Terming the Teesta water sharing issue as a national crisis, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad on Tuesday appealed for reaching a national consensus to resolve it.
“The Teesta water sharing issue is not an issue of any political party, it is a national crisis. So, national unity is needed for protect national interest and resolve such kind of problem,” Ershad said.
The JP chief was addressing a roadside rally at Jirani area in Savar as he led a road march towards Teesta Barrage at Dalia in Nilphamari.
During his first roadside rally in Jamgora in Ashulia, Ershad sought explanation from the government why it failed to reach an agreement with India on Teesta water sharing.
“I want to know from the government why the Teesta treaty could not be done? Where does the failure lie?” Ershad said.
He also urged the Indian authorities to refrain from doing anything that might harm its friendly state Bangladesh.
“Teesta has turned into a desert due to the water crisis. The farmers are now failing to irrigate their croplands as the Teesta has dried up,” Ershad said.
The JP chief also held an unscheduled roadside rally at Ashulia Baipail area after his first rally.
The JP is conducting the long march to press home its demand for water-sharing of the Teesta River.
The road march set out officially from the party chief's Banani office in the capital around 9:00am.
Ershad is expected to address several more roadside rallies on his way to the Teesta Barrage on the first day.
Ershad will wrap up the first day of his road march holding a rally at Mithapukur in Rangpur. He will stay the night at his 'Palli Nibash' residence at Darshana in Rangpur divisional headquarters and from where he will resume his party's road march towards Teesta Wednesday morning.
He will fold his road march holding a public rally on Teesta Barrage Helipad ground on Wednesday.
