The 50th anniversary, the golden jubilee, of historic Farakka Long March was celebrated on Friday聽in the country.
On May 16, 1976, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani led a long march from Rajshahi towards Farakka Barrage, demanding its demolition. Thousands of people participated in the demonstration.
The then Indian government built Farakka Barrage across the River Ganges in the Indian state of West Bengal to divert the river鈥檚 waters into its territory.
Different political parties and organisations organised various programmes to mark the day.
The Ganosamhati Andolan organised a protest rally in front of the National Press Club where its chief coordinator Zonayed Saki聽called for coordinated efforts by the people to save Bangladesh鈥檚 common rivers and the environment.
Realising that Indian governments would deprive Bangladesh of its rightful share of water of 54 common revers flowing between Bangladesh and India, mass leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani organised the Farakka Long March in 1976, Saki said.
The executive coordinator of the party, Abul Hassan Rubel, said that the Bangladesh government should sign the water sharing treaty with the Indian government through the mediation of the United Nations.
Central leaders of the party, Monir Uddin Pappu, Bachchu Bhuiyan, Dipok Roy and others spoke at the rally.
The rally was followed by a protest procession that paraded different city roads. 聽聽聽聽
Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani Parishad also organised a rally in front of the National Press Club presided over by its leader 聽SM Kamal Uddin.
Politicians Tipu Biswas, Saiful Huq, Harun Rashid, 聽Jafar Hossain, Belal Chowdhury and others 聽also spoke at the rally.
Bhashani Onusari Parishad also organised a discussion at the National Press Club with its leader Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu in the chair.
Nagarik Oikya president Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BNP central leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Rastra Sankar Andolan chief coordinator Hasnat Quaiyum and others spoke at the discussion.
The National Awami Party (Bhashani) held a discussion at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad auditorium presided over by its president Shapon Saha.
International Farakka Committee, New York and its Bangladesh chapter also jointly held a discussion in Central Shaheed Minar to mark the day.
