Hold another long march to strengthen demand for rights to rivers and water: Dr. Moyeen Khan

BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Louden Khan addressing the memorial meeting held for Atiqur Rahman Salu former chairman of International Farakka Committee at the National Press Club on Thursday.

Dhaka, December 5 - BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan has proposed organizing another long march to create public opinion to protect the people of the country from the environmental disaster caused by the lack of river water.

addressing a memorial meeting organized on the first death anniversary of former International Farakka Committee (IFC) chairman Atiqur Rahman Salu on Thursday, December 5, as the chief guest he said, there are 54 common rivers to which we do not have the due right. If we cannot remedy this, there will be a disaster, the livelihood of one-third of the people will be disrupted. A solution to this will have to be found not only by us but also by 1.5 billion people in neighboring India. The people of the two countries are sincere friends. This was proven during the War of Independence.

The meeting, chaired by IFC Chairman Syed Tipu Sultan and moderated by Coordinator Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, was also addressed by Jatiya Party (Jafar) Chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider, IFC Bangladesh President Professor Jasim Uddin Ahmad, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, BNP leader and former MP Zahiruddin Swapan, IFC Bangladesh Vice President Dr. Nazma Ahmed, prominent businessman FK Md. Emdad Khan, BFUJ General Secretary Quader Gani Chowdhury among others.

At the beginning of the program, a report was presented on the life and works of Atiqur Rahman Salu and prayer was offered for the salvation of his soul.

Dr. Moin Khan said Atiqur Rahman Salu created history, but did we honor him while he was alive? He mentioned the declaration of an independent democratic Bangladesh as Salu's first achievement and organizing the 'Second Farakka Long March' in Chilmari as his second.

Moyeen Khan said Salu was a patriot that is why he called for the establishment of a democratic Bangladesh. He also participated in the Kagmari Conference. He took the initiative to prevent environmental aggression.

Moyeen Khan said the aspiration of the people of Bangladesh is to vote after every 5 years. Our new generation has not been able to vote. If people are given the choice of wealth and prosperity or freedom, people will want freedom first.

He called for developing a mentality to serve the people and said, we need unity. But it is not a BKSALite unity but unity in diversity. He said that by removing the tyranny, we have crossed only one step of democracy. The second step is free elections and through it, assuming the responsibility of a democratic government.

This responsibility of transition to democracy is the responsibility of the Interim government. They should not fail. We have three weapons in our hands with which we can establish democracy. Politics, diplomacy and information & comunication technology. If we can use them properly, we can establish democracy.

Mostafa Jamal Haider said that the word of independent democratic Bangladesh was first spoken in the voice of Atiqur Rahman Salu. He mentioned the meeting held at Paltan Maidan on February 22, 1970 and said that Atiqur Rahman Salu and other leaders - Kazi Zafar, Dr. Mahbubullah, Mostafa Jamal Haider were sentenced under martial law for giving a speech at that meeting.

Referring to Atiqur Rahman Salu's movement for the rights of river water, Mostafa Jamal Haider called on the current leadership of IFC to build another strong movement on this issue.

Professor Jasim Uddin Ahmed said that Salu Bhai worked for the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh until his death. He described the adverse reaction that is being experienced on the Sundarbans due to the withdrawal of Ganga water.

He said that national unity is needed to highlight Bangladesh's viewpoint in a strong way.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, said that the demand for river water in Bangladesh has been ignored for the last 15-16 years. All India's demands have been accepted. Transit has been granted. On the other hand, border killings have not stopped. Everything in Bangladesh has been sacrificed to appease India. Our independence and sovereignty have been sacrificed.

He said that Delhi could not accept the fall of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh even after 4 months. A terrible activity is being carried out against this country.

India's mentality should change. The people of this country whould not bow down to domination. He said that they want to label Bangladesh as militant. If our security is disrupted, India's security will not be safe either. Rampal power plant should be closed. Many unequal agreements should be canceled. Bangladesh should no longer be seen through the eyes of the Awami League. We want relations based on equality and fairness. He mentioned that India's one-sided media campaign needs to be stopped.

Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, said that ours is not only a public uprising, but also a defeat of India's Bangladesh policy. Referring to the 2005 Chilmari rally of millions of people, he said that its message was anti-hegemonic.

Zahiruddin Swapan mentioned Atiqur Rahman Salu's political life with him and said that his struggle for rivers and water will be successful.