NAWABGANJ: Maulana Bhashani ended yesterday [May 17] a protest march of more than 400,000 Bangladesh citizens objecting to an Indian dam by calling on Muslim countries to boycott Indian products from Aug. 16 if India refuses a mutually acceptable sharing of the Ganges river waters. The Bangladeshis began their march along the border on Sunday [May 16]. The Maulana, the veteran NAP [National Awami Party] leader, made his appeal for a Muslim boycott at a massive protest rally yesterday. Earlier, he told newsmen: “If India fails to give us our due share of water, my next long march will be more formidable, and may not be limited to the territory of Bangladesh.”

The Bangladeshis were protesting India’s Farakka Dam across the Ganges river just above the point at which it crosses the border into Bangladesh. They claim India has been drawing an unfair amount of water causing a disastrous effect on eight Bangladesh districts. The Maulana, who led the marchers, said he would start a movement to boycott Indian goods as of Aug. 16 if India refused a fair solution of the problem. He said Bangladesh was not going to be browbeaten by any threat. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2026