City Desk :
‘We have given a lot to India, but got a little in the water sharing. So the people of Bangladesh must be united to resolve this issue’, opined the distinguished speakers in the roundtable titled ‘India’s River Linking Project and Water Management in Bangladesh’ organized by the South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society (SAYPPS) on Friday at the VIP Lounge, National Press Club in Dhaka. Mostafa Kamal, Eminent Environmentalist, presented the Key Note Paper, while N. Islam presided over the roundtable.
Mostafa Kamal says, in his key note paper that the rivers of Bangladesh dry up during dry season. But these overflow in the rainy season. Already there have been damns in 52 rivers among the 53 coming from India. But this is a matter of misfortune that the concerned people are yet to be aware properly about the loss of Bangladesh. He discussed when the people of India moved against the river linking project back in 2003. Many of the concerned people of Bangladesh did not think it carefully. He said to sustain the development of Bangladesh, we have to keep alive the rivers of Bangladesh by any means.
Lieutenant General (Retd.) Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, Standing Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); said that the other name of water is life and water comes from river. So, if rivers are vulnerable, then the existence of a country becomes threatened naturally. He said that we have given a lot but could not gain much. He urged that if the government does not feel the national interest, it cannot serve the nation. Therefore, a democratically elected government can be the main catalyst to deal with the India’s river linking project and bring out a better result for Bangladesh. He suggested that the river water issue must be solved by basin wise solution. This can only be implemented by the government of people.
Dr. S.I. Khan, former Adviser to UN and Water Expert; said that India’s river linking project was initiated in 1970 and came into ground in 1980. It was facilitated by APJ Abdul Kalam and India’s Supreme Court gave verdict to implement it quickly. That’s why we should not take this issue lightly. He said there is a group in India which always tends to annihilate Bangladesh by any means, even if the means harms them physically. He said that there will be a 50% decrease in agricultural production in next five years if the water continues to reduce through damns and river linking project. He urged that we should convey the issue to the 6th committee of the United Nations and create pressure on India through international pressure groups.
Engineer Enamul Hoque, Former DG, WARPO said, there is a certain link between the river linking project and Indian Hindu nationalism.
This project is anti-natural and it cannot be sustained naturally. So Bangladesh must protest against it. India tends to make Bangladesh dessert through this project. This project may lead BD-India relationship to worse situation.
Engineer Shahidul Hassan, President, Bangladesh Water Partnership; opined that the India’s big brotherly attitude must be protested and we should take this issue to the international forum. This issue would not be solved bilaterally. That’s why we should be united on this issue and takes it seriously for the national interest.
Students of different universities including Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Uttara University, International Islamic University Chittagong etc. took part in the discussion by sharing their views and raising questions. Their interaction made the discussion much lively. At the end of the roundtable, they were provided with the certificate of participation.
N. Islam, Chairman, South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity society, presided over the roundtable and concluded that there is no alternative of being united on this issue. So, we have to come forward with a feeling of national interest and protest against the India’s river linking project. Finally he shared his vote of thanks to all for participating in the roundtable.
‘We have given a lot to India, but got a little in the water sharing. So the people of Bangladesh must be united to resolve this issue’, opined the distinguished speakers in the roundtable titled ‘India’s River Linking Project and Water Management in Bangladesh’ organized by the South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society (SAYPPS) on Friday at the VIP Lounge, National Press Club in Dhaka. Mostafa Kamal, Eminent Environmentalist, presented the Key Note Paper, while N. Islam presided over the roundtable.
Mostafa Kamal says, in his key note paper that the rivers of Bangladesh dry up during dry season. But these overflow in the rainy season. Already there have been damns in 52 rivers among the 53 coming from India. But this is a matter of misfortune that the concerned people are yet to be aware properly about the loss of Bangladesh. He discussed when the people of India moved against the river linking project back in 2003. Many of the concerned people of Bangladesh did not think it carefully. He said to sustain the development of Bangladesh, we have to keep alive the rivers of Bangladesh by any means.
Lieutenant General (Retd.) Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, Standing Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); said that the other name of water is life and water comes from river. So, if rivers are vulnerable, then the existence of a country becomes threatened naturally. He said that we have given a lot but could not gain much. He urged that if the government does not feel the national interest, it cannot serve the nation. Therefore, a democratically elected government can be the main catalyst to deal with the India’s river linking project and bring out a better result for Bangladesh. He suggested that the river water issue must be solved by basin wise solution. This can only be implemented by the government of people.
Dr. S.I. Khan, former Adviser to UN and Water Expert; said that India’s river linking project was initiated in 1970 and came into ground in 1980. It was facilitated by APJ Abdul Kalam and India’s Supreme Court gave verdict to implement it quickly. That’s why we should not take this issue lightly. He said there is a group in India which always tends to annihilate Bangladesh by any means, even if the means harms them physically. He said that there will be a 50% decrease in agricultural production in next five years if the water continues to reduce through damns and river linking project. He urged that we should convey the issue to the 6th committee of the United Nations and create pressure on India through international pressure groups.
Engineer Enamul Hoque, Former DG, WARPO said, there is a certain link between the river linking project and Indian Hindu nationalism.
This project is anti-natural and it cannot be sustained naturally. So Bangladesh must protest against it. India tends to make Bangladesh dessert through this project. This project may lead BD-India relationship to worse situation.
Engineer Shahidul Hassan, President, Bangladesh Water Partnership; opined that the India’s big brotherly attitude must be protested and we should take this issue to the international forum. This issue would not be solved bilaterally. That’s why we should be united on this issue and takes it seriously for the national interest.
Students of different universities including Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Uttara University, International Islamic University Chittagong etc. took part in the discussion by sharing their views and raising questions. Their interaction made the discussion much lively. At the end of the roundtable, they were provided with the certificate of participation.
N. Islam, Chairman, South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity society, presided over the roundtable and concluded that there is no alternative of being united on this issue. So, we have to come forward with a feeling of national interest and protest against the India’s river linking project. Finally he shared his vote of thanks to all for participating in the roundtable.
