the government. Rather, we are pursuing a program to ensure the people’s due share of Teesta water… BNP is campaigning for Teesta water as it is a matter of life and death for Bangladesh,” BNP acting general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a short rally before the start of the march from Uttara district here.
He said the demonstration is aimed at enabling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to take a stronger stand to realize the justifiable water demands of the Teesta and other shared rivers while making the international community aware of the sufferings that Bangladeshis have to suffer.
The BNP’s demonstration came after officials said massive water withdrawal upstream of the Teesta had severely affected Boro’s main crops, especially in the four northwestern districts, which are often called the breadbasket of Bangladesh.
They said the water flow in the Teesta river has dropped to 650 cusecs from 3,500 cusecs around this time last year.
During his visit to New Delhi last month, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Shahidul Haque expressed concern over the sharp drop in water levels in the Teesta.
However, political analysts say the Khaleda Zia-led BNP is using the march as an opportunity to make its presence felt in the political arena as its boycott of the January 5 elections has largely damaged the morale of party activists and supporters as it has lost the chance to emerge as a strong opposition in Parliament.
Bangladesh and India were set to sign an agreement on the issue during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in September 2011, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly objected to the proposed volume of water, saying it would harm her state.
She also refused to travel to Dhaka accompanied by Prime Minister Singh.
Senior BNP leader Hannan Shah on Monday said the party was temporarily enjoying “holiday or hibernation” while speaking at a debate.
The BNP, in a statement earlier, said party leaders will hold six street rallies on the way to Teesta Dam and will conclude the march with another rally in Dalia area of Lalmonirhat.
State Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday said the government would support the long march provided the BNP held the demonstration peacefully.
However, Mr. Khan warned against any action aimed at disturbing the peace, saying that if such a situation arises during the demonstration, strict legal action will be taken.
Teesta water is critical to Bangladesh, especially during the leanest period from December to March when water flow drops to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs.
The sharp drop in water flow in Teesta during the lean season, especially in February and March, seriously hampers irrigation in Bangladesh.
Sources in the Joint River Commission (JRC) said the river’s flow has weakened significantly in the last 24 years.
Officials said Teesta water is vital for irrigating about 6.4 lakh hectares of arable land in northwestern Bangladesh during the lean season.
River Bangladesh is crossed by dozens of major rivers, 54 of which originate in India, and only one bilateral treaty was signed on the sharing of Ganges water in 1996.
The Indian leadership has previously repeatedly assured Dhaka that the agreement will be signed as soon as possible after reaching a consensus of all interested parties.
Published – April 22, 2014 4:40 pm EST.