[🇧🇩] India's Water Terrorism Against Bangladesh

[Saif]

Teesta river bank protection work to begin soon: Rizwana

Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (Saturday) said work will begin soon to protect about 20 km of banks of the Teesta River. She said the Ministry of Finance has approved Tk 243 crore to protect 43 km of river banks in the erosion-prone area of Teesta, BSS reports. However, r

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Teesta river bank protection work to begin soon: Rizwana
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Mar 22, 2025 23:47
Updated :
Mar 22, 2025 23:47

Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (Saturday) said work will begin soon to protect about 20 km of banks of the Teesta River.

She said the Ministry of Finance has approved Tk 243 crore to protect 43 km of river banks in the erosion-prone area of Teesta, BSS reports.

However, riverbank protection work on 20 km banks of the river Teesta will begin this year, and the work on the banks of the 23 km will also start quickly.

The water resources adviser said this while addressing a discussion on the Reform in the Water Sector. The Ministry of Water Resources arranged the meeting at the conference room of Pani Bhaban at Green Road in Dhaka on the occasion of World Water Day.

Rizwana said the local offices of the Bangladesh Water Development Board have been instructed to keep enough Geo bags and blocks ready to work on an emergency basis.
In the context of the Teesta mega plan, the adviser said the period of Feasibility Study on the Teesta Mega Plan has been extended to two years on two conditions.

Power China will go to the people living on the banks of Teesta and talk about their plans, she said, adding that it will also talk to those who work on the river.

Rizwana said public hearings were held in five districts and now the expert level talks will be held.

Expert team will also come from China to discuss the issue, she added.

Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan presided over the meeting.

Director General of the Water Development Board AKM Tahmidul Islam, Director General of Bangladesh Wetland and Haor Department Md. Akhteruzzaman and Executive Director of the Institute of Water Modelling SM Mahbubur Rahman also spoke on the occasion, among others.​

 

[Saif]

Dying Padma aggravates water scarcity in north: study

The gradual decrease in the water level of the Padma River has intensified the groundwater depletion in the High Barind Tract, an arid region in the country’s north-western part known for its severe water scarcity...

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Dying Padma aggravates water scarcity in north: study
Farakka releases almost four times less water since launch
Suzon Ali . Rajshahi 07 April, 2025, 00:39

The gradual decrease in the water level of the Padma River has intensified the groundwater depletion in the High Barind Tract, an arid region in the country’s north-western part known for its severe water scarcity.

This finding has been revealed in a study titled ‘Simulation of river aquifer dynamics and water scarcity in the left bank of River Ganges (Padma), Bangladesh’. The study findings were published in the Netherlands-based journal ‘Biodiversity and conservation’ in January this year.

Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, a geology and mining professor at Rajshahi University, said that he along with his three colleagues investigated the simulation of groundwater flow characteristics and its dynamic exchanges with surface water for the period of 1980–2020 in the left bank of Padma River.

He said that the study was conducted in an 85-kilometre area on the left bank of the River Ganges (Padma) starting from its entry point in Bangladesh in Chapai Nawabganj district to the Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district covering twelve upazilas of Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Pabna districts.

According to the study, the groundwater level in the Barind region—an area higher than the rest of the country in general, and with much less rainfall—exhibits a declining trend during the dry summer season. Before 2000, however, the groundwater level nearly recovered to its original state during the monsoon.

Since 2000, however, groundwater level in the region has been declining at an alarming rate, failing to return to previous level even during the monsoon.

Over the past four decades, groundwater level in the study area has dropped by 5.22 metres. The present total deficit between groundwater recharge and discharge in the region’s river basin area stands at 20,44,000 litres per year, according to the study.

‘Over exploitation in the upstream is a major cause of scarcity of groundwater,’ the study mentioned.

An analysis of the Bangladesh Water Development Board data from the past five years shows that during the dry season (January–May), the water flow in the Padma River decreased from 2,093 cubic metres per second in 2019 to 1,076 cubic metres per second in 2024.

Before the opening of the Farakka Barrage, located 18km upstream of the India-Bangladesh border, the Padma River had a flow of 3,685 cubic metres per second in 1974.

Along with the reduced river flow, the yearly minimum water level has dropped from 4.59 metres in 2020 to 2.98 metres in 2024, while the yearly maximum water level has fallen from 13.47 metres in 2019 to 12.38 metres in 2024, according to the analysis.

‘The declining value of groundwater level is higher in summer season than that of rainy season because of less amount of groundwater recharge and huge outflow of groundwater from aquifer system towards the river basin due to poor flow of river water as well as over-exploitation of groundwater for irrigation purpose in dry summer season’, the study report explains.

The study predicts that over the next 40 years, the annual deficit between groundwater recharge by rain and discharge or outflow from aquifer systems will reach 8,17,60,000 litres, and the deficit would be even more aggravated if the flow of river water further declines while the withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation increases.

To ensure sustainability, the study suggests implementing coordinated water and land resource management strategies, including rainwater harvesting, creating mechanisms for directing captured rain into the ground, efficient irrigation techniques, crop diversification, soil management and regulated groundwater extraction.

A previous study conducted by the Institute of Water Modelling, a government agency, in 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj between 2018 and 2021 showed that the average groundwater level in the High Barind Tract dropped to 18 metres from 8 metres in the past three decades.

In some specific areas like Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj, the average groundwater level dropped to as low as 46.87 metres in 2021 from 21 metres in 1990.

Meanwhile, cultivation of boro paddy, the country’s main staple crop, has decreased by 10,280 hectares in the Rajshahi agricultural region compared with the past year’s acreage due to severe water scarcity, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension officials.

Boro cultivation in the region largely depends on irrigation by extracting groundwater but, the farmers said, adequate water for irrigation cannot be extracted at places due to groundwater depletion.​

 

[Saif]

Is water war in the offing?

Shorter winter followed by prolonged summer marked by heatwaves with the level of mercury rising over 40 degrees centigrade has become a new normal. The congested cities like Dhaka with receding greenery and advancing concrete cover, are turning into veritable hellholes. The use of cool

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Is water war in the offing?
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Apr 27, 2025 23:20
Updated :
Apr 27, 2025 23:20

Shorter winter followed by prolonged summer marked by heatwaves with the level of mercury rising over 40 degrees centigrade has become a new normal. The congested cities like Dhaka with receding greenery and advancing concrete cover, are turning into veritable hellholes. The use of cooling devices to keep inside temperatures of buildings low is making matters worse. For the heat of the interior of the buildings now goes outside to heat up the overall environment of the cities further. Now to run the cooling devices you need power. To generate that power you have to burn fuel, which is the primary cause of global warming that has given rise to this phenomenon of heatwaves and rising temperatures in the first place. So, it is a vicious cycle we are trapped in. Worse yet, far from trying to find ways to break the cycle, measures are being taken only to maintain the status quo. By burning fossil fuel to generate power and keep the inside of the buildings of cities cool during hot summer, nothing is being ultimately gained. In fact, we are only continuing the policy of the West that gave rise to the climate change. Small wonder that, as a result, least developed countries like Bangladesh are being made to atone for the sin that the advanced industrial countries committed in the beginning. It is from the first industrial age when it all started. The ongoing heatwaves have definitely to do with the overall impacts of climate change. But are we really aware as a climate vulnerable nation that one climatic change-related phenomenon after another is increasing the challenge of adapting to it?

Let us have an idea of how the subject of heat or temperature is gradually accumulating before us. A 2023 study, for instance, shows that between 1949 and 2013, temperature has risen in this part of the world at the rate of 0.13 degrees centigrade per decade. By 2050, this rate of temperature rise is predicted to be going up to 1.4 degrees centigrade. Looks like, it is a small amount. But when it comes to the amount of heat it can accumulate, that is huge. The heatwaves and the accompanying temperatures that we are now experiencing is the result of this ever rising rate of temperature. If 40 degrees centigrade and above is now normal. The indications are that things are getting worse. Scientists warn that it is not just the impacts of natural phenomena like El Nino that are behind the ever rising temperatures in recent years. In fact, human actions in the form of, for example, constructing high-rise buildings in great numbers and that, too, in an unplanned way are also a major factor to blame, scientists pointed out. The seasonal patterns have already changed fundamentally. A multinational research done in 2021, revealed that between 1950 and 2021, monsoon rainfalls in the months between May and October decreased. On the other hand, episodic rainfalls increased fourfold in Bangladesh. But alongside, increase in episodic rainfalls, we are also experiencing droughts. The duration of the droughts are getting longer, drying up natural water reservoirs. Here also human actions have a big role to play. But there are still far worse kinds of human actions that destroyed the forests and depleted natural reservoirs below the ground. Those are wars that humans have fought and have been fighting for control of natural resources including water. Though the possibility of water wars that was forecast in the 1970s did not after all take place on a predicted scale, there is no guarantee that such wars will not break out in the future. The main reason for such wars would be the control and diversion of the flow of natural water courses like rivers. Consider the recent faceoff between India and Pakistan, two nuclear nations with common border. Though initially, it was on the diplomatic level over a terrorist attack on tourists leading to around 26 or more deaths, it has now taken more serious turn with India's statement that it has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. If the two neighbours will really come to deadly blows is a different issue, the point to consider here is that the upper riparian has chosen or has threatened to choose the most sensitive weapon, water, to punish its adversary. In fact, most rivers in the world being transboundary in nature, there is a great risk in the future that conflicts, even wars might break out over shared water resources. In such cases, responsibility will lie on the upper riparian nations in the case of the transboundary rivers to be more prudent about the issue. To be frank, whenever there is an option, humans will be prone to use it. Building water control structures to generate power or build dams on rivers to tame them as protection against floods or to divert their course to irrigate lands deprived of water was appreciated in the past when fewer people than now lived on earth. During those times Nature seemed to be abundant and even wild such as the mighty rivers like Padma, Meghna and Jumna in this region in particular. So, humans would then try to demonstrate their power over Nature by taming and harnessing it by various means. International lending agencies like the World Bank would then encourage nations to build dams to control floods, stop erosion or for diverting water to help irrigation. In this manner, most rivers of the world are now in chains. What was once a great boon to the people is now proving to be a bane of many. Meanwhile, the rivers have started to run dry either due to diversion of water by the upper riparian or for natural reasons. For countries with seacoasts like Bangladesh, it has turned further problematic. With the reduction of water flowing in the rivers, salinity increases in the coastal regions, depriving coastal people of sweet water to drink as well as to cultivate lands for agriculture. This calls for creating strong international arbitration mechanism so that countries sharing common rivers could get fair share of river waters whenever any dispute arises between co-riparian countries.​

 

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TEESTA IRRIGATION PROJECT: Govt-set rate Tk 480 an acre, farmers pay Tk 1,000 for water supply

Farmers are allegedly paying Tk 1,000 an acre for irrigation water supply from the Teesta Irrigation Project although the government has set the rate at Tk 480 an acre throughout the year.

www.newagebd.net

TEESTA IRRIGATION PROJECT: Govt-set rate Tk 480 an acre, farmers pay Tk 1,000 for water supply
Rezaul Karim Manik . Lalmonirhat 10 May, 2025, 01:09

Farmers are allegedly paying Tk 1,000 an acre for irrigation water supply from the Teesta Irrigation Project although the government has set the rate at Tk 480 an acre throughout the year.

The payment of additional money has led to frustration among farmers in the project area.

However, officials of the Bangladesh Water Development Board claimed that no additional money was being taken from farmers.

The payment for irrigation water is made through local farmers’ associations, they added.

BWDB officials said that about 1 lakh farmers had cultivated boro rice on 1,23,500 acres of land under the project across six districts — Rangpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Bogura.

Irrigation water is supplied through a 750-kilometre canal network from the project.

The government earns about Tk 5.93 crore for supplying irrigation water to 1,23,500 acres of land at the rate of Tk 480 an acre.

Farmers, however, alleged that the local farmers’ associations had collected Tk 12.35 crore from them for irrigation water supply to 1,23,000 acres at the rate of Tk 1,000 an acre.

While leaders of the farmers’ associations paid the government Tk 5,92,80,000 in charges for irrigation water supply, the additional Tk 6,42,29,000 remains unaccounted for, the farmers alleged.

Rashidul Islam, a 65-year-old farmer from Nilphamari’s Dimla upazila, said that he had been growing crops using irrigation water from the project for the past 30 years.

‘I had to pay Tk 1,000 to receive irrigation water for one acre of land despite the government-set rate being Tk 480 an acre. I don’t know where the extra Tk 520 went. I paid Tk 1,000 through the local association. However, they did not give me any receipt against the payment,’ he said.

Abdur Rahim, a 70-year-old farmer from the same area, alleged that the extra money was shared between the association leaders and BWDB officials.

Abdus Samad, gatekeeper at the Teesta Irrigation Project and president of the farmers’ association at Dimla village, said that farmers paid charges for irrigation water through the association.

He said that the association employed workers to clean and monitor the canals in the irrigation area that was why farmers were charged additional money.

‘After paying the government rate, the extra money is spent on the welfare of the association members,’ he claimed.

The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project, situated on the River Teesta in the Doani area of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat, is the country’s largest irrigation project.

There are 78 farmers’ associations in the project area, each with a gatekeeper to assist farmers in supplying water to their land.

Amolesh Chandra Roy, sub-extension officer of the BWDB in Rangpur, said that it was not possible for the BWDB to monitor such a large area without forming farmer associations.

He said that the association leaders must pay the irrigation fee on time.

‘I have not heard of taking any extra charges, and no farmer has complained in this regard,’ he added.

Amitav Chowdhury, BWDB executive engineer at Dalia in Lalmonirhat, said that he was not aware of any information regarding farmers being charged extra money.

He also said that he would investigate the matter and take necessary actions in this regard.​

 

[Saif]

National leaders demand raising Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN

At a mass rally organized on Farakka Long March Day today, national leaders have demanded that the Interim Government raise Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN. On 16 May 1996 Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, leader of the toiling masses led the long march and raised a strong voice against

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

National leaders demand raising Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN
FE ONLINE REPORT
Published :
May 16, 2025 20:59
Updated :
May 16, 2025 20:59

At a mass rally organized on Farakka Long March Day today, national leaders have demanded that the Interim Government raise Bangladesh’s water problem at the UN. On 16 May 1996 Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, leader of the toiling masses led the long march and raised a strong voice against unilateral diversion of water of the Ganges.

Addressing the mass rally as the chief guest Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, member BNP Standing Committee, called for demanding decommissioning of the Farakka Barrage over the Ganges, because it cannot be demolished as is commonly demanded for its adverse impacts in the environment and biodiversity in Bangladesh.

He said the water divertion structures on 54 common rivers created severe problems of desertification, salinity and siltation affecting life and livelihood in Bangladesh.

The speakers said flows of none of the 54 shared rivers passing through Bangladesh, a land of rivers, is guaranteed even after 54 years of independence. They mentioned that Bangladesh has suffered a serious environmental disaster due to the construction of dams or reservoirs upstream of all rivers and diversion of water elsewhere.

The mass rally organized by IFC Bangladesh in collaboration with the New York-based International Farakka Committee (IFC) said that the 30-year Ganga bondage Agreement signed by the autocratic government without guarantee and arbitration clauses will expire in December next year. Before that, it is important to renew this agreement with a guarantee of receiving the agreed amount of water and an arbitration clause.

Another important river, the Teesta, has been on hold for 14 years despite a promise to sign an agreement in 2011. During the dry season, the entire flow of the river is diverted from the Ghazal Doba Barrage in West Bengal, drying up the northern part of Bangladesh. On the other hand, during the rainy season, all the water from the hilly slopes of the river is released, causing several devastating artificial floods in Bangladesh. This washes away crops, homes and homessteads and cause death to humans, draft animals and poultry.

Due to the diversion of water through dams upstream of each of the remaining 52 shared rivers, one-third of the country’s normal annual flooding is stopped during the rainy season, destroying aquatic biodiversity. Water lilies, snails, algae and native fish species that grow in floodplains have almost disappeared. Due to the lack of normal flooding, the crop production capacity of floodplain lands has come down by half. This situation is gradually deteriorating.

IFC Bangladesh President, journalist Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, presided over the rally, and IFC New York Chairman Syed Tipu Sultan, Jatiya Party Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Professor Jasim Uddin Ahmad, National Ganofront Coordinator Comrade Tipu Biswas, BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Abdus Salam, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) leader Khalequzzaman, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gono Sanghati Andolan Chief Coordinator Jonayed Saki, Bhasani Anusari Parishad convener, Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Bangladesh Labour Party chairman, Mustafizur Rahman Iran, BFUJ Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury and DUJ President Shahidul Islam, among others.

They said, hundreds of rivers and tributaries have died due to the lack of normal flow during the dry season. As a result, due to the lack of fresh water flow on the southwestern coast of Bangladesh, salinity has penetrated more than 200 kilometers inland, causing serious damage to agriculture, industry, fish, trees and livestock. Due to the increase in salinity in the coastal water, the valuable Sundari trees of the Sundarbans are disappearing.

Bangladesh, the largest delta in the world, formed by rivers for thousands of years, is about to be destroyed due to the lack of normal water flow of rivers. This is a serious existential crisis for Bangladesh. Seeing this situation, foreign environmentalists said that they do not understand why Bangladesh does not cry out.

For the past 16 years, the autocratic government has been protecting the interests of neighboring India by sacrificing Bangladesh’s just demands for water in exchange for the assurance of staying in power. This situation cannot be resolved through bilateral diplomacy.

Therefore, the speakers said that if Bangladesh’s water problem is to be solved, it must be raised at the United Nations.​

 

[Saif]

Farakka barrage: time for strategic legal action

IN 1975, India constructed the Farakka Barrage near the Bangladesh border, diverting water from the Ganges River into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River to enhance the navigability of Kolkata Port. While this might have initially served India’s economic interest, the consequences for Bangladesh have...

www.newagebd.net

Farakka barrage: time for strategic legal action
Matiul Alam 16 May, 2025, 00:00

IN 1975, India constructed the Farakka Barrage near the Bangladesh border, diverting water from the Ganges River into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River to enhance the navigability of Kolkata Port. While this might have initially served India’s economic interest, the consequences for Bangladesh have been devastating. Ecological degradation, agricultural disruption, economic hardship, and severe freshwater scarcity are just a few issues that have plagued Bangladesh for nearly five decades.

From the onset, the Farakka Barrage has violated essential principles of international river law. Under the ‘No Harm Principle’ articulated clearly in Article 7 of the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, any state’s activity must avoid causing significant harm to downstream countries. Yet, Bangladesh has endured massive ecological and economic damage directly linked to India’s unilateral water diversion.

Another vital international law principle, ‘Equitable and Reasonable Utilisation’, demands that shared water resources be utilised fairly. However, Farakka’s operation has systematically deprived Bangladesh of its legitimate water rights, dramatically altering the environmental and socio-economic fabric of the nation, particularly harming agriculture, fisheries, and the globally significant Sundarbans.

India also failed its international obligations to adequately consult and inform Bangladesh before the barrage’s construction and subsequent management, further breaching established diplomatic norms. These actions collectively represent severe legal violations that demand accountability and remediation.

Historically, resistance against the Farakka Barrage is symbolically anchored by the legendary Farakka Long March of 1976, led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. On May 16, 1976, thousands marched from Rajshahi to Farakka, vociferously protesting India’s unilateral water diversion. This event remains a potent symbol of Bangladesh’s enduring struggle for environmental justice and equitable water sharing. Today, commemorating this day highlights ongoing demands for justice and equitable sharing of transboundary waters.

Globally, similar disputes have found resolutions in international courts or arbitration bodies, providing critical precedents for Bangladesh. The Gabčíkovo–Nagymaros case (Hungary vs Slovakia) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), for instance, underscored ecological integrity and fairness in international river use. Likewise, arbitration mechanisms facilitated by the World Bank in the Indus Waters Treaty (Pakistan vs. India) illustrate how impartial mediation can resolve deep-rooted water conflicts. Cases such as the ongoing negotiations around Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam emphasise the necessity of multilateral dialogue, while effective bilateral treaty management between the US and Mexico on the Rio Grande demonstrates sustainable diplomatic models.

Considering these global precedents, Bangladesh must now strategically engage in robust international legal action. Firstly, Bangladesh should immediately commission a detailed, multidisciplinary assessment to quantify ecological, agricultural, and economic losses inflicted by the barrage. Such documentation would underpin claims for monetary compensation from India based on clearly defined international liability principles.

Moreover, Bangladesh must consider petitioning international forums such as the ICJ or the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The ICJ offers formal, binding judgements suitable for complex interstate disputes, while the PCA provides flexible arbitration tailored to environmental and technical aspects of water conflicts. Utilising these forums can elevate Bangladesh’s grievances and catalyse fair, transparent solutions.

Interestingly, internal criticism within India provides Bangladesh with significant diplomatic leverage. Prominent Indian voices, including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and respected environmentalist Rajendra Singh, have openly labelled the Farakka Barrage a ‘curse’, highlighting its adverse impact on Bihar and West Bengal through intensified flooding, sedimentation, and riverbank erosion. These domestic criticisms validate Bangladesh’s concerns and amplify demands for the barrage’s phased decommissioning.

Bangladesh should strategically leverage these internal Indian critiques in diplomatic discussions, advocating for a bilateral review of Farakka’s viability. Bangladesh’s diplomacy must also extend to actively engaging Indian civil society, environmental groups, and media to build consensus for removing this problematic infrastructure.

The current government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, stands at a pivotal juncture in Bangladesh’s diplomatic and environmental future. To succeed, it should promptly assemble a dedicated task force comprising international legal experts, hydrologists, environmental scientists, experienced diplomats, and policy advocates. This multidisciplinary team can guide rigorous assessments, manage strategic international negotiations, and sustain diplomatic momentum toward Farakka’s reconsideration.

Additionally, Bangladesh must ratify and actively utilise the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention. This action will fortify Bangladesh’s legal stance, explicitly safeguarding its downstream rights and responsibilities within international law frameworks. Ratification will send a clear international signal of Bangladesh’s commitment to resolving transboundary water issues through established global norms.

Finally, investing in domestic research and sustainable water management strategies is critical. While Bangladesh pursues justice internationally, it must also build resilience locally, mitigating current ecological damage and developing alternative freshwater solutions to protect millions dependent on the Ganges’ flow.

In conclusion, nearly half a century after its construction, the Farakka Barrage remains an undeniable source of environmental, economic, and diplomatic distress for Bangladesh. Yet, within this challenge lies a profound opportunity. By initiating strategic international legal action, leveraging global precedents, capitalising on rising internal Indian criticism, and strengthening diplomatic channels, Bangladesh can transition from victimhood to proactive stewardship. Dismantling or significantly modifying the Farakka Barrage could mark the beginning of a transformative regional shift from destructive water management toward cooperative, sustainable governance. The time for decisive action is now.

Dr Matiul Alam, a former professor of education, is an honorary educational research scholar at the University of British Columbia, Canada.​

 

[Saif]

Bhashani wanted to ensure River Padma's due rights

Before anyone draws a litre of water from the Padma, they must think of the downstream districts, the Sundarbans, Padma’s right to meet the sea

en.prothomalo.com

Bhashani wanted to ensure River Padma's due rights
Gawher Nayeem Wahra
Updated: 21 Jun 2025, 16: 32

On 16 May 1976 a long March was held from Rajshahi towards the Farakka Barrage in India under the leadership of Maulana Bhasani UNB

Given the prevailing favourable political circumstances in the country, this year Farakka Day (16 May) was observed much more visibly than in previous years. The enthusiasts, the overenthusiastic, the mildly enthusiastic and the impulsive enthusiasts, everyone took part in commemorating Farakka Day. There were even photo sessions on the occasion.

Outside Dhaka, meetings, rallies, and seminars were held in Rajshahi. Many attended these events on a one-day trip from Dhaka. All this reflects a high level of enthusiasm. This is only natural in a country where everyone loves festivities and celebrations.

But have we truly internalized, as Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani did, that the Farakka problem cannot be solved with tears—whether from the eyes or from any other part of the body?

Ahmad Sofa used to say, “No one understood as clearly as Bhashani the devastation Farakka Barrage was causing to Bangladesh.”

It may have been deemed ‘discourteous’ for Bangladesh not to attend the inauguration of Farakka back then on 21 April 1975, despite an invitation, by the prime minister at the time, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, chose to heed the words of his dear Maulana Bhashani. Reportedly, it was at Bhashani’s request that the water resources minister Abdur Rab Serniabat was told to cancel his trip.

India’s ambassador back then, the seasoned diplomat Samar Sen, was surprised by this last-minute decision. Though he said nothing, it is beyond doubt that India’s minister of agriculture and irrigation, Jagjivan Ram, who was the central figure at the event, was displeased. In 1971, he had served as India’s defence minister. Perhaps that is why he took it for granted that they would readily respond to the invitation.

There is no record of the interaction between Maulana Bhashani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mujib. However, it can be assumed that he reminded the prime minister of the meeting held on 16 May 1974 between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India. In that meeting, both leaders had agreed that the Farakka Barrage would not be operated during the dry season until the two countries reached an agreement on water sharing. (Source: Rameez Mohd Bhat, International Journal of Applied Research 2020; 6 (2): 264-268 Hydro-politics between India and Bangladesh: A study of Farakka barrage dispute).

India cannot unilaterally open the barrage without respecting that consensus. Being witness to such an inaugural ceremony would mean retreating from our rightful claim to water.

Maulana Bhashani perhaps reminded them of the first meeting held in 1973 between Bangladesh and India regarding the Ganges. In that meeting, it was decided that the Farakka Barrage would only be operational after the two countries reached a final agreement on water sharing. (Source: previously cited)

Several meetings between the two countries took place until 1975, but due to disagreements on various issues, no resolution on water sharing could be reached.

During the dry season, due to the lack of water flow in the Padma, vast areas turn into sandbars. Padma River in the Talaimari area of Rajshahi city File Photo

By 1976, Maulana Bhashani was over ninety years old. He spent most of his time in the hospital. Even on the first day of the Bengali New Year (15 April) that year, he was in hospital.

After attending the Chhayanaut event in Ramna, Fakir Alamgir, a young and rising singer at the time, said upon arriving at Shahbagh, “Let’s go pay our respects to Huzoor.”

Whether it was his involvement with Biplobi Chhatra Union or out of deep reverence, he always referred to Maulana Bhashani as “Huzoor.”

Maulana Bhashani was asleep. It seemed his weary body simply wanted to rest.

There was little resemblance between the Maulana Bhashani I had first seen in 1970 on the “relief launch” during the relief efforts in cyclone-ravaged Monpura and the man lying in the hospital bed. It was as if a vibrant, plump grape had shriveled into a raisin.

But just days later, on 18 April 1976, upon being discharged from the hospital, it was as though the lion within him awoke. Maulana Bhashani declared that if India deprived Bangladesh of its rightful share of water, he would launch a long march.

This announcement surprised many at the time. Some dismissed it as a political stunt. But in truth, it was his final struggle at the risk of his life.

Monajat Uddin, a correspondent of Dainik Sangbad, participated in that long march on 16 May 1976. In his report the next day, he wrote that the 64 km journey was extremely arduous. The greatest concern was for Maulana Bhashani himself. After all, he was over 90 years old.

Monajat Uddin later recalled this in his memoir "Poth Theke Pothe", published on 1 January 1991.

On 28 April 1976, Maulana Bhashani issued a statement urging everyone to join and ensure the success of the long march.

Prior to the march, he also wrote a letter to Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, explaining the reasons and background of the protest. From all this, it is clear that the long march was not just a dramatic gesture.

That letter, now part of history, ought to be essential reading for today’s youth. (Sources: 1. BBC Bangla report, Dhaka, 16 May 2022; 2. Majlum Jananeta Maulana Bhashani Smarak Sonkolon, edited by Mohsin Shastrapani and Bulbul Khan Mahbub; 3. Report titled Bhashani’s Farakka Long March of 1976 by M. Golam Mostafa, Convener, National Jatiya Krishak-Sramik Mukti Andolan, 14 May 2024).

Maulana Bhashani’s long march effectively laid the groundwork for bringing the issue to the international stage. Later, at the 31st UN General Assembly, Ziaur Rahman raised the Farakka issue. The UN recommended resolving the matter through bilateral discussions.

When the first non-Congress government, led by Morarji Desai, came to power in India in 1977, relations between the two countries somewhat improved. That same year, a five-year agreement on the sharing of Ganges water was signed. Subsequent agreements followed. The current agreement is set to expire in 2026.

The country’s higher judiciary declared in a verdict that a river is a “living entity.” This means rivers, like humans, have the right to a healthy and sustainable existence. There are legal provisions for taking action against those responsible for encroachment, pollution, or sedimentation

An analysis of the five Ganges water-sharing agreements reveals that Bangladesh’s share of water has gradually decreased over time.

Moreover, in other water-sharing agreements across the subcontinent, countries generally consider the total flow of the river and provide downstream countries with information about all barrages, dams, or embankments constructed upstream. This principle is even followed in the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan. However, such considerations have been neglected in the case of the Ganges Treaty.

India provides Bangladesh with information only about the Farakka Barrage. However, multiple other barrages and dams have been constructed upstream on the Ganges, which have disrupted and continue to disrupt the river's natural flow before it even reaches Farakka.

In addition, the upstream Indian states of West Bengal are themselves increasingly unable to contain their concerns over Farakka. Their interest in Ganges water is growing by the day. This suggests that in the coming years, our share is likely to shrink further.

Yet our need for water is rising. Just to keep the Sundarbans alive, floodwaters are required in Padma’s tributaries such as the Gorai, Kumar, and Madhumati rivers.

One possible solution is to increase our capacity to retain water and to use it more efficiently. However, discussions around Farakka Day did not reflect on what we ourselves can do, through our own strength and initiative, if India fails to supply the water we need.

In the concluding speech of his long march (17 May 1976), Maulana Bhashani declared, “If India ignores the demands of the people of Bangladesh regarding the Farakka issue, a movement to boycott Indian goods will begin.”

This writer was present that day and heard Maulana speak. He had also said, “A river has its own rights. If it is not allowed to meet the sea, the world will be rendered desolate. All of creation will be destroyed. It will dissolve into nothingness.” These powerful words from his speech were not prominently reported in any newspaper the following day.

Monajat Uddin’s book and the article "Maulana Bhashanir Jibon Srote" by Abu Noman Khan, former office secretary of the Jatiya Krishak Samity and witness of that day’s march, published in the book Majlum Janoneta Maulana Bhashani Smarak-Sonkolon, edited by Mohsin Shastrapani and Bulbul Khan Mahbub, contain many details about the long march. However, there is no narrative of the “rights of the river.”

Hasan Mir, a former official at Rajshahi Radio (who passed away last year), told this writer, “We actually didn’t understand the meaning or implication of that statement. That’s why it didn’t make it into the radio news.” The call for a “boycott of Indian goods" gained more prominence. But he has several times mentioned the due rights of the river.

What are a river’s rights?
Before this project, a water treatment plant worth Tk 103 crore was built in Shyampur, Rajshahi, in 2011. Due to lack of water in the Padma, it remains non-operational most of the year.

In the Sarangpur area of Godagari upazila, where a new water treatment plant is being built on the Padma, the Ganges enters Bangladesh from India and takes on the name Padma. From here, a distributary of the Padma, the Mahananda River, branches off. This WASA treatment plant is being constructed at the confluence of these two rivers.

And it's not just Rajshahi. Water from the Padma is being extracted for the residents of Dhaka city as well. For that, the Padma-Jashaldia Water Treatment Plant was set up in 2019 in Louhajang, Munshiganj.
Today, we talk about rivers as “living entities,” but Maulana had already expressed that idea way back then. Readers may recall that on 3 February 2019, the country’s higher judiciary declared in a verdict that a river is a “living entity.” This means rivers, like humans, have the right to a healthy and sustainable existence. There are legal provisions for taking action against those responsible for encroachment, pollution, or sedimentation.

Maulana Bhashani had essentially voiced this same principle 43 years before that court ruling, through his statement about the river’s rights.

Yet in discussions on Farakka Day, not a word was said about river pollution or about the implications of extracting water from the Padma while violating the river’s rights.

A mega project has been launched in Godagari to extract 200 million litres of water daily just for the residents of Rajshahi city. Professor Sarwar Jahan of Rajshahi University confirmed this. The previous government signed a deal with a Chinese company on 21 March 2021 to establish this project.

If such a vast quantity of water is extracted daily, the Padma will hardly be able to flow as far as Pabna. And what about the water needed for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant? How many millions of litres per day will that require? Where are those figures?

Why should Khulna city sit back and watch? It, too, is claiming a share of the Padma’s distributary rivers. Water from the Madhumati River is being diverted to Khulna. At present, nearly 53 per cent of Khulna city’s demand for safe drinking water is being met by the Madhumati alone.

Under this project, water from the Madhumati, located 71 km away, is diverted by pipe to the Samantasen area of Khulna, where it is treated. Alongside a water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 110 million litres, a reservoir with a storage capacity of 775,000 cubic metres has been built to store untreated water. This allows for a three-month supply of water for the city’s residents. Since June 2019, the project has been operating at full capacity, while the Madhumati is dying.

Back in 2000–01, efforts began in the Manikhar area to extract, treat, and supply water from the Madhumati River to meet the needs of Gopalganj town. This was the first water treatment plant in the area. A second was established there in 2019–2020.

We must not forget that aside from the Padma’s tributaries, the Gorai, Kumar, and Madhumati, there is no other route for fresh water to reach the Sundarbans. Without an adequate supply of fresh water, how will the Sundarbans survive?

Can Padma not be saved?
The growing tendency to extract water from the Padma to meet urban demands must be controlled. The Padma’s right to meet the sea cannot be obstructed.

Another long-story narrated as a hope for reviving the Padma goes back to the Pakistan era: the “Ganges/Padma Barrage.” Since 1961, efforts have been underway to implement this project. In 1970, the president at the time, Yahya Khan, allocated 5 crore rupees for preliminary work on the Ganges Barrage. Construction began about two and a half miles downstream from the Hardinge Bridge.

However, after the war, the Ganges Barrage Circle was dismantled in 1974. In 1980, to overcome the devastating effects of Farakka, General Zia laid the foundation stone for this project in Talbaria, Kushtia.

Following several feasibility studies, the site for the Ganges Barrage was later recommended to be in Pabna’s Pakshey. The recommendations stated that, once implemented, the Ganges Barrage project would restore navigability to 16 rivers including the Gorai, push back salinity intrusion in the region, and help reestablish the ecological balance that had been disrupted by Farakka.

The estimated length of the barrage is 2.1 km. It is to stretch from Satbaria in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna to Habaspur in Pangsa upazila of Rajbari district on the river’s right bank, that is, the opposite bank.

According to the feasibility report, the barrage will establish a direct road link between the southwestern region of the country and other parts. A four-lane road bridge built on the deck of the barrage, along with a 7 km approach road on the right bank, will connect the western and southwestern regions to the Rajbari-Kushtia highway through an 8.5 km link road.

The barrage will be modeled after the Teesta Barrage built in Dalia, Nilphamari. Upstream from the barrage, a vast reservoir will stretch 165 km to Panka in Chapainawabganj. This reservoir will have a water-holding capacity of 2,900 million cubic meters. From this volume, 2,000 million cubic meters of water will be supplied during the dry season through the barrage.

Site of the centre to extract water from Padma at Godagari, Rajshahi Courtersy: Author

But this will require Herculean efforts and resources. Without making the effort to procure those resources, can the Padma really be saved simply through nostalgic recollections of the Farakka marches?

Before any citizen draws even one litre of water from the Padma, they must think of the downstream districts. They must think of the Sundarbans. And they must think of the Padma’s right to meet the sea.
If we don’t understand that killing a river means killing civilization, then how can we call ourselves civilized?

* Gawher Nayeem Wahra is a researcher​

 

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Won’t accept any implementation delay: Nahid

National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam yesterday said his party would not accept any delay or political maneuver over implementing the Teesta master plan.

www.thedailystar.net

Teesta master plan
Won’t accept any implementation delay: Nahid

National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam yesterday said his party would not accept any delay or political maneuver over implementing the Teesta master plan.

The NCP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally in front of Ghoshpara Liberation War Memorial in Kurigram town.

Nahid also stressed that the master plan must be realistic, inclusive, and tailored to meet the needs of Kurigram's vulnerable communities.

"Kurigram stands for the struggles of landless char dwellers, the sorrow of border killings, and the unfulfilled promises of water-sharing treaties," he said.

The district also represents both historical defiance and deprivation, from Taramon Bibi's fight to the July uprising, he said.

"If we want a just and inclusive Bangladesh, we must uphold the dignity of Kurigram," Nahid said.

He also said, "Even though the fascist regime has collapsed, the fascist structure remains intact. Mafia control, land-grabbing, and political terrorism continue. NCP aims to dismantle this old order and build a fair, equitable Bangladesh."

Around 12:30pm, the NCP's "Desh Gorte July Podojatra" (July March to Build the Nation) entered Kurigram's Rajarhat upazila from Rangpur. After a stop at Trimohoni Bazar, the march reached Ghoshpara around 2:00pm, where thousands of party activists joined a brief rally.

Addressing another rally at Rajarhat, Nahid announced that the NCP would unveil its manifesto for the reconstruction of Bangladesh at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on August 3.

"We vow to resist those who are conspiring to derail the people's uprising," he said.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator (south) of NCP, addressed the police and said, "Dear brothers in the police force, do not become BNP's police. The Awami League government once tried to turn the police into its own, and you saw the consequences of that. We urge you not to align with any political party. Instead, stand for Bangladesh."

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, its chief coordinator (north) Sarjis Alam, joint chief coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud and member secretary Akhtar Hossain, among others, addressed the rally.​

 

[Saif]

Teesta Master Plan implementation to begin in 2026: Rizwana

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan project will begin in 2026

en.prothomalo.com

Teesta Master Plan implementation to begin in 2026: Rizwana

BSS Rangpur
Published: 15 Jul 2025, 20: 51

Adviser for environment, forest and climate change Syeda Rizwana Hasan BSS

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan project will begin in 2026.

"The present interim government is working sincerely to implement the Teesta Master Plan. We are hopeful that it will be possible to start the project by 2026," she said.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters after visiting the Teesta river erosion-affected areas in Panjarbhanga area of Kawnia upazila of Rangpur amidst inclement weather on Tuesday afternoon.

She said, "Teesta Master Plan is a large and long-term project. The previous government took the initiative to implement the plan without giving importance to the opinions of the people living on the banks of the river."

"However, the present government is working on implementing the Teesta Master Plan in consultation with the people of Teesta river banks. We are hopeful that the project implementation work will start by 2026," the adviser added.

The Teesta Master Plan is being worked on keeping in mind that the people of the Teesta river banks will not be victims of erosion in the future. At the same time, the interim government is working to prevent river erosion effectively, she continued.

Director General (DG) Water Development Board Engineer Md Enayet Ullah, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Mobashsherul Islam, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Islam, Chief Engineer of WDB's Rangpur Zone Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman and other officials were present at that time.​

 

[Saif]

Teesta inundates char houses, farmland after India opens Gajoldoba barrage

Nearly 3,000 houses in chars of the Teesta River have been inundated along with 10,000 hectares of land on Sunday after India opened 32 floodgates at the Gajoldoba barrage in West Bengal in the wake of extremely heavy rainfall, reports the Bangladesh Water Development Board...

www.newagebd.net

Teesta inundates char houses, farmland after India opens Gajoldoba barrage
The river likely to cross danger limit by Monday
Rezaul Karim Manik . Lalmonirhat 20 July, 2025, 22:36

Nearly 3,000 houses in chars of the Teesta River have been inundated along with 10,000 hectares of land on Sunday after India opened 32 floodgates at the Gajoldoba barrage in West Bengal in the wake of extremely heavy rainfall, reports the Bangladesh Water Development Board.

After leaping half a metre since Saturday, the Teesta flowed just 5 centimetres below the danger mark at 3:00pm on Sunday, prompting the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre in Bangladesh to issue a flash flood warning that might hit the river’s basin area, particularly the districts of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Kurigram by afternoon today.

‘The rise in the river’s water level is caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and India opening floodgates at the Gajoldoba barrage,’ said Sunil Kumar Roy, executive engineer at the BWDB Lalmonirhat district office.

Sunil said that all the 54 floodgates of Gajoldoba barrage were released on Saturday afternoon.

India arbitrarily releasing water from Gajoldoba, often without any warning, has become a regular affair during monsoon. The Teesta recently made it to national newspapers with its dry bed lying bare.

The sudden release of water from the upstream prompted authorities to open all the 44 floodgates at the Teesta Barrage in Bangladesh.

Low-lying areas affected by the rise in the Teesta include areas Goddimari union of Hatibandha upazila and Gobardhan area and Mahishkhocha union under Aditmari upazila, both under Lalmonirhat district.

Moshiar Rahman, a resident of Harinchwra in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said on Sunday that the Teesta ran low even on the previous day.

‘But now the crop farms have gone under water and many people are preparing to leave home,’ he said.

The FFWC noted on Sunday afternoon that heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred in the past 24 hours in Rangpur and Sylhet divisions and over vast swaths of land in West Bengal of India and in its north-eastern states.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is predicted over the same region over the next three days, the FFWC bulletin said.

The Teesta basin in the Indian upstream witnessed widespread rain over the last few days under the influence of a depression.

In the 24 hours until 8:30am on Sunday, most areas in the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim experienced heavy to extremely heavy rainfall with the highest 240mm of rainfall recorded in Alipurduar, reported the India Meteorological Department.

In the 24 hours until 6:00pm on Sunday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said that the country’s highest rainfall of 139mm was recorded in Sylhet, followed by 110mm of rainfall recorded in Rajarhat of Kurigram, and 66mm of rainfall recorded in Rangpur.​

Bangladesh’s highest maximum day temperature of 35C was recorded in Satkhira and Koyra in Khulna.

 

[Saif]

Feni faces flash flood again as India opens barrage

Thousands of people living along the Muhuri basin in Feni district witnessed something strange waking up on Monday morning when the trans-boundary river swelled by nearly 11 feet in just three hours by 9:00am...

www.newagebd.net

Feni faces flash flood again as India opens barrage
Nazmul Haque Shamim . Feni 22 July, 2025, 00:13

A corrugated iron-roofed house is washed away by flash flood in Feni’s Muhuri basin Monday morning. Thousands of residents are caught off guard as the trans-boundary river swell nearly 11 feet in just three hours despite no prior flood forecast. | New Age photo

Thousands of people living along the Muhuri basin in Feni district witnessed something strange waking up on Monday morning when the trans-boundary river swelled by nearly 11 feet in just three hours by 9:00am.

Bangladesh’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, in its special bulletin issued at 8:25pm on Sunday with the warning of a flash flood along Teesta basin in northern districts did not had any warning against the disaster impending on the south-eastern Bangladesh.

It rained moderate to heavy in the river’s catchment spreading between India’s Tripura and Bangladesh in the preceding 24 hours before the river started rising, not enough to cause such a massive change in its water level overnight.

‘There was not enough rain to have unleashed such a large volume of water,’ said Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer at the FFWC.

Forecasters at the FFWC could only watch as the Muhuri swelled another 119cm between 9:00am and 3:00pm on Monday, flowing just 56cm below the danger level, setting off a flash flood warning for today.

Mostofa Kamal Palash, an independent weather forecaster based in Canada, pointed out as a source of the water India arbitrarily opening its Kalashi barrage.

The reason could be, he wrote on a Facebook post, India emptying the barrage’s storage to tackle the next wet spell likely in just three days.

‘The Joint Rivers Commission, Bangladesh can look into the matter,’ Palash wrote.

The sudden release of water was the last thing Bangladesh expected with many embankments in Parshuram and Fulgazi barely standing with holes dug in them in the latest spell of flash flood early this month. Huge volumes of water gushed through the breaches to engulf low lying areas, including farmland.

‘We did not have a respite for even 10 days. Yet another flash flood hits us,’ said Sajeda Akter, a resident of Sreepur of Fulgazi.

Originating in the southern part of Gomati district in Tripura of India, the Muhuri River, with contribution from tributaries in the Shahebmura hill, flows west to enter Bangladesh through Parshuram. The river merges with the Feni River flowing 35km downstream. The Muhuri and Feni rivers have a combined catchment area of 2,413 square kilometres, which makes them two of the smallest rivers.

Sudden releases of massive volumes of water on the narrow catchment of the Muhuri could mean serious devastation downstream.

India opening its barrages built on many transboundary rivers has been the bone of contention for decades. India almost routinely opens the Gajoldoba barrage without warning Bangladesh whenever the upper riparian nation chooses to do so.

The Teesta rapidly swelled on Sunday after India opened floodgates at the Gajoldoba barrage on Saturday afternoon.

The FFWC forecasters said that they did not have any information shared by India on the Kalashi barrage, which is about 50km upstream from the Indian border with Bangladesh.

Without having information of rain in the catchment of the Muhuri and its water level data, predicting flash flood events is an almost impossible task, the forecasters said.

The FFWC had rainfall info on only one station at Belonia in the river’s basin from India. Belonia received 41.8mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 9:00am on Monday.

Parshuram in Bangladesh, on the other hand, experienced 60.5 mm of rain over the same reporting cycle, the FFWC said.

The FFWC warned that the Feni district was approaching yet another flash flood with a low pressure likely to form over the Bay of Bengal on July 24, potentially bringing up to 350mm of rain over three days in Chattogram and its adjacent areas in upstream Tripura.

Intermittent rainfall caused waterlogging and inundation in Tripura since the first week of July.

Feni suffered a flash flood in the second week of the month when the Muhuri rose about 20 feet above its danger mark in the 24 hours until 9:00am on July 9.

But the early July event occurred amidst record rain. In the 24 hours until 6:00pm on July 9, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded 399mm rain in Feni, the second highest volume of rain the weather station recorded ever since it was established in 1973.

Between July 7 and 9, Feni recorded 584mm rainfall, 80 per cent of the average normal rain for the entire month.

In the 24 hours until 9:00am on Monday, the Teesta swelled by up to 29cm, the FFWC said, flowing 21cm below the danger mark at Kaunia in Rangpur.​

 

[Saif]

India’s arbitrary decision on cross-border river unacceptable

THOUSANDS of people living in the Muhuri basin in Feni recovering from socio-economic losses of the flash flood earlier in July are now faced with similar uncertainty again as the transboundary river swelled by 11 feet in three hours with no warning on June 20. It rained moderately to heavily on...

www.newagebd.net

India’s arbitrary decision on cross-border river unacceptable
24 July, 2025, 00:00

THOUSANDS of people living in the Muhuri basin in Feni recovering from socio-economic losses of the flash flood earlier in July are now faced with similar uncertainty again as the transboundary river swelled by 11 feet in three hours with no warning on June 20. It rained moderately to heavily on the catchment area spreading between India’s Tripura and Bangladesh in the preceding 24 hours before the river started rising, which is not enough to cause such an overnight change in river height. The Bangladesh Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned of a flash flood in the Teesta basin in the north but made no mention of the impending disaster in the south-east. Meanwhile, independent weather forecasters point out that India was clearing water from the barrage storage to tackle the impending wet spell and arbitrarily opened the Kalashi barrage. The government should immediately take up the issue with the Joint River Commission and other diplomatic channels.

India opening its barrages built on many transboundary rivers has been the bone of contention for decades. India almost routinely opens the Gajaldoba barrage without warning. The flood forecasting authorities say that they had no information shared by India on the Kalashi barrage, which is about 50km upstream the border. Without having information on rain in the catchment of the Muhuri and its water level data, forecasting flash flood is an almost impossible task. Another flash flood is approaching Feni, with a low likely to form over the Bay of Bengal on July 24, potentially bringing up to 350 millimetres of rain over three days in Chattogram and adjacent areas in upstream Tripura. An unequal access to water in transboundary rivers has also caused the death of many rivers in the north. In the name of sharing, India holds water during the dry season that severely affects farming in the north and opens the gates during the monsoon season to manage flood water in West Bengal. In March, the Joint River Commission agreed on a collaborative approach to address important issues, including information exchange on flood forecasting and water sharing. The flash flood situation in Feni suggests that such promises remain rhetorical as India continues to make arbitrary decisions on river-water sharing.

The government should, therefore, immediately and strongly raise its concern with India that its arbitrary decisions are not only a deviation from the river water sharing decisions but also a violation of international practice and protocols on transboundary river management. The government should also ensure that emergency relief and shelter support are readily available for the affected people in Feni.​