Minister: Bangladesh gets only 20,000 Cusec from Farakka

Bangladesh is now receiving only 20,000-25,000 Cusec water annually from the Farakka Barrage in India which is almost half the volume the country used to get before the construction of the barrage. Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud made the statement while talking to reporters before inaugurating construction of a dam to protect Shilaidaha Kuthibari of Rabindranath Tagore in Kushtia yesterday. “Before the construction of the Farakka Barrage, we used to get 52,000 Cusec water every year. But now we are only receiving 20,000-25,000 Cusec. As the water level has been depleting in recent times, the appropriate water flow is not there,” he said. The minister noted that technical teams from both the countries were looking into the matter and necessary steps would be taken after their scrutiny. Kushtia 4 (Kumarkhali-Khoksa) MP Abdur Rouf and the district's Superintendent of Police Proloy Chisim were also present on the occasion.