Kushtia: Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Sunday said withdrawing water from common rivers unilaterally and opening the sluice gates of Farakka Barrage during monsoon is not a right action by neighbouring India.

‘It’s not fair to unilaterally withdraw water from common rivers and open Farakka Barrage gate (during monsoon),’ he said while distributing relief materials among flood victims at Chargolapnagar at Bheramara upazila, reports UNB.

The minister came up with the remarks amid media reports that India opened the sluice gates of the Farakka Barrage to ease Bihar flood situation, raising the water level in the Padma River that flooded some areas in Kushtia, Rajshai, and a few other districts in Bangladesh.

He said it is now necessary to assess the extent of damage caused by opening the Farakka sluice gates and inform the Indian authorities about it.

Turning to militancy, he said the government is successfully tackling the militancy problem. ‘Khaleda Zia during her rule used to protect militants by hiding information and destroying evidence. The Hasina government is having success in curbing militancy as it’s working with authentic information.’

He also urged Khaleda not to try to save militants by raising unnecessary questions about the government’s efforts to eliminate militancy.