Md. Mafiz Uddin Sarker, Rangpur 

With the slogan of ‘Save Teesta, Save the River’ a solidarity rally was held in Rangpur on 6-point demands, including the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan with its own funding arranged by the ‘Teesta Bachao, Nadi Bachao Sangram Parishad.’

The rally called for the government to allocate funds in the budget session of the parliament and take effective steps to implement the Teesta Master Plan, demanding that the livelihoods of nearly two crore people in the northern part of the country and the adverse effects of climate change be protected.

The solidarity rally, organized at the Rangpur Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Friday afternoon, was presided over by Sangram Parishad President Nazrul Islam Haqqani. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Central Working Committee member and Rangpur Metropolitan Branch Ameer Vice-Principal Maulana ATM Azam Khan, organization's General Secretary Shafiar Rahman, members Abdur Rouf Dulal, Mohammad Ali, Sujon Majela President Fakhrul Anam Benju, Professor Saiful Islam Saif, NCP leader Alamgir Kabir, Banglar Kokh Chairman Tanvir Hossain Ashrafi, District Convener Al Mamun among others spoke at the rally.

The speakers at the rally said that for two decades, the people of this region have been agitating for the implementation of the Teesta Maha Plan. Although the previous fascist government had promised, it was not implemented. During the previous interim government, the Chinese ambassador visited the area and said there was no obstacle to the implementation of the project. Although the work on this project was promised to start in January this year, it was not implemented. The people of this region want the current elected government to implement this project on a priority basis.

Meanwhile, the Sangram Parishad has announced a month-long movement agenda from June 1 demanding the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan. This agenda includes yard meetings, haatsabs, patsabs, leaflet distribution, public meetings, torch lighting and public sit-ins in 12 Upazilas of 5 districts along the Teesta.