Torch rallies across northern Bangladesh demand immediate implementation of Teesta Master Plan

Published : Friday, 17 October, 2025 at 1:21 AM Count : 479

Photo: UNB

Northern Bangladesh witnessed a wave of torch rallies on Thursday evening as thousands gathered across five districts of the Rangpur division, demanding the immediate implementation of the long-awaited Teesta River Master Plan.

The torchlight demonstrations, held under the banner of the ongoing movement “Jaago Bahe Teesta Bachai” (Rise to Save Teesta), took place simultaneously at 11 points in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Gaibandha.

BNP leader Asadul Habib Dulu, the chief coordinator of the movement, formally inaugurated the events. He said that people from all walks of life joined the programme in unprecedented numbers, signaling a mass awakening over the Teesta’s fate.

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

He warned that if the government does not begin implementing the Teesta Master Plan by November, larger political movements would be launched.

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

According to movement sources, in recent months, river erosion and sandbar formation along the 130-kilometer stretch of the Teesta have displaced many people. Farmlands and homesteads have been washed away, while ecological degradation continues to accelerate—an outcome they blame on government inaction and negligence.

Thursday’s rallies echoed slogans such as “Jaago Bahe Teesta Bachai” and “We Demand Teesta’s Fair Share”, as student groups, youth activists, political parties, and civil society members joined forces in solidarity.

Earlier, the movement organized rallies, human chains, long marches, and memorandum submissions in Lalmonirhat to press their demands.