Socio-Political Bodies to Start Movement Against Tipaimukh Dam

By Ehsanul Haque Jasim

Dhaka, May 20 : Different political parties and social organizations are preparing to launch movement against India's move to start the construction of Tipaimukh dam in the Manipur state of India, apprehending that it would affect adversely the country's rivers and environment as well.

People of the Indian states of Manipur, Assam and Mizoram are also taking similar movement programme against the dam as its construction would have an adverse impacts on their states too.

Environmentalists fear that the north-eastern region of Bangladesh, including the greater Sylhet, might be turned into a desert area due the adverse impacts of the dam. Its implementation could also inundate a number of villages of Manipur, Assam and Mizoram states.

The Tipaimukh Dam issue was reportedly raised by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she met her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during her recent visit to India.

In that time, the India Premier had assured Sheikh Hasina that India would not do anything which would be harmful for Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on April 28 last among the NHPC Limited, Government of Manipur and SJVN Limited, a joint venture of the government of India and the government of Himachal Pradesh, for formation of a Joint Venture Company to start the construction of Tipaimukh dam.

After knowing this decision of the Indian government, different political parties and social organizations in the country have expressed their grave concern and sternly protested the decision. Bangaldesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) has already protested on the Indian move for construction of the4 dam, saying it would announce a number of movement schedules soon. BSD central leader Mahin Uddin Chowdhury Litan told this reporter that his party would launch movement programs from its central meeting to be held on May 25.

Sources said that the main opposition BNP is thinking to launch programme against the construction of the dam soon. BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has already launched hartal programme on June 27 against what the party said for the misdeeds and misrule of the government.

The party may launch a long march programme towards Tipaimukh Dam after the hartal programme, added the sources.

Aggression Protirod Jatiya Committee, the organization which is critical against the Indian water aggression, has already expressed its concern over the decision to start construction of the dam. It threatened the government that if it failed to take any initiative to stop the dam construction, the committee would launch tough movement along with the country's people.

In the meantime, Sylhet Division Development Action Council (SDDAC), a Dhaka-based organization of the people of Sylhet, would initiate various programs like demonstration, human chain and procession to make the people aware against the4 adverse impact of the Tipaimukh Dam.

SDDAC president Advocate Abed Raja told The New Nation that India is constructing the dam cheating with the people of Bangladesh as it assured that it would not do anything which would be harmful for Bangladesh. So there is no alternative to movement on the issue, he said.

On the other hand, the Sylhet Division Development Students' Action Council would organize different programs on the Dhaka University campus and in the capital protesting the construction of the dam.