A partial view of Kawnia point of the Teesta River in Lalmonirhat district- FE Photo LALMONIRHAT, Mar 19: Several thousand people inhabiting the Teesta River basin in the region are very much hopeful about the outcomes of their long-dreamt mega project to save the Teesta.
After a 48-hour protest programme at 11 points of five northern districts demanding the fair share of the river's water, they are now expecting a fruitful feedback of the agitation.
Protesters in their thousands from various professions, including students, teachers, farmers, flood victims, fishermen and labourers took part in two-day programme.
People from all strata of life spontaneously joined various rallies and raised their voice to ensure equitable water share of the Teesta.
Teesta water sharing is a longstanding unsettled issue between the two neighbouring countries-- Bangladesh and India.
The immediate past ousted government failed to settle this sensational issue in cooperation with the Indian authorities though people of the north had been waiting for a long time to see it resolved.
Millions of people of five northern districts directly or indirectly depend on the water of the Teesta River.
Once a mighty river, the Teesta has become morbid and turned into a narrow channel in the last two decades.
Environment, fisheries and agriculture are badly affected in this region for lack of sufficient water. Especially during the dry season people cannot properly irrigate their crops. They have to use diesel-operated water pump for this purpose.
As a result, the cost of cultivation is increasing day by day which adds to the farmers' production cost.
Hafijul Islam, a farmer of Kutirpar area of Mohishkhocha union under Aditmari upazila, said he shifted his dwelling five times from the Teesta basin due to soil erosion.
Abdul Jalil, a fisherman of Hatibandha upazila who has been catching fish in the Teesta Barrage area for a long time, said he runs his four-member family by selling fish and fishing is his lone profession. But day by day local fish species are becoming extinct for various reasons.
The Teesta is dying for lack of water. If water is available, various fish species could grow up there.
Like him, hundreds of fishermen run their families by fishing. He voiced a demand for fair water share of the Teesta, saying the main cannel of the river should be dug up immediately.
A local journalist of Teesta Barrage area said during monsoon India opens all their gates of the Gojoldoba Barrage causing severe flooding in the northern five districts of Bangladesh but in the dry season they close all the gates and divert water from the Teesta to irrigate crops in West Bengal.
Makhon Lal, 74, a resident of the Teesta basin and also a social activist, said the Teesta has already died as it has been covered with huge silt.
"I've been observing the Teesta for the last 60-70 years and know the history of the river," he said.
"During monsoon, flood water damages homesteads, crops fields, roads and establishments every year. We demand a permanent solution
to the Teesta issue. We want to see the Teesta, which is the region's life line, protected through implementation of the mega project," he added.
Asadul Habib Dulu, chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection
Movement, said, "Our message is clear that we want fair water share of the river through immediate implementation of the Teesta mega project."
People from all walks of life raised their voice in the recent Save Teesta Movement covering five districts demanding their equal water rights.
To save human lives, ecology and environment, it is very urgent to save the Teesta, they firmly believe.
ahasnathrana@yahoo.com
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