Lalmonirhat Correspondent:

The water levels of the Teesta river have risen by 800 cusecs in just one day, following an increase in water flow from upstream of the India.

This surge in water levels at the Teesta Barrage has led to the opening of six gates, out of the 44 gates, at the barrage, causing water to flow into the chars downstream, which have risen on the river bed, said Amitav Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board in Nilphamari.

“The water flow at the Teesta Barrage point was 2,800 cusecs by 4:00pm on Saturday. By 9:00am this morning, the water level had increased to 3,600 cusecs,” he added.

Nazmul Haque, a 60-year-old farmer from Gaddimari Char in Hatibandha upazila, downstream of the Teesta Barrage, said, “The Teesta river had dried up due to lack of water, and the riverbed had turned into a dead canal. We couldn’t cultivate crops, but now with the water rise, the situation has changed.”

“India may have released water in response to ongoing protests demanding a fair share of water from the Teesta river. If India releases water, we get water in the Teesta. If they hold it back, the river dries up completely,” he added.

Amalesh Chandra Roy, deputy extension officer of the Rangpur Water Development Board, mentioned that the increased water levels help supply irrigation water to around 55,000 hectares of Boro land in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, and Bogura districts.

He said, “If India provides water, we receive it from the Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project.”

As a response to the ongoing water-sharing dispute, Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, chief coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee and President of the Lalmonirhat district BNP, announced a sit-in protest scheduled for February 17 and 18.

This demonstration will take place on the Teesta shoals in several districts including Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, and Rangpur, where farmers and local residents will demand a fair share of water from the Teesta river and the full implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.

“We are ready for a continuous sit-in action plan to demand our fair share of Teesta water,” Asadul added.