Former Bangla Prez urges Teesta water sharing

Former Bangladesh President and chairman of Jatiyo Party, Hussain Mohammad Ershad wants the Teesta water sharing as early as possible for the greater interest of Bangladeshi peasants. He came to Dinhata in Cooch Behar at his ancestral residence on 8 December. This morning he visited a Home for destitute girls named Shahid Bandana Smriti Mahila Aabas and a blind school in Cooch Behar and left for Malbazar in Dooars.

During talks with media persons at Dinhata last night, Ershad said that sometime ago he sent a CD of songs composed by him to the Chief Minister of West Bengal. From that CD he recited : "Teesta tomar booker pare /  Gorur garir chaka ghore" ( Oh Teesta! Wheels of bullock carts are whirling on your chest these days.) It means the Teesta is so dry that bullock carts ply on its bed. He hoped that the CM may have listened that CD. 16 crore people of Bangladesh want sharing of Teesta water. He recalled that his residence at Rangpur (now in Bangladesh) was by the side of Teesta and his grandfather was also lived there. He did swimming in Teesta in those days but now there is no water there, sighed the ex-army chief of Bangladesh.

Ershad said Bangladesh opened its borders from North to South to India following the agreement among four neighbouring countries. But several thousand acres of land are being lying unused without any cultivation due to scarcity of water. In 2012, when the former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh visited Bangladesh the people of Bangladesh expected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with him. But as she failed to appear the people of Bangladesh turned hopeless as they saw no light toward sharing of Teesta water. The farmers of Bangladesh are suffering from misery, Ershad said.

The former BD President mentioned that the historic exchange of enclaves was possible due to initiative of two Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina. For this he thanked them. At the same time he hoped that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may also feel the pain of Bangladeshi people who are suffering due to lack of adequate water of Teesta.

HM ERSHAD IN COOCH BEHAR

Former Bangladesh President Hussein Mohammad Ershad has arrived Cooch Behar today this noon. He is the founder of Jatiyo Party, the second largest political party of Bangladesh Jatiyo Samsad. He entered through Changrabandha International Checkpost in Mekhliganj at about 11-45 AM. He is on his way to his ancestral residence at Dinhata. He may stay there for a few days. A few family members and close associates also came with him.

Former Bangladesh President spent his childhood and schooldays at Dinhata. Today he was found in a happy mood when he stepped into India. He praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his initiative to translate into reality the long awaited Enclave Exchange issue. Ershad said the way the Indian Parliament passed the Bill on Enclave Exchange was very praiseworthy. It touched the hearts of Bangladesh people. It was possible due to initiative taken by the Indian Prime Minister, he added. 

BJP delegation attacked in Cooch Behar by TMC supporters

Some BJP leaders was today injured after they were allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters near Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya campus in Cooch Behar-II Block.

The incident happened when the BJP delegation was on its way to Pundibari where a TMC supporter, identified as Narayan Mahanayak, was shot dead on November 29.

Leaders of the BJP district unit claimed that the killing was a fallout of the TMC factional feud over railway contracts.

Some BJP supporters were falsely implicated in the case and TMC 'goons' ransacked and looted the house of district BJP secretary Sukumar Roy, they alleged.

Cooch Behar district BJP general secretary Nikhil Ranjan Dey said that the BJP delegation comprised state vice-chairperson Malati Rava, vice-president Badsah Alam, secretary Rabindra Narayan Chaudhury, Jaiprakash Majumdar, district vice-chairperson Gayatri Kar, secretary Ajit Roy and district Yuva Morcha general secretary Shital Das.

Dey said, "When the vehicles reached the Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, an armed group of TMC supporters attacked them, damaging the cars and assaulting the team members." 

Dey claimed the police and district administration had been informed prior to the visit, but there was lack of adequate police arrangement.

About 10 persons were injured, including Malati Rava and Ajit Roy, Dey said, adding Roy is undergoing treatment at MJN Hospital.

However, District TMC vice-president Abdul Jalil Ahmed denied involvement of their supporters in the alleged assault.

"BJP was behind the murder of the TMC supporter. Today angry local residents might have came out to question the BJP leaders why they came there. It is not true that TMC men attacked them," Ahmed claimed.

Cooch Behar district Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Yadav was not available for comment, but officers of the Cooch Behar police station confirmed that an investigation was initiated into the Pundibari incident.

BJP leader Jaiprakash Majumdar said the party would organise a law violation programme in front of the Cooch Behar district magistrate's office on December 18 to protest against the attack.