Thousands of people joined torchlight processions across northern Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, calling for the immediate implementation of the long-awaited Teesta River Master Plan to save the region’s lifeline from environmental collapse and economic decline.

Organised under the banner of the ongoing movement “Jaago Bahe Teesta Bachai” (Rise to Save Teesta), the coordinated rallies took place simultaneously at 11 locations across five districts — Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Gaibandha.

BNP leader Asadul Habib Dulu, who serves as the chief coordinator of the movement, inaugurated the events and said the massive turnout reflected a growing public awakening over the Teesta’s dire condition.

“The Teesta is not just a river of the north; it is the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy,” Dulu said in his address. “This is no longer a local issue — it is a national crisis.”

Dulu warned that if the government fails to begin implementing the Teesta Master Plan by November, the movement would intensify.

“We will bring Rangpur Division to a standstill if our demands are ignored,” he declared.

Movement organisers said the Teesta’s water flow has declined sharply due to upstream diversion and prolonged mismanagement, worsening erosion and sandbar formation along the 130-kilometre stretch of the river. Over the past few months, hundreds of families have reportedly been displaced as farmland and homes have washed away, leaving many struggling to survive.

Participants from diverse backgrounds — including students, farmers, political activists, and civil society members — joined the rallies carrying torches and banners bearing slogans such as “Jaago Bahe Teesta Bachai” and “We Demand Teesta’s Fair Share.”

Over recent months, activists have held human chains, long marches, and rallies in Lalmonirhat and surrounding areas to press for immediate action on the project, which aims to regulate water flow, curb river erosion, and boost agricultural productivity in the country’s northern region.

BOB Post