UN help sought against Indian river plan

Published March 11, 2005

DHAKA, March 10: The International Farakka Committee, an organization of Bangladesh’s civil society members living at home and abroad, has demanded signing of a bilateral agreement on water distribution of trans-boundary rivers between Bangladesh and India, with the United Nation and the World Bank as guarantors.

The demand came at a press conference held by the committee at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday.

The committee leaders alleged that the Indian government was in progress to implement its controversial river-linking project, forcing Bangladesh into massive ecological crises.

The committee leaders also called for the constitution of a multilateral river commission with China, Nepal, Bhutan and India.