Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, April 10, 2025 (BSS) - Leaders of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) have suggested the present interim government to raise the issue of unilateral water withdrawal of the Teesta River by India to the international forum.
 
As per international law, the upstream country cannot unilaterally withdraw water without bilateral discussions between the two countries and maintaining the availability of the downstream country and the normal water flow in the river, they said.
 
They made the observation at the Teesta Convention organized by the party's Rajshahi and Rangpur division units at the Public Library Hall in the city this afternoon.
 
The convention was arranged demanding a fair share of the water of 54 shared rivers with India, including Teesta, protection of Teesta, and an end to encroachment and pollution of all rivers, canals and water bodies.
 
Rangpur District BSD Convener Comrade Abdul Quddus presided over the convention.
 
BSD central committee adviser and heroic freedom fighter Comrade Khalequzzaman, its assistant general secretary Comrade Razequzzaman Ratan, language movement veteran Mohammad Afzal, CPB Rangpur District Committee President and heroic freedom fighter Shahadat Hossain, associate professor of Begum Rokeya University Ali Raihan Sarkar, river researcher Sheikh Rokan, among others, addressed the programme. 
 
Razequzzaman Ratan said that water is an essential element of nature and civilization has been built at different places across the world centering on the presence of flowing water resources. 
 
However, over time, the unilateral control over that water by the upstream country is putting the downstream country in danger, putting biodiversity, climate, and ecosystem at risk. 
 
"In riverine Bangladesh, there were once 1200 rivers, the rivers spread like a net from upstream to downstream and merge into the Bay of Bengal. Due to the lack of regular dredging, some rivers have lost their existence due to filling up the riverbed," he said. 

He called on the chief advisor of the present interim government to take initiatives to resolve this crisis by raising complaints in the international forum.