'Raise India's river-linking issue in world forums'

Dams like Farakka have already affected the ecology and economy of Bangladesh. If the river inter-linking project is implemented, a desertification process will start in the country, they said at the seminar on 'Farakka, River Inter-linking and Bangladesh', held at Sunderganj upazila auditorium.

They said India, being a co-riparian country, can not construct any dam on any common river without consulting Bangladesh.

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Prof Dr Jasimiuddin Ahmed, former Vice Chancellor of Jahangir Naga University was the chief guest at the seminar, held on Thursday. It was organised by the International Farakka Committee.

The speakers included Prof Amin Munshi, former Vice Principal of Carmichael College; former UN Environment Specialist and Senior Vice President of International Farakka Committee Dr Saidul Islam Khan; Syed Erfanul Bari, member secretary, Mowlana Bhasani Trust; Kazi Mostafa Kamal, member secretary, International Farakka Committee; its president Aminul Islam Golap, its Gaibandha district unit leader Akhteruzzaman Suja; Moffakharul Islam Basunia and Mahbuber Rahman Mukta.

They said Bangladesh receives 93 percent of its water from rivers flowing from India and only seven percent from rainfall.

The country will face a disastrous situation if the 93 per cent of water is withdrawn after the river inter-linking project is implemented, they said.

Besides the Farakka, Indian government erected another barrage across Teesta river at Gajoldoba, 65 kilometre upstream of Teesta barrage project at Dalia in Bangladesh and continued to withdraw water for their drought prone areas, they said.

Bangladesh had a plan to irrigate 13 lakh 35 thousand acres of land in 35 Upazilas of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibnahda, Joypurhat and Bogra. But due to the withdrawal at Gajodouba crops are drying now.