Teesta River Management Project for Bangladesh: Why India Protest!

 

File Phot: Tista River   

One of the topics discussed on social media was that the proposed Teesta river water resources management project was not being submitted to the ECNEC for approval in the face of Indian objections, despite its final preparation. About three years ago, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested Chinese President Xi Jinping about the project. China has turned the Huang Ho River, once known as the "Sorrow of China", into a "blessing." In the same vein, the Prime Minister's request was how to modernize the water management of the Teesta River, which is a disaster for the people of the north-western districts of Bangladesh every year, through a multi-faceted project. In response to that request, the project proposal was handed over to Bangladesh by China a few months ago after the feasibility study of the proposed Teesta River project with full Chinese funding was received and implemented. At the same time, China offered to provide a loan to Bangladesh for the implementation of the project.

In the proposed Teesta River project, the depth of the middle river will be increased to 10 meters and the width of the river will be greatly reduced by carrying out massive excavation of 115 km of the river Teesta within the borders of Bangladesh. At the same time, opportunities for cultivation will be created by rescuing land through river management. A 115 km long four lane road will be constructed along the two banks of the river. Irrigation system will be developed in the dry season on the cultivable lands on both the banks of the river by constructing several barrages-cum-roads at suitable places to ensure communication between the two banks of the river as well as by conserving the huge surplus water of the river flowing during monsoon. In addition, extensive industrialization and urbanization facilities will be built along the roads on both the banks of the river.

India believes that China's participation in the project will be dangerous for the security of its northeastern part of the country and is therefore directly pressuring Bangladesh to cancel the project. If China joins the Teesta project, hundreds or thousands of Chinese nationals will be located near the 'chicken neck' in India's Siliguri corridor, which is not acceptable to India. That is why Bangladesh is being asked to withdraw from this project. It is also rumored that India has assured Bangladesh that if Mamata Banerjee is ousted from power in the March-April elections in West Bengal, India will no longer be a hindrance to the signing of the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement, which has been stalled since 2011.

The question that must be answered by the ruling class of our country is, as an independent and sovereign country, can we not independently take up projects in our interest? India is our friend, but there is no chance of bowing to any unjust pressure from India.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswamy claimed at a meeting of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DICAB) in Dhaka last February 15 that "India does not have 'grandfathering' with Bangladesh." Now, if any project in the interest of Bangladesh is dropped due to Indian pressure, what shall we call it? Why would Chinese engineers and technicians engaged in a river management project be a threat to India's state security? The ‘Siliguri Chicken Neck’ is far from the area through which the Teesta River enters Bangladesh from India. And how did the Chinese nationals who will be located in the project area several kilometers from the Bangladesh-India border become a sensitive issue for India?

We recall that the Chinese-funded deep seaport project in Sonadia, Bangladesh, was canceled due to Indian opposition. With the construction of a good alternative deep seaport at Matarbari in Maheshkhali, the construction work of that port is now progressing fast with the funding of Japan.

We see that despite the border dispute, India continues to trade about 100 billion  in foreign trade with China. However, India is opposing Bangladesh on various pretexts when it comes to borrowing from China on easy terms to develop its own economic infrastructure. We know that the loan assistance that India has given to Bangladesh in various projects is so difficult that in reality Bangladesh is not able to use that loan assistance.

The Teesta is a historically whimsical river. Almost every year in the monsoon season, the north-western part of Bangladesh is flooded due to this river. The people of this area, which is relatively dry during the dry season, are also deprived of irrigation facilities due to the scarcity of water in the Teesta River. The Bangladesh part of the Teesta River remains waterless for most of the year after India unilaterally constructed a dam at Ghazaldoba in West Bengal upstream of the Teesta River and completely blocked the Teesta water in the dry season. When the two countries reached the threshold of signing the Teesta water sharing agreement in 2011, the Chief Minister of West Bengal protested and for that the bowing to the objections of her, Dr. Manmohan Singh withdrew from signing the agreement.

India has long suspended the Teesta water sharing agreement. But now that the proposed Teesta project has come to the fore, the Teesta agreement is being assured to be signed. What needs to be considered here is that the Teesta Treaty and the proposed Teesta project are not at all conflicting. With or without the Teesta Treaty, the Teesta project is expected to bring about a landmark change in the lives and livelihoods of the people of the region. If the agreement is reached, the water level of the river may increase a little in the dry season, but opening all the gates of Ghazaldoba Barrage in the rainy season will not solve the floods that the people of this region are facing!

Sustainable water from the proposed project reservoirs can be used in a planned irrigation system to find a sustainable solution to this problem. After discussing various aspects of the project, the people of the area have become more enthusiastic about the project. There have been several human chains and processions in the north-west of the country recently for the immediate implementation of the project. I humbly request the Prime Minister not to delay the approval of the Teesta River project.

 Sources: The Prothom Alo and others

A month of rain in 90 minutes in London, massive flood damage

 The British capital, London, was hit by a torrential downpour in just 90 minutes on Monday evening. The floodwaters also flooded homes, shops and restaurants. The water receded on Tuesday, causing chaos and extensive damage.

 "My property is completely destroyed," said Marianne Gatleson (55), a resident of the basement flat on Parobillo Road, four feet below the water. Everything has to be replaced - it’s a tragedy. I didn’t know it was raining and then I saw the water come and start to freeze. It was a horrible situation. ’He said,‘ A stream of water was hitting outside the front door. Almost everything I have is floating. I lost a lot of my valuables. It cost me thousands, thousands of pounds. ' 

Fearing the ceiling would collapse, the London Fire Brigade received nearly a thousand calls and rescue teams assisted in retrieving the property. Near Notting Hill's famous Portobello Market, the courtyard of the Portobello Star Pub and then the basement were flooded. While cleaning it on Tuesday, a worker named Francis said, ‘The amount of damage done in just one hour is unbelievable. After the epidemic closed everything started to open again. The floods hit him again. ' 

Meanwhile, nearby Italian restaurants CC Tuya and Osseteria Romana, which opened two months ago, were completely flooded. "It's a tragedy," said one worker. The kitchen below is filled with water. Jean-Christophe Paget, owner of the French bakery Mason Putt, said he needed to replace a 50,000-pound stove that was lost in the water. "It was a terrible blow," said Bruno Pires, owner of Gourmet Caf on Portobello Road. The water in the basement was up to my chest. The refrigerators were washed away. ' 

Camilla Marie-Rose, head of digital marketing in West London, wrote on Twitter: "Horrible sight in Maida Valley, many families lost so much in such a short time and so heartbreaking." The cars were all swept away. One is seen leaving his sunken Mercedes and coming out barefoot. Source: Evening Standard.

What are described in the Holy Quran about the viruses!

"Auzubillahi Minash Shayatoanir Razim" (Praying to Allah for help from the exiled Satan) Note that the purpose for which the verse was written on the throne of the throne, the devil wanted to know from Allah - O Lord! Who is the wicked devil from whom your prayers for salvation are written? He said, "Surely you will recognize him. Wait." Two years have passed since the infection with the deadly coronavirus. Already five millions lives have been lost. Everyday increased the eternal death procession. Deep anxiety is also feeling among people around the world. The number of deaths are also increasing in Bangladesh too. Science is still limited to experimenting with the discovery of antidote to the deadly corona. But the holy book of Muslims, the Qur'an, has various viruses. With explicit warnings. Allah Almighty says, "Then I sent against your enemies a whirlwind and an army. An army which you never see with your own eyes (Surah Ahzab 9-9). Then We inflict upon them sickness, want, poverty, and hunger, so that they may humble themselves before Me (Surah Anham 42-42). Yet after this unjust oppression, I did not send any army from the sky against them. I had no need to send. There was only the sound of an explosion, and all of a sudden they all became silent (corpses) (Surah Ya-seen 26-29). In the end I torment this nation with insects or locusts, lice, frogs, blood, flooding etc. (Surah Araf 133-133). Surely Allah is not ashamed to reveal examples or His signs with a mosquito or something more trivial (virus or germ) (Surah Al-Baqara 27-28 /). I afflict the inhabitants with misery, poverty, disease, and scarcity. The purpose is for them to be humble and modest (Surah A'raf 94-94). Only He knows the army of your Lord (how many natures or how many forms or how many types) (Surah Muddaththir 31-31). Tell them that Allah is fully capable of sending punishment or calamity upon you from above or from above and from below your feet (Surah An-Nam 65-65). Then my earthquake swallowed them up. As a result, they were left lying dead in their own homes (Surah A'raf 91-91). Then We sent upon the people of Lot a violent whirlwind of stones (Surah Kamar-34). Surely We destroyed the nations before you when they transgressed (Surah Yunus 13-13). Then I made flood waters and changed the crop lands. I do not punish anyone except the ungrateful and the arrogant (Surah Saba 16-15). Verily, Allah is Able to do all things (ie, Throne, locusts or viruses), and everything is under His control (Surat al-Baqara, 147-148). And I will surely test you with some fear, hunger, loss of life and property and scarcity of fruits. But give glad tidings of Paradise to the patient (Surat al-Baqara, 155-155). And my army is the victor (fulfilling my plan) (Surah As-Saffat 173-183). But when they were given guidance and guidance from Allah, they forgot it. (Rejecting the word of Allah with contempt) After their transgression, I opened for them the door of every good thing, that is, the door of enjoyment, food, equipment, success, progress and development in every sector. When at last they became happy, joyful and proud after receiving the good things I had donated, then suddenly one day I closed the doors of all the good things or the doors of opportunity. And they were disappointed in that situation. Then the roots of this oppressive community were cut off and all praise is due to Allah Almighty, who is the central controller of the universe or the full control of everything (Rabb) (Surah An-Nam 44-45). Surely I am Allah. Therefore abide by my law (Surah Ta'aha 14-14). Do you think that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to collapse with you? Or will you sink into the earth? In such a case that the land (by the command of Allah) will suddenly start trembling or the earthquake will be made to move (Surah Mulk 16-17 / 18). Or do you think that He who is in the heavens will not command you to send down on you a hailstorm or a hailstorm? (If I command you to do so) then you will know or realize what was the guidance of My warning (Surah Mulk 16-17-18). Then I left the followers of Pharaoh in famine for many years and endangered them by birth and loss of crops. (I kept them in a state of crisis and danger) The intention was that they might accept my guidance and believe in me. (Will accept my dominion) (Surah A'raf 130-130) Have the people of the towns become unconcerned about Allah, that He will not punish them while they are asleep? The punishment that will consume them! Or have the people of the town been relieved that I will not punish them while they were having fun (Surah A'raf 96-98). Have you not seen how your Rabb dealt with the Iram tribe of Aad?

Moon to change place after 9 years, the world will see a terrible flood!

The weather is constantly changing around the world. The number and intensity of cyclones have increased. America has recently faced multiple cyclones. Sea level rise and high tide are related to the moon. Scientists say that if the moon changes its position a little, there will be terrible floods all over the world. Floods caused by high tides are called nuisance floods. At such times, ocean waves rise more than 2 feet above their average height. As a result, water continues to enter the cities. Just as the situation in Mumbai gets worse during the monsoons. Due to this the situation became chaotic. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, high tides in the United States caused 600 floods in 2019. But according to a new NASA study, by 2030, there will be flooding of New Zealand in many parts of the world, including the United States. As a result, the height of the waves at high tide will be about 3 to 4 times higher. The NASA study was published last month in the Nature Climate Change. But NASA has now warned that by 2030, the Nuisance flood will increase significantly. These will not come once or twice a year, but every month. Because whenever there is a slight change in the orbit of the moon, this flood will become more harmful. The floods will hit the coastal areas two to three times a month. With the change in the position of the moon, floods in the coastal region will become dangerous for the people living there. Governments around the world need to plan to avoid this. Phil Thompson, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii, said in a statement that this would be due to long-term climate change. This will cause many problems in the world. Phil Thompson said that if such floods occur 10-15 times a month, people will stop working. People's income will be disrupted. There will be no more jobs. Mosquito-borne diseases will also increase due to uninterrupted water. Due to the moon, the amount and time of floods in the coastal areas of the earth will increase. Ice and glaciers around the world are melting due to global warming. Due to this the sea level will rise rapidly. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sea levels have risen by 8 to 9 inches since 1880 AC. One-third of these heights have increased in the last 25 years. By 2100, sea levels could rise from 12 inches to 8.2 feet. To prevent this, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced. But it will take decades to complete this task, which is not easy. According to a new study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the moon has always been influencing ocean waves. The lunar pull and pressure are both balanced year after year. If the moon changes the position of its orbit, it will flood many coastal areas of the earth. Naturally the moon changes its position slightly in every 18.6 years. Halfway through this period, the moon suppresses the waves of the earth. However, after half a cycle, the moon intensifies the waves. Increases their height, which is dangerous. NASA says half of the moon's 18.6-year full cycle is about to begin, which will accelerate Earth's waves. This will happen in 2030. By then the global sea level will rise significantly. Due to this many countries in the world will face the problem of flooding. America will have more problems than that. Generally there are many tourist destinations in the coastal areas of that country. NASA says events such as El Nano in the climate cycle will also lead to flooding. "All of this happens every month," said Ben Hamlington, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It could also be that there will be so much flooding in one part of the year that you will have problems throughout the year. Source: Live Science, Edited by MD Zahirul Haque,AI News Correspondent

EFFECTS OF THE SUPER CLYCLONE YAS IN BANGLADESH LAST 26 MAY 2021

The lower part of Noakhali's Dwip Upazila Hatiyar Nijhumdwip has been inundated with abnormal tidal waters due to cyclone Yas. Water has entered the forest. Thousands of deer in the forest have been flooded. The fish, crabs and crops of the pond have been washed away by the tidal water. There are about 7/8 thousand deer in Nijhumdwip. Asked about this, Hatia Upazila Executive Officer Md Imran Hossain said the forest department has been warned about this. Moreover, when the water level rises, the deer rise to higher ground. He added that Noakhali Divisional Forest Officer Bipul Krishnadas said the deer had reached a safe haven at high altitudes. No casualties were reported. ********* ***Bagerhat waterlogged 3 thousand families and 2091 farms of shrimp washed away***

In Bagerhat, about 3,000 families have been flooded due to the impact of cyclone Yas. Besides, 2,091 shrimps' farms in Sharankhola, Morelganj, Rampal and Mongla upazilas of the district have been washed away, according to the district fisheries department. Meanwhile, a 4-year-old girl named Zinnia died after being swept away by Cyclone Yas in Bagerhat. The child, who was playing on the floor of the house at 10 am on Wednesday, was suddenly swept away by the tidal wave. Four hours later, his body was recovered from a pond near the house. The deceased was identified as Kamal Ghazi ,father of Zinnia of Chalitabunia village in Morelganj district. Besides, the entire Sundarbans was submerged under 4 to 6 feet of water on Wednesday morning. The floods destroyed two forest offices, a staff barracks, a rest house, a foot trail and 11 roads in the eastern Sundarbans at Chandershwa and Kokilmuni. Besides, 6 ponds have been submerged in salt water. The forest department has confirmed the rescue of two dead deer at Dubla and Sharankhola and a dead Irrawaddy dolphin of an extinct species in the Sundarbans from a canal in Morelganj. Although the highest area of the Sundarbans is submerged in the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center, the wildlife is safe. According to the district fisheries department, 2,091 shrimp farms in Sharankhola, Morelganj, Rampal and Mongla upazilas of the district have been flooded. According to preliminary data from Sharankhola, Morelganj, Rampal and Mongla upazilas, about 100 km of roads were damaged by the cyclone. In Morelganj upazila, about 30 km of unpaved roads have been washed away by the river. More than 3,000 families have been flooded in these upazilas. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamlesh Majumder confirmed that about 800 families of Chila, Chandpai and Burirdanga Unions of Mongla Upazila have been flooded. He also said that food aid has been provided besides rescuing the flood victims. ***************

***In Pirojpur, the dam has broken and the lowlands are flooded*** Cyclone Yas has inundated Pirojpur Sadar and low-lying areas of different upazilas. Hundreds of villages in most of the upazilas including Mathbaria, Bhandaria, Indurkani and Kaukhali were inundated on Wednesday. Locals said the riverbanks were inundated when the water level rose with rains since Tuesday night. However, Majherchar, Baramachhua, Sapleja and most of the areas of Telikhali Union in Bhandaria have been inundated. The administration was keen to evacuate people from high-risk areas to shelters. Water is entering the middle char of Pirojpur's Mathbaria upazila by breaking an embankment on Tuesday afternoon. Besides, two points of the embankment constructed by the Union Parishad were completely washed away at noon due to the full moon and high tide. The dam also suffered a lot of damage during the last Ampan. Besides, in many upazilas including Pirojpur Sadar upazila, many fish ponds have been washed away in the excess water. Pirojpur Flood Control Room sources further said that the embankment is now under threat due to cracks in some of the weaker parts of the dam. Officer in charge of the district control room (DRO) said. Mozaharul Haque said at least 60-70 feet of the two parts of the dam had collapsed. In addition, about 10-12 fish farms and various vegetable crops have been washed away. Mathbaria Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Milon Talukder and several others crossed the Baleshwar River at around 2pm after receiving the news of the dam breaking. Pirojpur Deputy Commissioner and District Disaster Management Committee President Abu Ali. Sajjad Hossain said that 1 crore 32 lakh 53 thousand taka has been provided to 53 unions of the district to deal with cyclone Yas.

The average life expectancy of Bangladesh citizen has increased by 9 months until 26 April, 2017

Last 2016 session , the average life expectancy of Bangladeshi citizens increased by nine months, said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. This information was given by the Minister at a press conference after the meeting of the Executive Council (ECNEC) of the National Economic Council (NEC) in the conference room of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday. In 2016, it has increased to 71 years and six months. The minister further said that women are ahead in increasing the average life expectancy in 2018 as in 2015. He said the average life expectancy of women in 2015 was 72 years. The next year it increased to 72 years and 9 months. The planning minister said the average life expectancy of men was 69 years and four months last year. Last year it increased to 70 years and three months. The minister said the average life expectancy of people around the world is 71 years and four months. In that respect, the condition of Bangladeshis is good. Earlier, the UN Human Development Index released in March also mentioned the increase in the average life expectancy of Bangladesh. This year, Bangladesh has taken a step forward in the human development index. Bangladesh ranks 139th in the latest UN Human Development Index. Which was 140th before. Bangladesh has advanced in the index due to improvements in various areas including education, health, nutrition, life expectancy, per capita income, gender equality, the report said.

The hundreds of Members of Parliament (MPs)are affected in Bangladesh by the second hit of COVID-19 until April 17, 2021

More than hundreds of Members of Parliament ( MPs) have been infected with the coronavirus. In addition, four MPs died of the deadly virus. On the other hand, 18 members of the current parliament have died due to various reasons including corona attack. Hundreds of MPs have been infected in March-April since the second wave of the corona virus began. Many of them have already recovered. However, former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru has died. The condition of some people including Rajshahi Sadar MP Fazle Hossain Badsha and ruling party MP Farooq is critical, officials said. According to the Medical Center of the Parliament Secretariat, a total of 111 MPs have been infected with the coronavirus so far. Some of them MPs had no symptoms. According to sources, Awami League presidium member, Supreme Court Bar Association president and Comilla-5 MP Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru, who was undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Combined Military Hospital, has died. On March 15, Abdul Matin Khasru gave samples for corona test at the Parliament Secretariat. On the morning of March 18, Corona came back positive in her report. On the same day, he was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH). He later died. Actor Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooq, MP of Dhaka-17 constituency, is in critical condition. He is being kept in the ICU of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. He was attacked by Corona for the first time last November and for the second time last month. Gazipur-4 MP Simin Hossain Rimi was admitted to the United Hospital in the capital on March 30 after being infected with corona. Earlier on March 23, Corona was admitted to the capital's Lab Aid Hospital, Dhaka-6 MP Haji Mohammad. Selim. Awami League's cultural secretary and Netrokona-3 MP Asim Kumar Ukil was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on April 8 after suffering from corona. According to the information of Sangsad Medical Center, Corona has recently been attacked by Jamalpur-4 MP and State Minister for Information Dr. Murad Hasan, Chittagong-1 MP and former minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Chittagong-12 MP and ruling party whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Cox's Bazar-1 MP Zafar Alam, Cox's Bazar-2 MP Ashek Ullah Rafique, Cox's Bazar- Shaheen Akter MP of 4 constituencies, Razi Mohammad Fakhrul MP of Comilla-4 constituency, Nizam Uddin Hazari MP of Feni-2 constituency, Mamunur Rashid Kiran MP of Noakhali-3 constituency, Gazi Mohammad Shahnawaz MP of Habiganj-1 constituency, Habiganj-2. MP Abdul Majid Khan, Rajshahi-1 MP Omar Farooq Chowdhury, Barisal-4 MP Pankaj Debnath, Dhaka-20 MP Benazir Ahmed, Gazipur-5 MP Meher Afroz Chumki, Sirajganj-4 MP Member Tanvir Imam, Pabna-2 MP Ahmed Firoz Kabir, Rajbari-1 MP and former state minister for education Kazi Keramat Ali and Bogra-6 MP Rezaul Karim Bablu. Many of them are better than before. Advocate Khodeja Nasrin Akhter Hossain, a Member of Parliament for the reserved women's seat, is undergoing treatment at the Health and Hope Hospital in the capital. Among the reserved women MPs are Nahid Izhar Khan, Shirin Ahmed, Jannatul Bakiya, Arma Dutt and Raushan Ara Mannan. Fazle Hossain Badshah, an MP from Rajshahi Sadar constituency, was brought to Dhaka in an air ambulance last Thursday. He was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Wednesday. According to the party, Fazle Hossain Badshah, a Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Bangladesh Workers Party, was identified as Corona in a sample test on Wednesday evening. He was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital that night. He was brought to Dhaka around 3 pm on Thursday for better treatment. He was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical Hospital in the afternoon. Besides, Tangail-2 MP Chhota Monir and Sirajganj-1 MP Tanvir Shakil Joy were attacked by corona for the second time. So far, more than a hundred MPs have been infected with the coronavirus. And 18 members of the current parliament have died due to various reasons including corona attack. Comilla-5 MP Awami League presidium member and former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru died of coronavirus on April 14. Earlier, Sirajganj-1 MP and former health minister Mohammad Nasim, Naogaon-6 MP Israfil Alam and Sylhet-3 MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury died of corona. Edited by MD Zahirul Haque AINews Correspondent & Freelance Journalist