[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

[Bilal9]

অথচ পশ্চিম বাংলার লোকেরা বলে বাংলাদেশ নাকি ওদেরটা খায় পরে। বাংলাদেশ সরকারের নতজানু পররাস্ট্রনীতির কারনে পশ্চিম বাংলার মত ভিখারী বাংলাদেশকে চোখ রাঙিয়ে কথা বলে।

চোখ রাঙানি করতে পারে, তবে বর্ডারে ভারতীয় ট্রাক চলাচল বন্ধ করে দিলেই তো ভারতীয় সাইড থেকে হৈ চৈ লেগে যায় - সবই জানে

যাই হোক, হাসিনা কে সরিয়ে দিলে এসব ফাজলামো বন্ধ হবে

 

[Saif]

PM Hasina wants India to implement Teesta project

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she would like India to implement the Teesta project as it is related to the neighbouring country. “But I would prioritise that India will do it. India holds the water of Teesta River…. So, they should do the project and they would give what

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

PM Hasina wants India to implement Teesta project
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Jul 14, 2024 21:19
Updated :
Jul 14, 2024 21:19

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she would like India to implement the Teesta project as it is related to the neighbouring country.

"But I would prioritise that India will do it. India holds the water of Teesta River…. So, they should do the project and they would give whatever is necessary here if they do the project," she said.

The premier said this replying to a question at a press conference arranged at her official residence about the outcomes of her recent visit to China, reports UNB.

She said China has come up with some offers and conducted a feasibility study about the Teesta project and India has also given offers and will carry out a feasibility study.

She, however, said the government will go for the proposal which will be suitable for Bangladesh after the completion of a feasibility study by India.​

 

[Saif]

India realises that Teesta is widening the wound

The prime minister’s India trip was both very timely and fruitful. During this trip Prime Minister Narendra Modi clearly said that Bangladesh was always taken into consideration when drawing up all polices in their country. A vision statement was signed during this visit.

en.prothomalo.com

Interview: Md Shahidul Haque
India realises that Teesta is widening the wound
Md Shahidul Haque

In a span of less than three weeks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited both India and China. Former foreign secretary and North South University's Professor Md Shahidul Haque, in an interview with Prothom Alo's Raheed Ejaz and Monoj Dey, spoke at length on how far Bangladesh's expectations were met during the India and China visits, the future of the Teesta project and Bangladesh's stand in the regional geopolitical tensions.
Updated: 14 Jul 2024, 18: 07

Prothom Alo : How was the prime minister's India visit? How far were Bangladesh's expectations met?

Md Shahidul Haque: The prime minister's India trip was both very timely and fruitful. During this trip Prime Minister Narendra Modi clearly said that Bangladesh was always taken into consideration when drawing up all polices in their country. A vision statement was signed during this visit.

Prothom Alo : Are you implying that this visit was fruitful in the sense of future relations?

Md Shahidul Haque: Through this visit the two leaders gave directives for a road map of cooperation to be devised.

Prothom Alo : While relations have a future, there is also the past and the present. The Teesta deal has been hanging in the air for long. In recent times India has shown interest in joint management of Teesta's water and had proposed to send a technical team to this end. When a joint technical team gets involved in such a project, a long-term solution emerges. In such circumstances, how do you view the future of the proposed Teesta comprehensive project?

Md Shahidul Haque: Bangladesh and India are both well aware of the importance and complexity of sharing Teesta's waters. India is aware that it is unable to do anything about sharing Teesta's waters and Bangladesh has shown interest in the Teesta project (conservation and management of downstream water) with another country. That is why rather than simply stalling the Teesta deal, India is endeavouring to assist Bangladesh in the Teesta project. India has realised that Teesta has created a wound between the two countries and the wound is widening.

Prothom Alo : Are you saying that the Indian government has realised that a wound has emerged in relations between the two countries as the Teesta deal has not been signed?

Md Shahidul Haque: I have observed that this realization has emerged at various levels of India, not just in the government alone. Speaking to the people there, I understood that they felt that after the negotiations had been finalised, the deal should have been signed. They are now looking into ways and means to make up for the damage done.

Prothom Alo : An MoU has been signed between the two countries for a goods train route that will use Bangladesh territory to commute from one end of India to another. This has stirred controversy in political circles. What will the consequences be of this MoU. Which country stands to benefit?

Md Shahidul Haque: There is need to clarify what sort of MoU Bangladesh has signed. In future, Bangladesh's trains will travel via India to Bhutan and Nepal. And alongside India, Nepal and Bhutan's trains will travel to Bangladesh. Nepal and Bhutan have railway links with India, not with us. Now with the signing of the MoU with India, the railway route to Nepal and Bhutan will be facilitated.

Prothom Alo : So you are saying that Bangladesh will reap benefit with the railway route facilities for goods and passengers to Nepal and Bhutan, alongside India. But we hear of certain shortcomings in commute to Nepal and Bhutan via India?

Md Shahidul Haque: It is true that Nepal and Bhutan's railway network is not that prepared. But this can be readied before the railway travel among the four countries starts. Overall, tariff, security and other details will be worked out to implement this MoU. So railway communications will create equal opportunities for all.

Prothom Alo : Electricity will be provided from Assam to Bihar over Bangladesh's territory and a transmission line will be set up for this. How far will Bangladesh benefit?

Md Shahidul Haque: As far as I know, Bangladesh will be able to get electricity from this transmission line if ever required.

Prothom Alo : Due to history, heritage, friendship and many reasons, Bangladesh and India's relations cannot be compared to any other country. Even so, in recent times China has been popping up between the two countries. What triggers India's sensitivity concerning China?

Md Shahidul Haque: The world has reached a point where bilateral relations can no longer be restricted to two countries. In present times, partnership between two countries cannot be taken ahead in an isolated manner. That is why global issues are discussed when the prime minister visits India or China. This featured in talks before too, but perhaps not as extensively as now.

Prothom Alo : So the issue of a third party was there in talks between the two countries before, but now that has increased?

Md Shahidul Haque: There is another factor to be taken into consideration here. The adversity between India and China is no secret now. It has come forward with more force and is nothing to be concealed.

Connectivity, water and such matters are linked to geopolitics. Sometimes economic issues gain an upper hand, sometimes politics. Unless there is political understanding, unless there is a political balance, it is difficult to do anything major in the economic sector.

Prothom Alo : Does that means the China factor was raised during the prime minister's India visit?

There may have been an exchange of views. When we visit Brussels or the capital of any other country, there is an exchange of views regarding other countries or regions. This has stepped up more in present times. One must keep in mind, our talks with India were not limited to China alone. Bangladesh is at the centre of the Indian Ocean and so relations with the US, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union all came up in discussions.

Prothom Alo : You are saying that relations with counter countries in the changed circumstances are discussed. If so, is it important to take all sides into consideration before taking up a major project with any country?

Md Shahidul Haque: Projects pertaining to railway or water are not just business matters. These are Bangladesh's strategic resources. We must keep this in mind. So when negotiating over strategic resources, one cannot just base this on the project itself. Connectivity, water and such matters are linked to geopolitics. Sometimes economic issues gain an upper hand, sometimes politics. Unless there is political understanding, unless there is a political balance, it is difficult to do anything major in the economic sector.

Prothom Alo : Thank you.

Thank you too.​

 

[Saif]

After Teesta, India is all set to kill Dhorola river of Bangladesh.

 

[Bilal9]

@Saif bhai - it is clear that this woman does not realize what message China is sending to her about Teesta.

If she thinks she can get away with letting India manage Teesta project (to China's indirect chagrin), she is way off and living in a fool's world. Geopolitics being what it is, China controls the source of the Brahmaputra upstream beyond Arunachal Pradesh and they can cut it off at any time. Teesta project needs to be given to China - if we look at our interests. We should not let Indian misgivings about Chinese involvement in this project sway us. Our country, our rules. We should look at the consequences of angering the Chinese.

Giving this project to India is like letting the fox guard the chicken coop. Shiyaler kasey murgi pahara dewar shamil.

 

[Saif]

@Saif bhai - it is clear that this woman does not realize what message China is sending to her about Teesta.

If she thinks she can get away with letting India manage Teesta project (to China's indirect chagrin), she is way off and living in a fool's world. Geopolitics being what it is, China controls the source of the Brahmaputra upstream beyond Arunachal Pradesh and they can cut it off at any time. Teesta project needs to be given to China - if we look at our interests.

Giving this project to India is like letting the fox guard the chicken coop. Shiyaler kasey murgi pahara dewar shamil.

To Sheikh Hasina Geo-Politics means slavery of India. I hope China shove Brahmaputra up India's ass so that both India and Sheikh Hasina learn a lesson from China.

 

[Saif]

শেখ হাসিনা বনাম নরেন্দ্র মোদির কাহিনী |তোমার জামাই নাই আমার বউ নাই |শেখ হাসিনার ফানি ভিডিও

 

[Saif]

আমরা বাঁধের মুখ খুলিনি, একা একা খুলে গেছে: ভারত (India is a liar. They released the water from Tripura to harm Bangladesh. India has been conducting water terrorism against Bangladesh since its inception)

 

[Saif]

বাংলাদেশের বন্যা নিয়ে ‘খোঁচা’, জি মিডিয়ার ওয়েবসাইট হ্যাক

 

[Saif]

Flash floods wreak havoc in 12 dists

Devastating floods amid heavy rain have killed at least five people, with 10 others still missing, and continues to upend millions of lives in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions.

www.thedailystar.net

Flash floods wreak havoc in 12 dists
Five killed, 10 go missing as vast areas inundated in Sylhet, Chattogram divisions

People hold on to a rope as floodwater rushes across the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Feni’s Lalpool area yesterday. Vehicles heading for Chattogram are seen crawling their way through. Photo: Rajib Raihan

Flash floods induced by heavy rains and rush of water from upstream have caught millions of people off guard, giving them no time to evacuate their homes across Chattogram and Sylhet divisions over the last two days.

At least five people drowned and 10 others went missing as rivers burst their banks submerging vast swathes of land.

Railway communications in the two divisions were suspended yesterday and the authorities cancelled 26 trains.

The situation in Cumilla, Noakhali and Feni was particularly worrying as the Muhuri and Feni rivers kept swelling throughout yesterday.

All the major rivers in the northeastern and eastern regions were overflowing.

Severe flooding has affected at least 12 districts in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Heavy monsoon rains and rush of water from upstream are displacing people and significantly damaging infrastructure. More than 3.64 lakh people have been stranded in 495 flood-affected unions across the 12 districts. The Met Office yesterday said rain is expected to continue today in most parts of Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and it may subside tomorrow. The photo were taken in Brahmanbaria.

The other affected districts are Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet, and Cox's Bazar.

It is likely that there will be less rain today and the level of water will begin to fall tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, according to Sarkar Udoy Raihan, executive engineer at the flood forecasting centre.

According to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing, more than 36.45 lakh people were trapped by the floods.

Three people drowned in Ramu, Cox's Bazar, and one each in Feni and Brahmanbaria yesterday.

Only the victims of Ramu have been identified: Amjad Hossain, 22, son of Chhayed Hossain; Rabiul Alam, 35, son of Saleh Ahmed; and Coching Rakhine, 50, said Abul Kashim, a union parishad member.

The government said 10 people went missing in Cumilla as flash floods hit the villages hard there.

In Feni, over 300,000 people were stranded in the town and six upazilas with roads being inaccessible.

"I have never seen floodwaters rise this high. The water has reached up to the first floor of my house," said Alam Manik, a resident of Chhanua area in Feni town.

According to government data, 154,661 people are stranded in 12 upazilas of Cumilla and 184,900 people in eight upazilas of Noakhali.

Floods are wreaking havoc in nine upazilas in Chattogram, seven in Moulvibazar, eight in Khagrachhari, five in Habiganj, two in Brahmanbaria, and three in Sylhet.

At least 12,20,877 people are stranded in these districts.

In Burichang upazila of Cumilla, an embankment along the Gumti river was washed away late last night, said officials, adding that the flood situation may worsen in Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas.

The government deployed 492 medical teams and opened 2,246 shelters where 82,694 people and 7,755 cattle took refuge in these districts.

Over 13,000 people are stranded in Rangamati and 80,000 in Cox's Bazar.

The disaster management ministry allocated Tk 3.32 crore; 19,650 tonnes of rice; and 15,000 packs of food, said a statement.

Traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway was disrupted after Cumilla's Chauddagram went under water early yesterday.

Of the 6,986 cell phone towers in the affected districts, 1,510 went out of order, leaving thousands with no signal on their phones.

More than 41 percent of the towers in Feni and Khagrachhari were inoperative.

The Department of Posts and Telecommunications sent several V-Sat units with the help of the Bangladesh Satellite Company to the districts to improve telecommunications.

Deputy commissioners of the districts were asked to work in coordination with student organisers, the army, medics, and volunteers.

The disaster management opened a hotline -- 0255101115 -- to provide information and assistance.

More than 160 army personnel in 40 rescue vehicles, 71 navy personnel in eight rescue vehicles, and boats of border guards were sent to Feni. A water treatment plant has been set up there.​

 

[Saif]

Students protest blaming India for flash floods

Students from several public universities today staged demonstrations, rallies, and torch processions blaming India for the flash floods in Bangladesh

www.thedailystar.net

Students protest blaming India for flash floods

Photo: Screengrab

Students from several public universities today staged demonstrations, rallies, and torch processions blaming India for the flash floods in Bangladesh.

They also demanded fair water-sharing agreements with India.

They said the opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti river in Tripura is the reason behind the sudden floods.

The universities include Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Islamic University, Barisal University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Begum Rokeya University, Jessore University of Science and Technology, and Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, among others.

Meanwhile, India today refuted claims of causing floods in Bangladesh.

The flood situation in eastern Bangladesh has not been caused by the release of waters from an Indian dam on the Gumti river in Tripura, said India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In DU, students of several educational institutions held a torch procession from the TSC around 7:00pm and marched through various roads on the campus.

During the procession, the students chanted slogans directed at India, including "Bharatiya agrashon rukhe darqao jonogon (People, stand against Indian aggression)," etc.

In JU, a few hundred students, alongside some teachers, organised a torch procession under the banner of Anti-Descrimination Student Movement around 7:30pm. Later, they held a rally at the university Shaheed Minar.

During the procession, students were seen chanting similar slogans as heard in DU.

In RU, several hundred students, alongside teachers from different departments, under the same banner, brought out a procession and staged a rally at the university's main gate at 1:00pm.

Golam Kibria Chowdhury Mishu, coordinator of anti-discrimination student movement, said, "For the past 53 years, Indian government has been torturing Bangladesh in different ways."

Students from Islamic University in Kushtia and Barisal University held processions from their campuses and staged rallies in nearby areas.

JnU students also staged a demonstration early today at the university's main gate.

Students of SUST, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh University of Textiles, and Dhaka College also brought out protest programmes with similar demands in the last two days.

Besides, a seven-member delegation representing a faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad today submitted a six-point message to the Indian High Commission.

The demands include immediate closure of all dams opened towards Bangladesh within 24 hours.​

 

[Saif]

Chief adviser proposes high-level Bangladesh-India mechanism for flood response

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has shared the idea of developing a high-level mechanism between Bangladesh and India to jointly tackle emergency situations like floods

www.thedailystar.net

Chief adviser proposes high-level Bangladesh-India mechanism for flood response

Photo: PID

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has shared the idea of developing a high-level mechanism between Bangladesh and India to jointly tackle emergency situations like floods.

This suggestion was shared during a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma at the state guesthouse Jamuna yesterday.

He also referred to flag meetings that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Forces (BSF) hold on an emergency basis when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma had a courtesy meeting with the Chief Adviser at state guesthouse Jamuna on Thursday.

Briefing the media at Foreign Service Academy after the introductory meeting, Chief Adviser's press secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus laid emphasis on high-level collaboration on water issues and activating this in emergency situations.

Alam said the issue of rainfall and floods in Tripura came up in the discussion.

On the flood issue, the press secretary, quoting the envoy, said water was "released automatically" due to the water level rising. "The water was very high."

The high commissioner described the flood in Tripura as something "very unprecedented," causing displacement of 50,000 people. He said it has created havoc on both sides of Bangladesh and India.

Prof Yunus said water-sharing of the joint rivers can be resolved through working together and referred to the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan.

He also said Bangladesh is a "big family".

Minority issues were also discussed at the meeting.

Prof Yunus had earlier said that the reports of attacks on the minorities have been "exaggerated" and invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh and report from the ground on the issue.

The chief adviser told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government is committed to safeguarding every citizen of the country including the minorities when Modi raised the issue during a telephone conversation.

At the meeting today, the chief adviser also talked about BIMSTEC and SAARC, and laid emphasis on bringing young people together in South Asia.

Prof Yunus also talked about his good relations with India where he has many friends. Yunus Center is operational in 18 Indian universities.

He also talked about a world of three zeros - the new economics of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions.

High Commissioner Verma reiterated India's commitment to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and India for peace, security and development.

They exchanged views on issues of shared interest and discussed avenues to further strengthen people-to-people ties.​

 

[Bilal9]

 

[Bilal9]

Chief adviser proposes high-level Bangladesh-India mechanism for flood response

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has shared the idea of developing a high-level mechanism between Bangladesh and India to jointly tackle emergency situations like floods

www.thedailystar.net

Chief adviser proposes high-level Bangladesh-India mechanism for flood response

View attachment 7707
Photo: PID

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has shared the idea of developing a high-level mechanism between Bangladesh and India to jointly tackle emergency situations like floods.

This suggestion was shared during a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma at the state guesthouse Jamuna yesterday.

He also referred to flag meetings that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Forces (BSF) hold on an emergency basis when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma had a courtesy meeting with the Chief Adviser at state guesthouse Jamuna on Thursday.

Briefing the media at Foreign Service Academy after the introductory meeting, Chief Adviser's press secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus laid emphasis on high-level collaboration on water issues and activating this in emergency situations.

Alam said the issue of rainfall and floods in Tripura came up in the discussion.

On the flood issue, the press secretary, quoting the envoy, said water was "released automatically" due to the water level rising. "The water was very high."

The high commissioner described the flood in Tripura as something "very unprecedented," causing displacement of 50,000 people. He said it has created havoc on both sides of Bangladesh and India.

Prof Yunus said water-sharing of the joint rivers can be resolved through working together and referred to the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan.

He also said Bangladesh is a "big family".

Minority issues were also discussed at the meeting.

Prof Yunus had earlier said that the reports of attacks on the minorities have been "exaggerated" and invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh and report from the ground on the issue.

The chief adviser told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government is committed to safeguarding every citizen of the country including the minorities when Modi raised the issue during a telephone conversation.

At the meeting today, the chief adviser also talked about BIMSTEC and SAARC, and laid emphasis on bringing young people together in South Asia.

Prof Yunus also talked about his good relations with India where he has many friends. Yunus Center is operational in 18 Indian universities.

He also talked about a world of three zeros - the new economics of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions.

High Commissioner Verma reiterated India's commitment to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and India for peace, security and development.

They exchanged views on issues of shared interest and discussed avenues to further strengthen people-to-people ties.​

I think we should ban all imports from this "friendly" country in addition to cancelling all transit deals and facilities given or planned to be given to them.

If this is what a "friend" does, then who needs enemies? They need to pay reparations in the short term for causing the damage irresponsibly as they have.

There is a long term price to pay for their actions as well, and they will need to pay. We will need to ensure this - they will do nothing of course.

 

[Saif]

'Why do we only have agreements on eight rivers when we share so many rivers with India?'

In conversation with Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

www.thedailystar.net

'Why do we only have agreements on eight rivers when we share so many rivers with India?'

The situation in Feni is particularly bad, so we are giving our utmost attention there. PHOTO: STAR

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, discusses the severity of the floods, challenges of rescue efforts in Feni and next steps of the interim government in addressing this unexpected national crisis in an interview with Sushmita S Preetha of The Daily Star.

Flooding has taken a dire turn in the country within a very short time. Feni, in particular, has not faced such a critical situation in living memory. What's the latest update from the ground?

We are hearing the same thing on the ground. There has been flooding in Feni before, but never to such an extent. Feni locals are not used to such terrible flash floods, neither are government and non-government authorities. Now we are hearing that water is coming into the city as well, which is a matter of great concern. The most challenging aspect has been reaching remote areas and carrying out rescue operations. On Wednesday night, there was no electricity or mobile network, so the rescue mission became very difficult. We could not restore electricity as there was the risk of electrocution. Most of the rescue operation has to be conducted during the day, so the situation really is severe in those areas.

Feni locals are not used to such terrible flash floods, neither are government and non-government authorities. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN

What immediate measures are the interim government taking to help the affected communities?

There is enough relief to provide immediate support, as per government data. But the real issue, as I said before, is accessing the affected people. One of the demands coming out of the flood-affected areas has been to use helicopters to rescue those who are marooned, but we are not able to do so because the weather is still quite treacherous, so helicopters still cannot reach those areas. There is also a demand that helicopters be used to provide relief; even that is not possible at the moment because 1) there is too much water, and 2) when you drop relief from a helicopter, people rush towards it and there is a risk of loss of life, which we must avoid. Right now, we are taking urgent measures to rescue people; the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is sending boats, the army is there, a lot of volunteers are working; but then again, they are faced with difficulty in accessing places where people are trapped.

Excessive rain and hillside runoff are causing the flood. But many are also speculating that the situation has worsened because a dam in India's Tripura has been opened. What is your take on this?

This is not a matter of personal opinion. It is a government-to-government matter. There has been a lot of rain, and as a result, some dams have been opened on the Indian side. What we are trying to figure out is whether we were told before the [Tripura] dam was opened. We may not have a treaty on this particular river, but there are international treaties—such as the no-harm principle, principle of cooperation—on how to manage transboundary or shared resources between countries. Our chief adviser is set to speak with the Indian prime minister and raise these concerns.

The other issue is, why do we only have agreements on eight rivers when we share so many rivers with India? The chief adviser will address what happened in this particular instance, but he will also discuss and prioritise how to prevent such things from happening in the future.

The climatic threats should be taken as an opportunity to start dialogue and reach agreement for basin wide river management. The challenges include involving all basin countries within the framework of existing agreements, getting consent of the upper riparian countries that are naturally placed in advantageous position, adhering to the principles, norms and processes prescribed in the 1997 UN Convention as none of the riparian countries is a party to it and of course putting in place an effective dispute resolution mechanism.

There has been flooding in Feni before, but never to such an extent. PHOTO: RAJIB RAIHAN

How is the shuffling of the local government going to affect disaster and relief management?

A local government is, of course, of tremendous help in such situations. Even though there has been a reshuffling in local government, it is not that it has collapsed. Someone from each of those local government offices has been appointed as the administrator. And during disasters, as you also know, one institution may be tasked with the primary role, but all institutions must come together and give their all. To ensure that all departments and ministries can work effectively and urgently together, the disaster management ministry, along with the ministries of fisheries and livestock, agriculture, health, etc, is taking coordinated efforts at the field level as well as the national level.

The adviser for disaster management and relief, who could not go earlier because of bad weather, went to Feni today. He may not have been able to visit the remote areas, but he will oversee the coordination from a nearby area.

Besides Feni, there are other districts such as Cumilla, Khagrachhari, etc, which have also been affected by the flash floods. What steps are you taking there?

The situation in Feni is particularly bad, so we are giving our utmost attention there. But local government agencies, ministries, and the army have all been instructed to do their due diligence in other affected areas, and they are being deployed in the places where the embankments have not broken yet, and to ensure that they are ready with whatever is necessary to tackle the situation. Every area is getting attention, but we are particularly worried about Feni because the communication system there has broken down completely.

Many have also questioned the government's poor river conservation and management initiatives amid the increasing intensity and frequency of floods in the country.

Today, we discussed in a meeting that in many areas, water is not receding because of the arbitrary way in which embankments, bridges and/or culverts have been constructed. Since this is a flash flood, when the rain lets up, the rainwater is supposed to recede quickly. There may be river erosion at that time. However, when the water recedes, there must be no obstruction. So, the bigger concern as to whether we have done adequate river management keeping in mind how flood-prone we are was discussed, though the immediate focus is now on rescue and rehabilitation. I have long been saying that our rivers are losing navigability. We have to address these wider concerns in the long run.​