Once a thriving river, the Teesta is now nearing depletion. Flowing through 115 kilometres in Bangladesh, including five northern districts, it has historically been essential for agriculture, livelihoods, and daily life. However, after years of unilateral water withdrawal by India during the dry season and sudden releases during the monsoon, the lives of nearly 20 million people living along the Teesta have become increasingly difficult.
Under the previous Awami League government, discussions regarding the Teesta water-sharing agreement were held with India but remained limited to promises and goodwill exchanges. Despite a proposal for an ambitious Teesta mega project, funded by China with an estimated budget of Tk 8,500 crore, it was never executed due to India’s objections and concerns over regional geopolitical stability. As a result, over the past 15 years, the Teesta issue has remained an ongoing political topic, without any real benefits for the people of Lalmonirhat and surrounding areas.
Following a political shift in August 2024, however, new hope emerged along the Teesta. Under the banner of “Save Teesta, Save Life,” the Teesta River Protection Movement has intensified its campaign for the Teesta mega project, aiming for implementation by February 2025. Numerous political parties and organisations, alongside thousands of local residents, have joined the movement. The campaign has featured rallies, torch-lit processions, and 48-hour sit-ins across 11 locations along the river, garnering both national and international media attention. In response, interim government advisors held a public hearing in the Teesta region, and announced that the project would commence by the first week of January 2026, with a Chinese delegation finalising the technical design. However, following the announcement of the election schedule, the project now faces uncertainty. As January draws to a close, residents of the Teesta basin are once again left disappointed by the lack of tangible progress.
With the announcement of the 13th National Parliamentary Election schedule, candidates have begun using the Teesta issue as a central focus of their campaigns. Alongside promises for employment, drug control, and infrastructure improvements, the Teesta issue has remained a key element.
Jahid Hasan Limon, a candidate from the Jatiya Party in Lalmonirhat-3, has actively engaged with the public, calling the Teesta “our mother.” Limon accused the previous government of failing to protect this vital resource and promised to push for the mega project’s implementation in Parliament if elected.
Abu Taher, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Lalmonirhat-3, also committed to addressing river embankment and dredging issues to ease the suffering of the local population. He pledged to play a key role in ensuring the Teesta mega project is realised.
Asadul Habib Dulu, BNP’s candidate for Lalmonirhat-3 and coordinator of the Teesta River Protection Movement, called the Teesta, once a blessing, a curse for the people of the region. Dulu reiterated that the Teesta mega project is vital for improving livelihoods and confirmed that his movement has been a response to the government’s failure to act in the past. He also promised that BNP would prioritise starting the Teesta mega project should they win the election.
Shafiqul Islam Kanou, a freedom fighter and president of the Teesta Save, River Save Struggle Council, emphasised the deteriorating condition of the river. He noted that during the monsoon, the Teesta once stretched 3 to 5 kilometres wide, but now it is barely navigable. He and others in the northern region have long demanded the Teesta mega project, with the community still waiting for a breakthrough despite changes in government and political shifts.
