BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the Awami League of betraying national interests by allowing India to operate the Farakka Barrage. Speaking on the 49th anniversary of Maulana Bhashani's historic long march towards Farakka, Fakhrul said the protest aimed to ensure Bangladesh's rightful share of Ganges river water. "Back then, the Awami League government ignored public sentiment and allowed India to start test operations at the barrage, which has now turned into a death trap for Bangladesh," he said. Fakhrul added that unilateral water withdrawal from 54 transboundary rivers and the construction of multiple dams have turned the northwest region of the country into a near-desert.