After 11 Years, a Grassroots River Movement in Eastern India Renews Its Call for a Cross-Border Water Treaty

 11 Years On, a River Still Fights for Flow

Kamal Kumar Biswas. TOD.Balurghat

Marking the 11th anniversary of the Atreyee Bachao Andolon (Save the Atreyee Movement), local residents and activists in Balurghat commemorated a campaign that began as a protest against a rubber dam upstream in Bangladesh and has since evolved into a broader demand for an international water-sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh.

The movement traces its origins to March 29, 2015, when concerns over reduced water flow in the Atreyee River galvanized citizens in South Dinajpur district. What began as a local appeal to district authorities, including then District Magistrate Tapas Chowdhury, gradually expanded in scope, eventually reaching the Asia-Pacific headquarters of the United Nations, according to organizers.

On Sunday, the civic group Dishari Sankalpa organized a daylong series of events in Balurghat to mark the occasion. In the morning, a commemorative “My Stamp” featuring the Atreyee River was unveiled at the river’s Sadar Ghat, alongside a special anniversary poster. Both were released by educator Somnath Das.Later in the day, cultural programs brought together songs and poetry centered on the river, while speakers highlighted the historical context and continuing relevance of the movement. Tuhin Shubhra Mondal, secretary of Dishari Sankalpa, addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of educating younger generations about the struggle to preserve the river.

Participants, including students such as Tanushiya, Sayantika, Swarnali, Ankita, Samriddhi, Swapnil, Madhusmita and Tapajyoti, expressed a collective commitment to protecting the Atreyee River and sustaining its ecological health.Mr.Tuhin Shubhra Mondal reiterated the group’s core demands: ensuring the natural flow of the river, safeguarding its environmental integrity, and establishing a formal bilateral water treaty between India and Bangladesh concerning the Atreyee. He stressed that the well-being of the river is closely tied to the future of Balurghat and the wider South Dinajpur region.

“The people of this town fought to protect the Atreyee,” he said. “Its survival requires cooperation across borders. A joint initiative between India and Bangladesh is essential.”The Atreyee River, which flows across the India-Bangladesh border, remains a lifeline for communities on both sides. Activists say that without coordinated management and equitable water-sharing, the river’s future—and that of the region it sustains—will remain uncertain.