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Article: Bangladeshis Hope Pact Will Ease Flood-or-Famine Existence
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 21, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Across westernmost Bangladesh, the ebbing of the Ganges River
has put a strain on many aspects of daily life, from rice paddies
and paper mills to river ferries and water wells. The Ganges means
so much to Bangladesh that when India agreed last week to release
more water during the coming dry season, excited residents of this
northwestern town prematurely rushed to the banks, hoping to watch
the level of the shallow water rise.
"Every year we are frustrated. We hope water will be released.
We're not 100 percent sure we'll be able to get anything from our
fields," said Mohammad Nazrul Islam, who grows rice downstream.
"Since our political leaders are saying we'll get water, we hope ...