Environmentalists have reiterated demands to demolish the Farakka and Gajoldoba barrages to ensure Bangladesh's water share in the trans-boundary Ganges and Teesta rivers.
They have also stressed for basin-wise management of the two rivers to avert negative impacts on lower riparian Bangladesh.
The demands were made from a press conference jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Jatiya Nodi Rokkhya Andolon at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Monday.
“First of all, we want the demolition of those barrages which have cast negative impacts on Bangladesh's agriculture, water transportation and river ecology,” said Md Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bapa.
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The two environmentalist groups also urged the government to ensure proper share of water while resolving the proposed Teesta Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India.
They suggested a 50:50 water share of the Teesta River for Bangladesh during the dry season after having 3,200 cusec water for the river itself.
They also urged the Bangladesh government to take lessons from the Farakka barrage before finalising the proposed Ganges Barrage project.
“If we go for the Ganges barrage, it might cause river erosion and accumulation of sediment on the Padma river,” said Dr Abdul Matin.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
