by 
Hafizuddin Ahmed, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, has claimed that the Farakka Barrage has caused the disappearance of at least 20 rivers in Bangladesh. He stated that despite sending letters to the Joint River Commission, no response has been received from India.
Hafizuddin highlighted that weak international laws leave smaller nations deprived of their fair share of water. He noted that India’s construction of spurs creates strong currents in Bangladesh’s rivers, leading to embankment breaches. When attempts are made to build new embankments, the Indian Border Security Force interferes, creating obstacles.
Speakers at the meeting emphasized that, despite Bangladesh being a riverine country, its rivers are among the most neglected. Due to India’s unilateral water withdrawal, coupled with the effects of the Farakka and Gajoldoba barrages and internal mismanagement, the country is facing a severe water crisis. During the dry season, downstream water flow diminishes, adversely impacting agriculture, river navigability, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Although Bangladesh has approximately 1,415 rivers, it remains unclear how many are still functional. Pollution, encroachment, canal filling /
