Dhaka: BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday claimed that the people of Bangladesh have been deprived of their fair share of waters from transboundary rivers due to the actions of the ousted Awami League government.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Fakhrul made these remarks in a message marking the ‘Historic Farakka Day’ on May 16, a date of significant importance in Bangladesh’s national movement. Reflecting on past events, he recalled that 49 years ago, under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, large numbers of people from across the country embarked on a historic long march towards Farakka. Their aim was to demand Bangladesh’s rightful share of the Ganges water as per international law.
Fakhrul criticized India for constructing a dam at the Farakka point on the Ganges and unilaterally withdrawing water from the shared river. He highlighted the severe ecological issues that have emerged in the northwestern region of Bangladesh, which he described as nearly turning into a desert due to water scarcity and ecological imbalances.
He further alleged that the then Awami League government neglected public opinion and allowed India to experimentally operate the Farakka Barrage temporarily, without addressing environmental concerns and the risks of potential natural and humanitarian disasters. Fakhrul termed the barrage as a “deadly trap” that has been operational ever since.
The BNP leader emphasized that Maulana Bhashani had foreseen the public suffering and environmental disaster that could arise from this water deprivation. He praised Bhashani’s leadership in the historic march towards Farakka, which was intended to protest before the Indian government and draw international attention to the issue.
Fakhrul mentioned that the Farakka Barrage and its humanitarian consequences have since gained widespread international attention. He stressed that the relevance of Farakka Day remains significant, warning that India continues to construct dams on the 54 transboundary rivers flowing into Bangladesh and unilaterally divert water, posing a threat to Bangladesh’s existence.
He noted signs of Bangladesh gradually turning into barren land, advocating that Maulana Bhashani’s march on May 16, 1976, from Rajshahi towards Farakka, remains an inspiring step in the struggle for rightful demands. Fakhrul concluded by stating that the annual observance of ‘Historic Farakka Day’ inspires people to continue movements for the realization of their rights and wished success to all programs organized to mark the occasion.