Will do whatever necessary to get fair share of 54 transboundary rivers: Salehuddin
He noted that the water problem is bigger than the oil problem
A legally binding agreement with a guarantee clause is necessary to ensure a fair distribution of joint river water, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said today (24 November).
"A strong position based on facts must be taken," he said while addressing a seminar on upstream withdrawal of river water titled "Economic disaster for Bangladesh".
At the event, he said, "We must be given a fair share 54 rivers. We will do whatever is necessary to realise this."
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Mentioning that there is arbitrariness in the region regarding water, the adviser said the recent severe floods in Feni and Cumilla were caused by the release of excess water from the Dambur reservoir built on the Gumti River in Tripura without warning in time.
But, by withdrawing water at upstream during the dry season, a serious environmental disaster is created in the lower basin country of Bangladesh, he added.
Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the water problem is bigger than the oil problem.
"This could lead to a third world war. Due to our location in the lower basin, we are not getting our fair share of water in Bangladesh," he added.
He said many people say that a political decision is needed. "There is political division in Southeast Asia, but they are maintaining an agreement acceptable to all on the Mekong River."
Again, despite many tensions between Pakistan and India, they are maintaining the agreement on the Indus, he said.
In Europe, the countries of the Danube River Basin are using it peacefully, the finance advisor said, adding, "We want to get a fair solution to the water problem. For that, international assistance is needed. We have to solve it together."
He observed that one sad thing is that the bottom of the Hardinge Bridge is dry and people go to see it. "This miserable environment cannot be fixed without just share of water."
Mentioning that the ideal of the oppressed people's leader Maulana Bhashani is our ideal of equality, Salehuddin said the people of Bangladesh will always draw inspiration from the path of struggle he has shown to protect water and the environment.
International Farakka Committee Chairman Syed Tipu Sultan recalled the August uprising and drew everyone's attention to achieve its goals.
