India Opens All Gates of Gajoldoba Barrage; Millions Along Teesta River Worried

India has opened all the gates of the Gozoldoba barrage under its control without any prior notice.

The Teesta barrage control room and the flood warning center stated that they had no advance information about the release of such a massive amount of water.

India, being a water aggressor, has consistently treated the people of Bangladesh inhumanely.

India, a neighbor downstream of the basin, dries up Bangladesh during the dry season and releases excessive water when rivers flood, causing hardship to millions along the Teesta riverbank.

On Sunday evening, India unexpectedly opened all the gates of the Gozoldoba barrage due to heavy rainfall in upstream areas including Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri in northwestern India, causing a sudden flood surge in the Teesta.

At 6 PM on Sunday, water flow began to rise at the Dalya barrage point on the Teesta, recorded at 52.25 meters, 10 centimeters above danger level. By 9 PM, it increased to 33 centimeters above the danger level, and at midnight it further rose to 52.50 meters, 35 centimeters above danger level.

Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of Dalya division, reported that at midnight on Sunday, the water level at Dalya barrage was 36 centimeters above danger level.

Earlier in the day, it was 10 centimeters above at 6 PM, fluctuating between 29 to 33 centimeters above during the evening hours. At 6 AM on Monday, the water level remained 10 centimeters above the danger mark.

Meanwhile, floodwaters have entered multiple areas in Lalmonirhat district including Dahgram, Shrirampur, Patgram municipality, Saniajan of Hatibandha, Goddimari, Dauabari, Singimari, Patikapara, Sindurna, Kakina, Tushbandar, Chandrapur, Mahishkhocha of Aditmari, and others. Thousands of hectares of crops such as vegetables and chili fields have been destroyed, and thousands of fish ponds have been washed away by floodwaters.To control Teesta water, 44 sluice gates at the Teesta barrage in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, have been kept open 24 hours, but the water management authorities are still struggling to control the situation.

Shahidur Rahman, a former school teacher of Goddimari village on the Teesta riverbank, described the Gozoldoba barrage as a “poisonous wound” for Bangladesh as it controls the flow of the Teesta river water.

This causes water scarcity in dry seasons and sudden flooding during the rainy season, severely affecting people’s livelihoods. He called this an inhumane act by India against the people of Bangladesh and strongly condemned it.

Local resident Maleka Begum of Dahgram said roads have submerged, their fish ponds have been washed away, and water entered homes last night. Many, including her, spent sleepless nights worrying about their livestock.

She accused India of causing the flood and watching the suffering of Bangladeshis.Bilkich Begum from Gobordhon village, Mahishkhocha Union, Aditmari, took refuge with her family and livestock in a relative’s home in Sadarpur village after receiving news of the water release.

Dr. Shaikhul Arifin, Deputy Director of Agricultural Extension in Lalmonirhat, said that crops like transplanted Aman rice, peanuts, and vegetables are currently growing in the Teesta floodplain areas.

If the water remains for three to four days, significant damage will occur, but if it subsides within one to two days, the damage will be relatively less.Sunil Kumar, executive engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department in Lalmonirhat, stated that the situation is being closely monitored and residents along the riverbank have been warned through public announcements.

Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner H M Rokib Haider said that due to upstream and heavy rainfall in Bangladesh in recent days, the Teesta river has exceeded danger levels. The district administration is fully prepared to face the flood situation.