Take common stance against India's river inter-linking plan

"We have repeatedly requested India to resolve the crisis politically, but they did not respond," the State Minister said while addressing a seminar here on Monday, organised in observance of Farakka Day marking the 'long march' towards Farakka, led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Klhan Bhashahi.

"We are ready to hold talks with India any time also on sharing waters of common rivers", he said.

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Water sharing and India's planned river inter-linking project are vital national issues for Bangladesh and these should be kept above party politics, he said.

India is unilaterally obstructing flow of almost all the rivers by constructing dams or spars in the upstream, creating water crisis in dry season and floods in the monsoon, affecting the ecology and environment. Many regions in Bangladesh, particularly the northern and north-western districts, are showing signs of desertification, he said.

Now they have planned a river inter-linking project, which will create a havoc for Bangladesh.

Other speakers at the discussion meeting said India is showing an apathetic attitude towards Bangladesh's plight, resulting from control of flow of rivers in the upstream.

The discussion meeting held at Tangail Public Library auditorium was presided over by Khandakar Nazim Uddin, president of Maulana Bhasani Foundation.

Vice-chancellor of Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology Dr Mohammad Khalilur Rahman and former secretary of Dhaka University Teachers Association Prof Ferdous Hossain attended the function as special guests.

It was addressed by among others, Syed Infarrul Bari, Bulbul Khan Mahbub, Hamidul Haque Mohan, Prof Enamul Karim Shaheed, Prof Mahmud Kamal, Prof Yousuf Ali and Harunur Rashid.