Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu on Thursday said Lalmonirhat and other northern districts would continue to suffer from floods, drought and river erosion unless the Teesta Master Plan is implemented.
"The implementation of the Teesta Master Plan is the need of the hour," he said while distributing emergency relief among flood-affected people in the Mogolhat, Rajpur and Khuniagach unions of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
Dulu said he had sought China's cooperation in implementing the Teesta Master Plan during his recent visit to the country, said a PID handout
Referring to the Prime Minister's remarks on the Teesta in the national parliament, he said the current government is committed to implementing the project.
Calling for the message of the 'Jago Bahe Teesta Bachai' movement to reach every corner of northern Bangladesh, Dulu said the Teesta is deeply intertwined with the lives, livelihoods and economy of the region's people.
Describing the Teesta as a transboundary river, he said it is not merely a natural watercourse but also a vital source of agricultural production, fisheries, ecological balance, biodiversity and regional development.
Local administration officials and political leaders were present at the programme.