Summary:
- The Teesta River’s water flow surged by 800 cusecs in 24 hours, reaching 3,600 cusecs by Sunday morning, following upstream water releases from India.
- Six gates of the Teesta Barrage were opened to channel water into downstream chars, revitalizing previously dried-up riverbeds critical for agriculture.
- The increased flow is expected to irrigate 55,000 hectares of Boro rice fields across six northwestern Bangladeshi districts, easing months of water scarcity for farmers.
- Activists announced a two-day sit-in protest starting February 17 across five districts, demanding equitable water-sharing and implementation of the Teesta Master Plan.
The Teesta River in northern Bangladesh experienced an 800-cusec increase in water flow within 24 hours, officials confirmed Sunday, following heightened releases from upstream reservoirs in India. The surge at the Teesta Barrage prompted authorities to open six of its 44 gates, redirecting water to downstream chars (riverine islands) that had previously dried into barren channels.
Water levels at the barrage rose from 2,800 cusecs at 4:00 PM Saturday to 3,600 cusecs by 9:00 AM Sunday, according to Amitav Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board in Nilphamari. “The increased flow has begun reviving parts of the riverbed that were completely parched,” he said.
Local farmers reported immediate relief from months of water scarcity. Nazmul Haque, a 60-year-old farmer from Gaddimari Char in Hatibandha Upazila, stated, “The Teesta had turned into a dead canal—we couldn’t cultivate crops. This sudden rise is a lifeline.” Haque speculated the release might relate to ongoing protests demanding equitable water-sharing, adding, “Our survival hinges on India’s decisions. When they hold back water, the river vanishes.”
The influx is expected to bolster irrigation for approximately 55,000 hectares of Boro rice fields across six northwestern districts, including Rangpur, Nilphamari, and Bogura. Amalesh Chandra Roy, deputy extension officer of the Rangpur Water Development Board, noted, “The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project can only function if India sustains this flow.”
Amid unresolved disputes over the 2011 Teesta water-sharing agreement, activists announced a two-day sit-in starting February 17 on Teesta shoals in five districts. Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, leader of the Teesta River Protection Movement Committee, emphasized, “We demand a fair share of Teesta water and urgent implementation of the long-stalled Teesta Master Plan to prevent future crises.”
The protest, organized by farmers and residents, underscores mounting tensions over transboundary water management. While the immediate surge alleviates agricultural pressures, experts warn sustainable solutions remain critical for Bangladesh’s northwest, where over 21 million depend on the Teesta’s unpredictable flows.
