Md. Mafiz Uddin Sarker, Rangpur

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan said that the interim government has stood tall in terms of foreign policy. Bangladesh will hold its head high in talks with India on implementing the Teesta Agreement and sharing of water.

He said these at a public hearing titled 'What to do about the Teesta River' at the Teesta Rail Bridge area in Kaunia, Rangpur on Sunday afternoon.

He said that diplomatic pressure will be created on the basis of international water law, so that India is forced to sign the agreement. Since 2011, Bangladesh has been circulating a draft to get a fair share of Teesta water. However, the previous fascist government only gave India a chance to take pictures, but did not take any effective steps regarding Teesta.

Advisor Asif Mahmud said that they could not get anything from India due to the knee-jerk foreign policy of the fallen Hasina government. He said that special allocations will be made to ensure development in the communication system of North Bengal and initiatives will be taken to establish cold storage to ensure fair prices of agricultural products.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Water Resources, also spoke at the meeting.

In addition, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources AKM Tariqul Islam, River Researcher Nazrul Islam Haqqani, Northern University Teacher Dr. Atiq Mujahid and other leaders were present at the public hearing.