National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has called for a new Ganges water-sharing treaty with India, rather than simply renewing the existing 1996 agreement.
He said a new treaty must guarantee Bangladesh’s fair share of the water, ensure a minimum flow during the lean season, and provide for Bangladesh’s participation in joint river management.
Nahid made the remarks as the chief guest at an event organised by the Abrar Fahad Smriti Sangsad on Wednesday to mark the seventh death anniversary of the BUET student. The event was held at the Aggrashon Birodhi Aat Stambha (Eight Pillars Against Aggression), near the Palashi intersection adjacent to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
“It cannot be a simple renewal. This water-sharing treaty must be renegotiated and signed anew,” Nahid said.
“This is not merely a question of water distribution; it is about shared rights over the river. Bangladesh must also have a say in river management.”
He said that despite sharing numerous transboundary rivers with India, Bangladesh had yet to secure its fair share in accordance with international river law. He also alleged that India continued to control the flow of the Ganges through the Farakka Barrage.
Nahid said the NCP did not advocate hostility or enmity with India, adding that “the core question is whether national interests are being safeguarded”.
NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossain, Office Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat, and Abrar Fahad’s father, Barkat Ullah, also attended the event, along with leaders and activists of the NCP and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.
Abrar Fahad, 21, was beaten to death by leaders and activists of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours of October 7, 2019, following a Facebook post in which he criticised Bangladesh-India water-sharing arrangements.
His body was found on the dormitory staircase the following morning.
The killing triggered widespread protests and led BUET to ban student politics on campus.