Take steps against India’s river linking project: BNP

BNP today expressed concerns over India's fresh move to implement the controversial river linking project and urged the government to take strong initiatives against the move.

"Some newspapers of that country [India], quoting the Indian Water Resources minister, reported on July 13 that they are going to start the river linking project by setting up dams in trans-boundary rivers. Though, it is a personal issue of India, Bangladesh's rivers will be affected by the project," said BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press conference.

In the press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, Ripon, also BNP’s foreign affairs secretary, said if not stopped, the river-linking project will diminish the water flow of some rivers in Bangladesh.

Indian Water Resources Minister Sanwar Lal Jat said his ministry would soon take up the planning of a very important link, Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga, in consultation with the governments of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.

“This link project will not only provide large irrigation and water supply benefits to Assam, West Bengal and Bihar but will also make available large quantum of water for transfer subsequently to southern states,” the minister said in an official statement.

The governments in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar will soon be approached for their consent, Jat added.

Ripon said it is the duty of the Bangladesh government to ensure sufficient water in its river. The government should put pressure upon the Indian government to for the water, he said.

He also vowed to give any kind of support to the government in every national issue such as the river linking project.