He said these things in the speech as chief guest at the seminar titled 'Sustainable Management of the Teesta River' organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Department of Water Resources Engineering of BUET at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) today. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu MP and State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad MP were present at that time.
The Water Resources Minister further said that the Teesta is connected to the lives and livelihoods of the people of five districts in the northern region. Water scarcity in the dry season and excessive water flow in the monsoon are the causes of the long-standing suffering of the people of the Teesta basin. He said that the project will be implemented very soon, prioritizing prevention of river erosion, flood control, expansion of irrigation facilities, improvement of people's living standards, retention of water in the dry season, and strengthening the local economy.
Shahid Uddin Chowdhury further said that the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working giving priority to the interests of the country and the people. Regarding the Ganges treaty, he said, the work of renewing the treaty is ongoing in due time based on bilateral discussions. He said that no concession will be made regarding the fair share of water.
Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said that for a long time he has seen the suffering of the people on the banks of the Teesta from close quarters. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is committed to implementing the Teesta Master Plan. He expressed hope for an acceptable solution to alleviate the suffering of the Teesta bank people very soon.
State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad said that the government is working to make the management of the Teesta Master Plan, a long-standing demand of the people of the Teesta basin, sustainable. A technical committee has already been formed and opinions of local and foreign experts and stakeholders are being taken. He said that besides sustainable solutions in Teesta, the government is also vigilant about the fair share of water.
At the seminar, Professor Masfiqus Salehin of BUET's Institute of Water and Flood Management made the main presentation on 'Teesta Challenges', Professor Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman of the Department of Water Resources Engineering of BUET presented on 'Sustainable Management Options', and Dr. Moha. Sarfaraz Banda, Additional Chief Engineer of Water Development Board, Rangpur, presented on 'Water Conservation and Irrigation Development'.
The seminar was presided over by Khondkar Azim Uddin, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources. Panel discussion was held by Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Advisor of the Joint Rivers Commission, former professor of BUET Dr. Abul Fazal M. Saleh, and Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Md. Ruhul Amin, among others.
