Demonstrations on Rabi and Shabi against India's opening of dams and flash floods

The students of Rajshahi University (Rabi) and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Shabi) of Sylhet held a protest on Wednesday to demand a fair share of the water treaty with India and to protest against the sudden flood in Bangladesh by opening the Dambur Dam.

On Wednesday around 11:30 pm, a procession was taken out from various residential halls of Rajshahi University. The processions converged at Joha Square in front of Syed Nazrul Islam Administration Building of the University. Later, the procession passed through the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in front of the main gate of the university to Talaimari junction in the city. The students protested there till 1 am.

At this time, the students said 'India's aggression, break it down', 'My right to the river, I have to give it back', 'If you want to get freedom, leave your devotion to India', 'Why did my country sink, answer, answer', 'India's brokers' , Hushiyar Savadhan', 'Tumi ke ami ke, abrar abrar', 'Ke marche ke marche, svoirachar svoirachar' etc.

Associate Professor of Folklore Department of the University Amirul Islam (Kanak) was present in the rally in solidarity with the students' movement. He requested the intervention of the United Nations to solve this crisis and said, 'During the monsoon they open the dam and drown us. This conspiracy must be stopped. We want the intervention of the United Nations in this case.'

Mehdi Sajib, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, warned to give 'Long March to Farakka Dam' program if necessary to protect the water rights of Bangladesh's rivers.

Meanwhile, students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology staged a protest last night with the same demand. The procession goes around the university's main road, roundabout and student hall and ends at the roundabout. At this time, the students held a short rally.

During the protest march, the students chanted slogans like 'Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka', 'Today, Abrar remembers you', 'When people die in floods, Abrar remembers you', 'If you want freedom, leave Bharat Bhakti'.

Delwar Hossain, the coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said in the rally, “15 years of misrule and knee-jerk attitude of the fascist government have enslaved us to India. Due to India's hegemony, the harmony among the people of Bangladesh is being destroyed. People's government has now been established in Bangladesh. This government is not of the Indian Tabedars. We hope, India will think a hundred times to make such an incident happen in the future.'

Another coordinator Faisal Hossain said, 'If India plays tricks on the people of this country, then the people of this country will never accept it. Our blood does not want to mediate, our blood wants to fight.'

Bangladesh /SBT