Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 27th August 2022 expressing deep concern over the recently held talks between India and Bangladesh in a meeting of Joint River Commission (JRC) in regards to the Kushiara and Barak rivers’ water.
“A meeting of the Joint River Commission (JRC) held in New Delhi of India. Bangladesh’s State minister and deputy minister of the Water Resources Ministry were present at the meeting. The meeting discussed the water-sharing issues of Kushiara and its origin Barak river. The meeting also expected a deal between the two countries in the upcoming month. We have been observing with great concern that, earlier some deeds and contracts had been made in regards to the sharing of Teesta, Farakka, and Ganges River’s water.
But those are not implemented yet. Teesta contracts are also remaining unresolved. On previous occasions, India was given the chance to use the Feni river’s water but the government took no public opinion about this issue. Still, the countrymen are not clear about what is happening with the water sharing of common rivers.
He further said, no effective water-sharing policies have been adopted so far due to the government’s submissive foreign policy. As a result, during the dry season, India blocked water and turned Bangladesh into a desert which caused major damage to the crops in different parts of the country.
We want to assert that the details of the JRC meeting must be revealed before the nation. Prior to taking a decision, experts are to be consulted. The countrymen did not give any authority to this government to make a contract, which hampers the interest of Bangladesh. Earlier, when the Indian government took measures to construct the Tipaimukh dam, at that time, Jamaat-e-Islami and all patriotic forces made all-out protests against the initiative. Similarly, they are making another conspiracy and I am urging my fellow countrymen to protest against the conspiracy with the water of the Kushiara and Barak Rivers’ water.