View exchange on Chief Adviser's China visit, Teesta Master Plan' held in Rangpur
Rangpur Bureau
A meeting was held at the Rangpur Circuit House Auditorium on Sunday morning to emphasize alternative financing for the implementation of Teesta Master Plan considering the challenges of Chinese financing.
This was urged by Dhaka University teacher Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun at the meeting titled 'Chief Adviser's China Visit and Teesta Master Plan' under the banner of the Rangpur Division Discrimination Elimination Movement.
Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun said that during the Chief Advisor's visit to China, the Teesta Master Plan was discussed. The stalled Teesta Master Plan is going to start anew. We are optimistic about this. We want the Teesta Master Plan to be implemented quickly with the help of China. The Teesta Master Plan should be made in our own way, giving importance to agriculture, fisheries, environment, ecosystem, poverty and unemployment in the north. He said, we have to consider the challenges of China's short-term loans, high interest rates, and low grace periods.
Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun said that during the Chief Advisor's visit to China, the Teesta Master Plan was discussed. The stalled Teesta Master Plan is going to start anew. We are optimistic about this. We want the Teesta Master Plan to be implemented quickly with the help of China. The Teesta Master Plan should be made in our own way, giving importance to agriculture, fisheries, environment, ecosystem, poverty and unemployment in the north. He said, we have to consider the challenges of China's short-term loans, high interest rates, and low grace periods.
At the same time, there are questions about whether the government has the political foresight and reality to implement the Teesta Master Plan through China. Our proposal is that talks should be taken forward with lenders like Japan and the World Bank. At the same time, the Teesta Master Plan can be implemented with its own financing through surcharges and bonds, if necessary, like the Jamuna Bridge. We want to see the reality of the Teesta Master Plan within 3 years.
Dr. Mamun also said, the people of North Bengal are victims of budget discrimination. In the past, we have lost the opportunity to negotiate the distribution of Teesta river water. Now only the Matarbari deep sea port is in our hands. If we cannot negotiate with India on Teesta water through this, we will lose our last chance.
