EB students want Teesta master plan to start by November

Students of Islamic University (EB) held a torchlight procession demanding the implementation of the Teesta master plan. They demanded that the implementation of the master plan be started by November before the next national elections. EB students and others from eight district student welfare associations of Rangpur division participated in the procession.

The torchlight procession started from Zia Mor on the campus at around 8 pm on Friday (October 17) and ended at the main gate. Later, a short rally was held there. The presidents, general secretaries and others of the student welfare associations of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari and Dinajpur districts participated in it.

In the procession, the students raised slogans like 'Jago Bahe, Konte Sabay', 'North Bengal's cry, no more no more', 'North Bengal floats, interim laughs', 'India if you are a friend, give a fair share of water', 'Dealing with the agreement, no more no more', 'With the Teesta banks, the Ibians are there' etc.

Speakers at the gathering said, "The movement to protect the Teesta river is not a one-day or one-person movement, it is a long-term movement related to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people on the Teesta banks. North Bengal has been deprived repeatedly due to the government's negligence, and the people of Teesta banks including Rangpur are still victims of discrimination.
Every year, many families in North Bengal are left destitute due to floods. Their crops and agricultural land are washed away in the river. But so far, no permanent solution has been found. The only solution is to implement the Teesta Master Plan. Therefore, our appeal to the interim government is to Implement the Teesta Master Plan. The new generation is ready to shed blood to achieve the rights of the Teesta people.”

Former EB coordinator SM Sweet said, “The movement to protect the Teesta River is not a one-day or one-person struggle, it has been a struggle to protect the livelihood, hopes and rights of millions of people living on the banks of the Teesta for almost 45 years. We are expressing this protest by holding a torchlight procession from the university.”

Highlighting the neglect of North Bengal, he said, “This region has been neglected repeatedly; the result is today’s difference in daily life and income. The people of the Teesta people are not getting their fair share despite playing an important role in the food supply of the whole of Bengal, this cannot be tolerated.”

He further said, "If the Teesta mega project does not start in November, we will start a strong movement from the Islamic University. We will unite all the comrades, including the student community, and force the government to accept their just demands. If necessary, thousands of brave people are ready to sacrifice themselves for the Teesta, we are also by their side."