Today is the 48th anniversary of historic Farakka Long March.
On this day of May 16, 1976, mass leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani led a massive long march from Rajshahi towards India鈥檚 Farakka Barrage, demanding its demolition.
The Indian government erected the dam to divert the flow of water from the River Ganges into its territory.
Thousands of people participated in the march and staged a demonstration protesting at construction of the dam across the Ganges in the Indian state of West Bengal, some 16.5 kilometres off Chapainawabganj border.
The barrage has been affecting Bangladesh鈥檚 ecology since its commissioning.
On the eve of the day, main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a statement, said that the historic event for the just demand for a fair share of the river water encouraged people to go for any of their rights.
International Farakka Committee, in a press statement, called on all to observe the day demanding fair share of water of the common rivers between Bangladesh and India.
Signatories to the statement are Sayed Tipu Sultan, Mohammad Hossain Khan and others. Different organisations have taken programmes to mark the day.
Bhashani Onusari Parishad will hold a discussion at the National Press Club to mark the day, where BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is expected to speak.
The National Awami Party (Bhashani) will hold a discussion at the Shishu Kalyan Parishad auditorium on Topkhana Road to mark the day.
Path Maulana Bhashani will hold a protest rally in front of the National Press Club at 11:00am to mark the day.
