Thousands of people lit torches along the banks of the Teesta River in Gangachara, Rangpur, on Thursday night, demanding that the Teesta Master Plan be implemented by November ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The protest, organized under the banner of the Teesta River Protection Movement, called on the government to begin work on the long-promised river restoration project without further delay.
The demonstration, held near the Teesta Bridge area in Mohipur, was attended by BNP Rangpur Divisional Organizing Secretary Asadul Habib Dulu, who serves as the chief coordinator of the movement. In his speech, Dulu criticized the government’s inaction, saying that despite earlier assurances, no visible progress has been made on the plan, which was expected to be implemented with Chinese assistance. He warned that if the announcement to start the project is not made within seven days, the movement will intensify, potentially bringing five districts in the Rangpur region to a standstill.
According to the organizers, torch processions were held simultaneously at 31 locations across ten upazilas along the Teesta River, including in Lalmonirhat, where crowds gathered chanting “Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachai” (Rise, Save Teesta). Earlier, similar protests were held on October 5 and October 9, when demonstrators submitted memorandums to the chief advisor through local administrations, reiterating their demand for immediate action on the master plan.
The torch rallies, led by various local leaders including BNP Executive Committee Member Hasan Rajib Pradhan in Hatibandha upazila, marked the latest phase of a growing regional campaign to protect the Teesta and demand accountability from the state for long-delayed promises on river management and rehabilitation.
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