Al Jazeera reports on Teesta campaign

In demand for a fair share of water, a massive crowd gathered at the banks of the Teesta River on Tuesday (February 18). The campaign, demanding a fair share of Teesta water and the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan, began on Monday with a 48-hour program. On the previous day, sit-in protests were held simultaneously at 11 locations across five districts surrounding the Teesta River. Along with BNP leaders and activists, thousands of local residents participated in the program. Central leaders of the BNP also joined the demonstration.

On Tuesday morning, around 10:45 am, a long march began from the Teesta Bridge in Lalmonirhat towards Kawnia. By around 11:45 am, the procession reached Kawnia, three kilometers away, and then made its way back to the Teesta Bridge.

This news has been widely covered by local media outlets in the country. In addition, international media has given significant coverage to the event. International news channel Al Jazeera, in their Inside Story segment, aired a 27-minute and 10-second documentary focusing on the Teesta campaign. The report thoroughly covered the issue of water distribution between India and Bangladesh regarding Teesta, addressing all aspects of the fair water share.

Al Jazeera reports that the Teesta River is not just a river; it is a lifeline for millions of people. The livelihoods of many depend on the Teesta, which connects it to a vast economy. At least 10 million people in five districts of Bangladesh rely on this river in various ways. Despite being an international river, the distribution of Teesta’s water has been a long-standing issue between India and Bangladesh. During the dry season, Bangladesh demands more water and seeks the implementation of the billion-dollar mega project related to Teesta.

However, the plan to implement the Teesta project faced setbacks after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August amidst a mass uprising, resulting in a decline in relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. The Teesta mega project was an agreement signed by Sheikh Hasina with China, but India raised objections halting the project. West Bengal's Chief Minister also opposed the project, citing security concerns over the presence of hundreds of Chinese nationals at the border.

Currently, the interim government of Bangladesh is working to build strong relations with China, and the country’s political parties are advocating for the swift implementation of the Teesta master plan. In Tanvir Chowdhury’s report for Al Jazeera, he highlights the ongoing Teesta water rights campaign. Thousands of people have gathered in Lalmonirhat, demanding their fair share of the river's water, showing the widespread significance of the issue.

Later, Bangladeshi human rights lawyer and former South Asia Regional Researcher for Amnesty International, Takbir Huda, Filippo Meng, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Bergamo in Italy, and former Indian diplomat and columnist Vivek Katju participated in a discussion with Al Jazeera news anchor Adrian Finighan. The guests explained that despite being an international river, India has been blocking or diverting the Teesta River's water at will. They noted that India builds dams on the river to produce electricity, but Bangladeshi farmers face difficulties in cultivating crops due to water scarcity. Furthermore, during the monsoon season, when water is released, it leads to the destruction of homes and crop losses. The discussion emphasized the need for action to protect the river and its inhabitants. The panelists concluded that Bangladesh must assert its right to its fair share of the river's water, urging India to acknowledge this demand.