Students of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur have staged a protest demanding fair water rights from international rivers shared with India.
They also protested against the sudden floods caused by the intentional release of water from the Dumbur and Gajoldoba dams. The students called on the Bangladesh government to consider constructing dams in Bangladesh, if necessary, to counter Indian aggression.
As per their previously announced program, the students began gathering in front of the university’s main gate at 12 PM on Thursday (August 22). They then marched together in a protest rally around the main road.
The rally culminated in front of the university’s administrative building, where several participating students delivered speeches. During the protest, the students stated, “The release of water by India is not in accordance with international dam regulations. It is never acceptable to suddenly open a dam in the middle of the night.
India did not issue a warning to the downstream country before releasing the water. The agreements previously implemented with India are better described as unfair treaties rather than agreements.
Bangladesh is entitled to receive 27,000 cusecs of water from the Farakka Barrage each year, but India is providing only 200 cusecs. The people of Bangladesh must stand up against such injustices.”
Expressing solidarity with the protesting students, Kazi Md. Yusuf, a faculty member of the Marketing Department, stated, “India cannot treat Bangladesh as it does with countries like the Maldives. The current state of our country is due to the flattery and weak foreign policy of the past fifteen years of governance.
There are many downstream countries in the world, and no upstream country can treat a downstream country with such injustice. We strongly condemn this.”
The protest concluded with the announcement of further programs for the following day in front of the administrative building.
