[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

[Saif]

Historic Farakka Long March Day today: IFC urges govt to save common rivers

Breaking News, International News & Multimedia

thedailynewnation.com

Historic Farakka Long March Day today: IFC urges govt to save common rivers
16 May 2024, 12:00 am

Staff Reporter :

The International Farakka Committee (IFC) has called on the government and all stakeholders to work together to protect Bangladesh's 54 common rivers and environment.

Their statement coincides with Farakka Long March Day, which commemorates a historic march led by Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani in 1976 to protest India's withdrawal of water from the Ganges River.

The IFC lauded Bhasani's movement, which ultimately led to the signing of the 1977 Ganges water treaty. However, the situation has deteriorated with water being diverted from all 54 shared rivers, causing water scarcity during dry seasons and floods during monsoons.

Bangladesh shares 57 transboundary rivers, 54 with India and 3 with Myanmar. The 1977 treaty, due to expire in two years, doesn't guarantee Bangladesh's dry season water share due to unregulated diversions upstream of Farakka.

The Teesta River exemplifies the problem with India diverting its entire dry season flow, while opening all gates during the monsoon, causing floods and erosion in Bangladesh which displaces families and damages crops every year.

Moulana Bhasani's historic Farakka Long March, done just six months before his death, thus remains relevant to this day. The great leader united the people in favour of the demand for the due share of water in the Ganges. The people now should get due shares of all 54 common rivers to protect the riverine country from environmental decline, loss of life, and livelihoods.

The IFC leaders urged the government to pursue the path of basinwide sustainable and integrated management of the common rivers to keep those alive up to the sea and protect Bangladesh created by them over the millennia.

The signatories to the statement were Sayed Tipu Sultan, secretary general; Mohammad Hossain Khan, joint secretary general; Ataur Rahman Ata, organising secretary of IFC New York; Prof. Jasim Uddin Ahmad, president; Syed Irfanul Bari, general secretary of IFC Bangladesh; and Mostafa Kamal Majumder, coordinator, IFC.​

 

[Bilal9]

Indian Foreign Secretary in town, when China is about to ink the Teesta Barrage deal with Bangladesh Govt. and sooner, a military exercise by Bangladesh Army with the PLA.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/346018/indian-foreign-secretary-arrives

 

[Saif]

Teesta project: Does Bangladesh have no alternative to China and India?

Discover the geopolitical implications of India's objection to China's Teesta project proposal. Learn about the potential impact on Bangladesh and the ongoing efforts to secure its rights to the Teesta river.

en.prothomalo.com

Teesta project: Does Bangladesh have no alternative to China and India?

China had given Bangladesh a proposal regarding the management of the river Teesta. According to media reports, recently India has given Bangladesh a similar proposal. What is in these proposals regarding the management of Teesta? Will these offer any permanent solution to the problems of the river? Given the prevailing economic realities, what should Bangladesh actually do? Nazrul Islam searches for answers.
Nazrul Islam
Updated: 16 May 2024, 23: 07

The issue of Teesta arose once again during the recent two-day visit of India's foreign secretary to Bangladesh. Before his visit, India's influential daily The Hindu reported that China's project for Teesta in Bangladesh was a matter of concern for India. After all, it was located near the strategically important Siliguri corridor and northeastern states. Elaborating on the background of the project, it was noted that India had failed to finalise the Teesta water-sharing agreement, which served to heighten Dhaka's impatience over the future of river-related initiatives. (Jugantor, 8 May 2024)

It seems, ostensibly, that one of the major objectives of the secretary's Dhaka trip was to keep Bangladesh away from China's Teesta-related project. During the trip, the Indian secretary offered Indian funding for the Teesta project. This can be called a proposal to "implement China's project with the exclusion of China."

Back in 2016 there was talk of a plan drawn up by PowerChina regarding Teesta. That year before the Dhaka visit of China's President Xi Jinping, PowerChina drew up a comprehensive management project for Bangladesh's major rivers.

At the outset, this initiative was centred on the river Jamuna. However, at the request of Bangladesh Water Development Board, Teesta river was included too. In continuance to this, PowerChina drew up the billion dollar 'Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project'.

The Bangladesh government has apparently maintained a strict "policy of secrecy" regarding this project from the very beginning. As representatives of the people, the government of Bangladesh takes loans for such projects and it is the people who in some way or the other have to repay these loans. So it is not comprehensible why the people will not know about this project and not be able to express their views in this regard.

It is even more ironic that PowerChina has made a video regarding this project and has publicised this worldwide over YouTube. So rather than learning about a project involving their own country from their own government, the people of Bangladesh got to know about it from a foreign company.

All said and done, Bangladesh's investigative journalists managed to dig out some information about the project, such as the preliminary development project proposal (PDPP). From this PDPP and PowerChina's video, as well as from other sources, we have managed to get some sort of idea about the project.

Professor of geology at the Commonwealth University in the US, Md Khalequzzaman, carried out research on the basis of such information. In light of available data, information and research, I presented detailed deliberation on the Teesta mega plan in two books. These two books are 'Bangladeshe Pani Unnayan: Bortoman Dharar Shongkot Ebong Bikolpo Pother Prostab (2023) and Water Development in Bangladesh: Past, Present and Future (2022). The two books talk about alternative strategies for the development of the Teesta basin.

Data, information and research tell us that the basic proposal of China's project is to cut Teesta river's present average breadth of around 3km to 0.816 metres (that is around one-fourth). By this, around 171 sq km of land can be recovered and used for urbanisation, establishing a solar power project, agriculture development and establishing settlements.

The project says that by means of dredging, the depth of Teesta will be increased from the present 5 metres to 10 metres (that is, double). It is expected that this will increase Teesta's navigability. The project has more proposals for construction of jetties, ports and roads.

From its name it is clear that PowerChina's main area of work is power generation. This company is working as construction contractors for several power project companies in Bangladesh. It is not clear from when, how, and how far this company became expert in the field of river management.

Given this backdrop, it is not very surprising that PowerChina has come up with an "disquieting" proposal for the river Teesta. It is clear that if the river's breadth is reduced to one-fourth, even of its depth doubled, the river's cross-section will be half and of the volume of its flow remains the same, the velocity of its flow will be double. As a result, erosion in Teesta's sandy river basin will intensify and the embankments on the river banks will not be able to withstand this.

Around 50 million tonnes of silt flows in with the river Teesta annually. So the increased depth of Teesta brought about by dredging will soon decrease. This will make the erosion of the banks worse. And it will be even more difficult for Teesta with its drastically narrowed breadth to contain the compounded flow of water during the monsoon and flash floods.

The bottom line is, PowerChina's Teesta project will not offer any permanent solution to the problems of this river. Given these circumstances, it would not be wise of Bangladesh to go ahead with this project.

Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) from 2013 has been urging the government to take up a 'transit in exchange of rivers' policy. It is a matter of regret that the government did not adopt this. On the contrary, it has given India transit, transshipment, port, and river route facilities, being given nothing in exchange.

Under such circumstances, it is sheer irony for the Indian foreign secretary to come along with a proposal to fund the Teesta-related project instead of increasing its flow. It would not bode well for Bangladesh in the long run to go ahead to implement this project with loans either from China or India.

It must be kept in mind that the scope for Bangladesh to indiscriminately take loans to implement questionable projects has come to an end. As it is, Bangladesh's accumulated foreign debt has reached around USD 1 billion (USD 100 crore) and the liability for annual repayment of foreign loans is around USD 5 billion.

In the next couple of years when debts from other project loans including of Rooppur loom up, this liability will grow further and a crisis may emerge. Bangladesh has already borrowed around USD 5 billion from IMF to replay foreign debt. Media reports say efforts are also being made to borrow from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, etc. In a situation of "taking loans to replay loans", the sooner the questionable PowerChina project is shelved, the better.

So what is the way out for Bangladesh? There are two ways.

One is, ensuring that India gives Bangladesh its due rights to Teesta river. If Indian genuinely wants good for Bangladesh regarding Teesta, then it must stop withdrawing water from Teesta in the dry season by means of the Gajoldoba barrage. India's central government claims it can do nothing as West Bengal is not acquiescing. There is little scope to unearth the truth behind such excuses. There are 15 more constructed, under-construction and planned structures, including the Gajoldoba barrage, to obstruct and withdraw water along upstream Teesta -- and all of these are projects of India's central government.

Flash floods for Bangladesh are another fallout of the Gajoldoba and other barrages constructed on Teesta. As it is Teesta is prone of flash floods. Now those operating the Gajoldoba barrage, open the barrage gates at their convenience, resulting in flashfloods in Bangladesh's Teesta basin. There were flash floods around seven times last year. For the people of Bangladesh's Teesta basin, India's stance may seem like, "we'll inundate you with floods, scorch you with drought."

With an adequate number of countries ratifying the 1997 UN convention for use of international watercourses, the convention has come into effect. The convention clearly states the rules and regulations that countries must follow regarding the use of common rivers. This convention projects the rights of the downstream countries. Bangladesh must ratify this convention and call upon India to ratify it too.

It must be noted that simply good intentions are not enough to ensure one's rights regarding rivers. In this instance, just as India is taking advantage of its geographical location, Bangladesh too must make use of its opportunities. It is from this angle that Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) from 2013 has been urging the government to take up a 'transit in exchange of rivers' policy.

It is a matter of regret that the government did not adopt this. On the contrary, it has given India transit, transshipment, port, and river route facilities, being given nothing in exchange. This has diminished Bangladesh's leverage to earn its rightful demand from India. Even so, Bangladesh must make all-out efforts to ensure its rights from India regarding common rivers as recognised in the UN 1997 convention.

The other way out is, to go ahead for the restoration of the Teesta basin in a manner best suited for the country's conditions, with local expertise and people's participation, instead of running after foreign funding, consultation, so-called expertise, etc. Teesta must be reconnected with all its tributaries and branches. All old canals, drains, bils and other water bodies must be restored and connected.

If all these tasks can be carried out, then extra water flow during the monsoons can be contained, irrigation water will be available in winter and flash floods can be tackled. The sooner Bangladesh advances toward in these two directions, the better.

* Dr Nazrul Islam is visiting professor, Asian Growth Research Institute and former chief of development research at the UN.​

 

[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

Then Bangladesh government should take the matter to United Nations and International Court of Justice about unfair water distribution.

 

[Saif]

Then Bangladesh government should take the matter to United Nations and International Court of Justice about unfair water distribution.

Did that twice in the past. Nothing happened

 

[Saif]

Call resonates to sign basin-based water treaties with India

Breaking News, International News & Multimedia

thedailynewnation.com

Call resonates to sign basin-based water treaties with India
19 May 2024, 1:55 am

Staff Reporter :

A discussion meeting held on Saturday at the Jatiya Press Club commemorated the historic Farakka Long March, led by the late Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.

Speakers at the event, organized by the International Farakka Committee (IFC), highlighted the vital role of river waters in safeguarding Bangladesh's existence and sovereignty.

The discussions revolved around the impact of the Farakka Barrage, constructed by India on the Ganges River.

Speakers recalled that in May 1976, just months before his passing, Maulana Bhasani led a historic Long March demanding an end to India's unilateral withdrawal of Ganges water.

Concerns were raised about India opening the Farakka Barrage on a trial basis without a formal agreement for water sharing on this transboundary river.

This unilateral action, speakers noted, resulted in a significant decrease in water flow reaching Bangladesh, severely impacting agriculture, fisheries, and riverine transportation.

The Farakka Long March, however, is remembered as a pivotal moment in Bangladesh's history.

The movement fostered national unity and garnered international support for Bangladesh's water rights. This collective effort ultimately led to the signing of the first Ganges Water Sharing Treaty in 1977.

The discussion featured prominent figures, including Jatiya Party Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider as the chief guest.

Writer Siraj Uddin Sathi, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu (President of Bhasani Anusari Parishad), Mostafizur Rahman Iran (Chairman of Bangladesh Labour Party), Gaziul Hasan Khan (former Chief Editor of BSS), and Rashed Prodhan (JAGPA senior vice-president) all participated in the event, chaired by IFC Coordinator Mostafa Kamal Majumder.

Speakers underscored that the importance of the Farakka Long March resonates more than ever today. The speakers further said that Bangladesh faces a new challenge as water diversion upstream on 54 out of 57 rivers are shared with India. This unilateral withdrawal is causing rivers like the Teesta to dry up, devastating agricultural yields and livelihoods.

Jatiya Party Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, delivering the keynote address, emphasized the critical threat, he said, "India's actions are destroying Bangladesh's rivers and water resources, leading to desertification." He urged for national unity to confront this challenge. "Our lands are shaped by rivers," he declared. "Water and sovereignty are one and the same."

Dr. Mostafizur Rahman echoed these concerns, highlighting the dire consequences of water withdrawal from Bangladesh's shared rivers. He stressed the importance of educating younger generations about the significance of the Farakka Long March.

Siraj Uddin Sathi spoke about the necessity of national unity in securing Bangladesh's water rights. He pointed out a concerning disparity: "India has voices raised against the Farakka Barrage, while Bangladesh seems silent on the issue."

The impending expiration of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty in 2026 and the lack of a Teesta River agreement were also addressed. Speakers urged the government to leverage national consensus in pursuing basin-based water-sharing agreements with India for all shared rivers.​

 

[Saif]

China proposal on Teesta project feasibility under consideration: PM

The government is considering a proposal for a detailed feasibility study for implementation of the Teesta river-restoration and-management project, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the question arose in parliament Wednesday. She was responding to the question raised by lawmaker Hamidul

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

China proposal on Teesta project feasibility under consideration: PM
She apprises parliament during question hour
Published :
Jun 13, 2024 00:52
Updated :
Jun 13, 2024 00:52

The government is considering a proposal for a detailed feasibility study for implementation of the Teesta river-restoration and-management project, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the question arose in parliament Wednesday.
She was responding to the question raised by lawmaker Hamidul Huq Khondker of Kurigram-2 constituency, close by the border river that dries up in summer and overflows in rainy season and thus affects life and economic activity in vast northern area.

Detailing on the status of the multipurpose barrage scheme, the prime minister said with a view to implementing the Tk 821-billion project the government had prepared a preliminary development project proposal and sent it to the Economic Relations Division for seeking foreign assistance.

"At the 51st meeting of an ERD committee that is responsible for mobilising foreign funds, it was decided that a proposal would be sent to China for funding the project on easier terms," she said.

Bangladesh sent the PDPP of the project to China in March 2021, through the Chinese Embassy, seeking loan for implementation of the project.

After evaluating the PDPP, the Chinese government identified some weaknesses in the project and they sent their recommendations on the project to the government in March this year.

"The Chinese government, in their evaluation, mentioned a lack of detailed proposal on land development and water navigation. They also suggested downsizing the project through excluding some of the components and also recommended implementing the project in phases," the premier told the House.

A Chinese company, 'Power China', had sent a proposal to the Water Development Board for detailed feasibility study of the project, which is now under consideration of the development, she apprised the lawmakers.

Earlier, responding to another question from Farida Yasmin MP, Prime Minister Hasina told the parliament that BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Zia and 14 other convicts of the August 21, 2004 grenade-attack case are fugitives.

To the question from the treasury-bench lawmaker, Farida Yasmin, during the question-answer session, Sheikh Hasina said 34 convicts were arrested while 15 others, including Tarique Rahman alias Tarique Zia, are fugitives out of 49 in total.

The Leader of the House said a total of 49 accused got various sentences that include capital punishment and life-term imprisonment in the trial of the grenade case in Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal No-1 on October 10, 2018.

"Of the convicts, 19 were sentenced to death, 19 others to life imprisonment while the rest 11 to various jail terms," she added.​

 

[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

Report it to United Nations and International Court of Justice Then.

 

[Saif]

Report it to United Nations and International Court of Justice Then.

Sheikh Hasina won't do it. She is too pro-India to do anything that could embarrass India

 

[Saif]

The Indian journalist said there was no reason why India would fail to share water of Teesta river with Bangladesh.