Bangladesh should take concrete steps in ensuring its fair share of water of 54 rivers, including the Teesta River, through negotiations with India, a discussion was told on Saturday.
The international rivers are shared mostly by India and Bangladesh.
India has over the years constructed many dams and barrages on its side of the rivers reducing their flows into Bangladesh.
The meeting was organized jointly by Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) at Engineers Institution Bangladesh (IEB).
CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim presided over it.
Speakers at the meeting underscored the need for holding bilateral discussion with India, to resolve water dispute between the two neighbours.
They said if necessary Dhaka should take issue to the international forums to get its far share on the basis of theory of water science, international policy and justice.
BSD general secretary Khalequzzaman said CPB and BSD plan to publish a white paper on the water issue jointly with other left political parties.
Jahangirnagar University teacher and economist Anu Muhammad said the left political parties have to work together for getting international support on the water issue.
He emphasized on launching strong movement in this regard involving the neighboring countries.
Water expert Mohammad Enamul Haque said the government should take initiatives to compel the Indian government to resolve the issue with Bangladesh.
Mujahidul Islam Selim said that it would not be possible to resolve the issue without a united movement.
Water expert SI Khan urged the political parties to join ranks and create pressures on the Indian government on the water issue.
Among others, Columnist Abu Syeed Khan, journalist Mustosfa Kamal Muzumder, BAPA general secretary Abdul Matin, president of Biploby Workers Party Saiful Huq, coordinator of GonoshonghotiZonayed Saki and president of united communist league Mosharraf Hossain Nann spoke at the meeting.
Source: UNBConnect
