Lalmonirhat, Feb 17 (V7N) – BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged India to end its "big brotherly attitude" and ensure Bangladesh gets its fair share of Teesta water if it truly wants friendship.

“Stop shooting and killing at the border, and stop treating us as inferiors. We want to stand on our own feet and claim our rightful share. We definitely want friendship with India, but one that is based on mutual respect and fairness,” Fakhrul said while launching the ‘Teesta Bachao Andolan’ (Save Teesta Movement) near the Teesta railway bridge in Lalmonirhat on Monday (February 17).

The movement, held under the slogan ‘Jago Bahe, Teesta Bachai’, is being organized by the ‘Teesta River Protection Movement Committee’ across 11 locations in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Gaibandha districts. Rallies, marches, and cultural performances are being held to press for the fair distribution of Teesta water.

Fakhrul stressed that the movement would continue until Bangladesh secures its share of Teesta’s waters. “This is a fight from our hearts. We have battled the fascist Hasina regime for 15 years. Our sons have sacrificed for this cause. And after 36 days of struggle, she [Sheikh Hasina] ran to India,” he alleged.

Criticizing the interim government, the BNP leader said, “You must speak up about Teesta. You must tell India that Bangladesh deserves its fair share of water. And since you are an interim government, hold elections immediately and hand over power to a people’s government.”

The long-standing Teesta water-sharing issue remains a point of contention between Bangladesh and India, with previous agreements yet to be implemented.

END/MSS/AJ