Left political leaders on Monday described India’s under construction Tipaimukh Dam as the ‘death trap’ for Bangladesh. They said that India was unilaterally building the dam violating agreements with lower riparian Bangladesh as well as international conventions.
India is building the dam on the international river Barak before it splits and enters into Bangladesh as Surma and Kushiyara, which later meet the Meghna, as its main tributaries.
Addressing separate demonstrations in the city organized by Communist Party of Bangladesh and Democratic Left Alliance in protest against the construction of the controversial dam, the left leaders said that India was
going ahead with Tipaimukh dam construction violating the assurance of its
prime minister Manmohan Singh had given to
Bangladesh.
They told the demonstrations in front of the National Press Club that there was no reason for Bangladesh to trust oral commitments of India as it never kept
its commitments on
water issue.
They criticized the government for pursing a subservient foreign policy for which it failed to persuade India not to build the controversial dam above Bangladesh.
The left leaders said that the controversial dam would create severe consequences for the people of Bangladesh, particularly in its northeastern region.
They said that fish and rice production in northeastern districts of Bangladesh would face a serious crisis due to India’s Tipaimukh Dam.
They said that the ecology, ecosystem, biodiversity and livelihood of people of Bangladesh in its northeastern districts would be seriously affected.
They said that the dam would also adversely affect the population in India’s northeast for which they had been opposing the controversial dam.
They asked the government to officially protest against the construction of Tipaimukh Dam by India.
They call upon all
democratic and progressive organizations and people to launch a tough movement against the Indian bid to build the controversial dam.
Chaired by party president Manzurul Ahsan Khan, the CPB rally was also addressed by the party general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, assistant general secretary Syed Abu Zafar and central leader Ashraf Hossain Nazu.
DLA coordinator Mushrafa Mishu chaired the other rally addressed by Ganasanghati Andolon chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, Workers Party (Reformed) general secretary Abdus Sattar and Nazrul Islam of Communist League of Bangladesh.
-With New Age input
