SR Shariful Islam Ratan, Lalmonirhat
A huge march has been organized by the movement to protect the Teesta River. Nearly a lakh people have gathered on the banks of the Teesta River at the beginning of the second day of the 48-hour sit-in program of the movement to protect the river under the slogan ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’. On Tuesday (February 18) at 11 am, the procession, with the participation of people, set out from the Teesta Road Bridge in Lalmonirhat, then went around Kaunia Upazila in Rangpur and returned. The march covered a distance of 5 kilometers under the leadership of the chief coordinator of the river protection movement, BNP’s Central Executive Committee Organizing Secretary and former Deputy Minister Principal Asadul Habib Dulu. The river protection movement began its second day of activities with a march. Both banks of the 120-kilometer Teesta River have become abuzz with the slogan ‘Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai’. On the second day, after the march, nearly a lakh people displayed placards on the Teesta River. The movement’s chief coordinator, former Deputy Minister Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, and Organizing Secretary of the BNP Central Committee, said that the second day of the announced program has begun with the march. The movement will continue until a fair share of Teesta and the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan are announced. If the sit-in program does not work, a larger movement will be formed. Still, we want a share of Teesta. It is known that settlements, including farmland, are being destroyed by floods and erosion. At the same time, after the monsoon, vast areas along the Teesta River turn into miles upon miles of sandy desert. As a result, thousands of hectares of cropland remain uncultivated. For this reason, the people of the Teesta River banks have been demanding a fair share of the water of the Teesta River for a long time. Various social and political organizations have held various movements at different times to achieve this demand. Political leaders and activists have gathered at 11 points on the Teesta today. They demand that the Teesta Master Plan work should begin during the interim government, not in isolation. It is learned that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will deliver a speech this evening expressing solidarity with the movement by virtually joining the 11 points.
It is worth noting that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the 48-hour sit-in program to protect the Teesta River on Monday afternoon. Thousands of people spent the first day organizing various events at 11 points in 5 districts on both banks of the Teesta River and spent the night in tents on the banks of the Teesta River. At night, a cultural program was performed showcasing the culture of the Rangpur region. A documentary about the joys and sorrows of the people of Teesta is being screened, through which the tragic picture of Teesta is presented.