Riverine Issues On The Realm

Political parties and alliances in Bangladesh have published their manifesto on the eve of 11th general election. Unlike past elections, the focus on riverine issues has increased in the manifestos this time. In the past elections parties would focus grossly on environment and water issue. This time river restoration and water management got distinct sections. 

Sheikh Rokon, Secretary General of Riverine People, a Dhaka based national civil society organization, has followed the riverine issues in the manifestos. He has told Daily Samakal that, it is encouraging to see that political parties are engaging more on riverine issues. But it is clear in the manifestos that they need more conceptualization. 

Around 100.41 million of male and female registered voters are going to elect their representatives for 300 constituencies of Jatiya Sangsad, the national parliament on December 30th of this year. More than 50 parties, including registered 39, and alliances are taking part in this election. A total of 1,841 candidates are in the field.

Among the participating parties and alliances, at least 13 have formally published their election manifesto. Party in power Bangladesh Awami League has detailed its next five years plan on environmental issues including climate change, river management and restoration, blue economy. Delta Plan 2100 is the added chapter it the manifesto.

Accordingly Awami League has pledged to dredge 10,000 km of waterways in next fiver years to revive and maintain the navigation routes. It is taken up the ambitious Ganges Barrage Project on Ganga River to cope with the adverse effects of Farakka Barrage.

Since 80's, after India commissioned the Farakka Barrage on the Ganges river, water sharing with upper riparian country had been a delicious issue in the election in Bangladesh. On the last 3 elections Teesta River Water Sharing had got more focused after the signing of Ganges water treaty between two countries in 1996. Teesta had been considered the most complicated issue in terms of 'river sharing' as it had two barrages across the border.

Incumbent Awami League and main opposition alliance National Oikya Front has directly and distinctly manifested the Teesta River Issue. Others have pledged to ensure the 'just share of water' from common rivers between India and Bangladesh.

Sheikh Rokon says, Teesta river issue has sought less than it has been apprehended. Some of the parties which had staged 'long march' to Teesta from Dhaka have not taken up the issue in the manifesto. India's increasing role in Bangladesh's internal politics may be behind the hesitation, he observed.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh, CPB, and its alliance of eight like minds Bam Gonotantrik Jot (The Left Democratic Alliance) have pledge to ratify the UN Watercourses Convention 1997 if they could be in power. Bangladesh has voted in favor of this convention; but the ratification is pending on the parliament for years. Environmentalist and riverine organizations have been advocating for the ratification for last couple of years.

River restoration is another new issue political parties have taken up to the manifestos. Couple of parties has mentioned the four rivers surrounding Dhaka City. Combating river erosion is pledged in the Jatiya Party manifesto especially as the party has strong hold in erosion prone Brahmaputra Rive Basin.

Sheikh Rokon told to Samakal that keeping the pledges up after the election is more important than merely announcing in the manifestos. People who are polluting or encroaching rivers of Bangladesh are mostly politically influential. The 'river eater' industrialists or economically influential people are also connected to the political parties somehow. That is why the laws and its enforcing agencies and watchdogs can not bring them on the doc.

Islami Andolon or Islamic Movement, the only religion-based political party which has published its manifesto is silent on environment, water, and riverine issues.