'Form regional commission under UN to solve river issue'

Taking such an initiative without any discussion with Bangladesh is a violation of international laws on the part of India, as the project will have an impact on the country, they said.

They also called for forming a regional water management commission for the South Asian countries under the supervision of the United Nations so that no country can withdraw water from transboundary rivers unilaterally.

The two-day conference on 'Upstream Water Diversion: Disaster for Bangladesh' began at the Institution of Engineers auditorium in the city yesterday, organised by the International Farakka Committee (IFC), a US-based environmental organisation formed by the expatriate Bangladeshis in 1993.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan attended the inaugural session as the chief guest while State Minister for Water Resources Goutam Chakraborty was present as special guest.

Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak MP, Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) President Khalequzzaman and Bangladesh Sammyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua were also present.

LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said the existence of the country would be endangered if it does not receive adequate water from the upstream.

The river water problem of Bangladesh has been created in a planned way and India is now planning to build dams on 35 rivers, he said.

Despite all these issues which went against Bangladesh, India is our friendly neighbour, the minister said, adding that the problems have to be resolved through dialogue.

Abdur Razzak MP said the national unity is a must to resolve the national problem. This unity should be among people, not at the personal level or leader level, he added.

State Minister Goutam Chakraborty said the desertification of the country must be prevented. "If India implements the project, it would be a violation of international law and we have to realise our rights through dialogue and mobilising support of the international community."

Khalequzzaman said that according to Bangladesh Water Development Board, 25 rivers will disappear soon.

Now there are 230 rivers in name only while only 60 or 65 rivers continue to flow during the winter, he added.

Defying international laws and without having any discussion with Bangladesh, India has already opened 16 big dams at the upstream and construction of eight others are underway, Khalequzzaman said, adding that India has also identified 64 points in its northeastern region for the construction of dams.

The Farakka dam, which was built in 1974, has led to the fall in groundwater level, increase in salinity in southern districts and desertification of 18 southern districts, severely affecting four crore people, he said.

Rashed Khan Menon said the river inter-linking project would have a disastrous impact not only on Bangladesh but also on India.

Political will and unity is a must to tackle the problem, he added.

Prof Jasim Uddin Ahmad, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, gave a presentation on the upstream water diversion.

Workers Party leader Haider Akbar Khan Rono, IFC chairman Atiqur R K Eusufzai, Secretary General Sayed Tipu Sultan and senior vice-chairman Mohammad Saleh also spoke at the conference.