They claimed India is violating international river laws and destroying the natural environment of Bangladesh too.
They remarked this while addressing the launching programme of a new alliance focused around the issue of water sharing, the ‘Nodi-Pani-Jatiya Sartha Rakkha Andolan (NPJSRA)’ or Movement to Protect Rivers and the National Interest at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
The new platform was launched aiming to create awareness among general people for holding big movements to force India to grant Bangladesh its proper share of the river waters.
More than 30 organisations including social rights groups, leftists and political parties took part in the event while member-secretary of NPJSRA Naim Jahangir read out the keynote paper there.
Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury recalled how the late, great leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani arranged the famous Farakka Long-March for the sake of the country only.
“India is taking water unilaterally from the rivers not giving Bangladesh. But it’s not resolved following negligence of our political leaders. General people liberated Bangladesh so now they have to come forward to save the country’s existence,” he added.
He said the matters have to be taken to international level as it’s an international issue.
“We have to write many books and articles on the water sharing issues and take support of the global community to this end,” Sirajul also said.
Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) Genral Secretary Khaliquzzaman said India is harming thousands crore taka of Bangladesh not giving proper water share so the country has to pay the compensation.
“There is no country in the world that does what India does with Bangladesh as a friend country. India makes barrages on rivers and does not give our fair water share too. India is killing hundreds of Bangladeshis in border areas but our government does not protest against a single issue,” he claimed.
Khaliquzzaman said, “India kept us bowed down in the name of friend. We have liberated Bangladesh but now it’s tough to keep our existence. So we have to raise our voices together for our rights.”
Dhaka University’s Development Studies department Prof Mahbub Ullah said India is violating international laws by not giving us proper water.
“India helped Bangladesh during Liberation War to weaken Pakistan. There is no civil country in the world today that does what India is now doing with us,” he added.
Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said, “We will hold many demonstrations including national seminars and long-march to the affected rivers areas like Padma, Teesta and Feni, in a short time for sake of the country.”
Ganasasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, DUCSU vice-president Nurul Haque Nur, Socialist Party of Bangladesh member Bazlur Rashid Firoz, among others, were present there.
According to the Bangladesh National River Conservation Commission, Bangladesh shares 54 rivers with its neighbor India, with just one river going upstream and the remaining 53 coming southward from India. So India has the upper hand in regulating water flow.
However, in 1996, Bangladesh and India signed a deal to share waters from the Ganges, which is an important source of water for rivers in Bangladesh's north and northwestern regions.
But Bangladesh claims that its neighbor has been breaching the terms of the treaty.