Today, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas inaugurated the 'Teesta Master Plan Implementation Walkathon' in Rangpur as the chief guest. Photo: BSS

 
RANGPUR, May 4, 2025 (BSS) – BNP Standing Committee member and former minister Mirza Abbas has said that the world’s only country India has been using water as a weapon of war and death.
 
“Water can never be a weapon of death...Water can never be a weapon of war,” he said while inaugurating ‘the Teesta Master Plan Implementation Walkathon’ at the city’s Shapla Chattar (Square) as the chief guest on Monday afternoon.
 
The Teesta River Protection Movement organised the event demanding implementation of the Teesta Master Plan and ensuring fair share of the Teesta river water.
 
With Teesta River Protection Movement Chief Coordinator and BNP Organizing Secretary (Rangpur division) Principal Asadul Habib Dulu in the chair, the function was also addressed by BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu as a special guest.
 
In his speech, Mirza Abbas said, “We don’t want anything other than water from India. We don’t want tips, we don’t want alms. We want what is due. We have to get what is due if not today, then tomorrow. We are just waiting for the government.” 
 
The last regime that was in power a few months ago did not do these calculations with India out of a desire to remain in power. 
 
He said, “We have a lot of things. We have many ports for India like the Mongla port and the Chittagong port. We will calculate these. The time for calculation has come.”
 
“We have to be given water from the river Teesta. We want water from the Farakka (Ganges). We have to get it. Wherever water is needed, water must be given there,” he said. 
 
Mirza Abbas said, “We would have got our fair share of water long ago, if a terrorist regime like Hasina had not come. They (Hasina) could not say anything to India about this water as they just wanted to remain in power.”
 
Lauding the role of BNP leader Principal Asadul Habib Dulu Dulu for organizing the movement, Mirza Abbas said, “Dulu is a protester of North Bengal, a child of creativity. So Dulu, you should be careful, because India can never tolerate such a protester.” 
 
“Earlier, our Elias Ali became a victim of enforced disappearance only for protesting the damming of the Surma River,” he said.
 
“I pledge to stay with this movement until the Teesta River Protection Movement is successful through implementation of the Teesta Master Plan to save crores of people from the woes of erosion and floods of the Teesta,” he said. 
 
Rangpur Metropolitan BNP Convener Shamsuzzaman Samu, District BNP Convener Md Saiful Islam, its Member-Secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, former district BNP President Emdadul Haque Bharsha and other leaders addressed the function.
 
Later, starting from Shapla Chattar (Square) in Rangpur city, the walkathon marched to the Rangpur Zilla School ground and ended there just before the evening. 
 
Meanwhile, people from all walks of life irrespective of caste, creed, religion and professions started coming to Rangpur city from different districts and upazilas surrounding the Teesta River after 1:00 pm to participate in the walkathon. 
 
As time went on, presence of people also increased. At one point, the Shapla Chattar filled with slogans of "Jago Bahe---Teesta Bachai" (Wake up, save Teesta).
 
During this time, thousands of people participating in the Teesta River Protection Movement walkathon crowded the main roads of the city, resulting to all roads being closed due to traffic.
 
The spontaneous participation of about 100,000 people including students, farmers, working people, environmental organizations and ordinary citizens from across the Teesta turned the walkathon into a mass movement.
 
The participants carried placards and banners with various slogans of the Teesta River Protection Movement.
 
Earlier, about 1.5 million people participated in the 48-hour continuous programs of the Teesta River Protection Movement held in the Teesta region on February 17 and 18, demanding a fair share of the Teesta water and immediate implementation of the Teesta Master Plan. 
 
Under the slogan 'Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachai', the program was organized under the banner of the Teesta River Protection Movement simultaneously by pitching tents at 10 points along the Teesta river course in five districts of greater Rangpur. 
 
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the program by expressing solidarity with the movement. 
 
BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined all the points virtually from London at the closing ceremony turning the initiative into a mass movement.