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1.
The meeting of Chilmari 2005, was presided
over by the IFC Chairman, Mr. Atiqur R. K. Eusufzai
Salu, and Secretary General Sayed Tipu Sultan conducted
the meeting, where Chilmari declaration was read out
before a huge gathering by the Senior Assistant Secretary
General Mr. Mohammad Hussain Khan. The speakers expressed
their grave concern over the disastrous Indian plan
for linking 57 common rivers and to divert water from
those rivers in the upstream in the Uttar Pradesh,
Rajstan, Gujrat, Hariyana, Daccan States, etc.
2. As Indian Government of India
is implementing Indian River-link Project by violating
all the International Laws, regulations and conventions
of river sharing, human rights violation is the concern
of all the speakers. If India implements her River-linking
project, as an adverse effect of which Bangladesh
will turn into a desert within next few years. While
water in the rivers will dry up and ground water level
will go down, intrusion of saline water and increase
of salinity in soil and groundwater will not allow
crops to grow, ecology and bio-diversity will be destroyed
and their will be no habitation.
3. As an aftermath of India’s Farakka
dam, which has already affected in the environment,
ecology and rivers, Bangladesh’s Southwestern region
has less agricultural production in all areas of Rajshahi
and Chapai Nawabganj, and threatening the world’s
largest heritage mangrove forest, The Sundarbans.
The salinity as well as, arsenic contamination increased
in many parts of the country. There are scientific
evidences that, increased salinity is more than 60
times than that of Pre-Farakka period in Ilsha &
Tentulia System, has affected agriculture in Barisal
and Patuakhali.
4. The long march and grand rally
was attended by members of International Farakka Committee
(IFC), North American Long March Committee and IFC-Bangladesh.
Also participated by nationals from USA, Canada, UK,
and Journalists, freedom Fighters, environmentalists,
educationists, writers and poets, artists, engineers,
doctors, agriculturist and other professionals along
with hundreds of thousands of local people from all
walks of life from all over the country took part
in the huge rally.
5. The Grand Rally, Internally reputed
environmental scientist, other speakers and hundreds
of thousands of people express their protest and aggrieved
reaction against the Indian Inter-Basin River Linking
Project which is a threat to the existence of Bangladesh.
6. The Grand Rally is strongly urging
the Indian government to stop all the studies and
execution of projects related to inter-Basin River
Linking which is being done unilaterally, till the
due and legitimate share of water for Bangladesh is
ensure according to Internal treaties and United Nations
Charter.
7. The Grand Rally strongly urging
the Bangladesh Government to take a pioneering role
for forming a regional River Commission comprising
the countries of the region, viz., China, Nepal, Bhutan,
India and Bangladesh under the supervision of the
United Nations and the World Bank.
8. The Grand Rally is expressing
its solidarity to the call and movement “Save The
River, Save The Country, Save Bangladesh” of the International
Farakka Committee and paying their great gratitude
to the members of the International Farakka Committee
for their sacrifice, dedication and creating unique
example of patriotism.
9. The huge gathering is renewing
the pledge to continue the movement with the participation
of population from all works of life till the cancellation
of the Bangladesh’s existence threatening Indian Inter-Basin
River Linking Project and the legitimate share of
water for Bangladesh is ensure under the umbrella
of the United Nations and World Bank.
10. The Grand Rally urging the Bangladesh
Government to take immediate measures to stop the
river erosion which is threatening the Chilmari Bandar
and also demanding the rehabilitation of the people
of the people affected by the river (Bhramaputra)
erosion.
11. The Grand Rally urges the government
and all concerned authorities to take appropriate
measures to protect the Sundarban, The largest Mangrove
Forest of the world from destruction, which has already
been declared as a site for world heritage by UNISCO.
12. The Grand Rally also urges the
UNICEF and other concerned bodies to come forward
for putting pressure on India to stop the Indian Inter-Basin
River Linking Project, because if the project is implemented
the rights of the women and children will be severely
curbed.
13. The International Farakka Committee
also declares unequivocally to carry the environmental
movement in collaboration with friendly organization
and all paratactic people till India cancels the Bangladesh
existence threatening Indian Inter-Basin River Linking
Project.
14. Today’s human sea urges all concerns
irrespective of political belief, religion, and locality
to forge a greater national unity for strengthening,
particularly the environment movement.
15. The Grand Rally strongly urges
the Bangladesh Government for taking appropriate measures
for claiming proper compensation from India for deterioration
of environment and financial loss incurred for that
in Bangladesh due to unilateral withdrawal of upstream
water by Farakka Barrage and other projects implemented
by Indian Government.
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