Weather | Dhaka Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday said Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty might have violated diplomatic norms through his comments on controversial Tipaimukh dam and Bangladeshi water experts.
"I personally feel he [Indian envoy] might have breached diplomatic rules,” Dipu Moni told journalists in reply to a query at a press conference at the foreign ministry.
Foreign diplomats have limitations to making comments but the Indian envoy might have crossed that limit, said Dipu Moni.
Pinak at a seminar on June 21 termed the Bangladeshi water experts opposing the Tipaimukh dam project 'so called experts' in presence of the foreign minister.
His remarks drew widespread criticism from various quarters including main opposition BNP that demanded his withdrawal for 'meddling with Bangladesh's internal affairs.'
When asked about Pinak's remarks, Dipu Moni said being a foreign minister she did not feel it necessary to respond to an ambassador's remarks.
Appropriate authorities may take necessary measures if he had breached diplomatic norms, she said.
On Pinak's claim that there is no international law that bars India from implementing the project, the foreign minister said it does not matter whether a treaty exists or not as the issue can be settled through bilateral talks.
Dipu Moni said bilateral ties with India are important but Bangladesh would do whatever necessary to protect its national interests.
She said a parliamentary team will visit the dam site this month to examine the present situation and collect related data and statistics.
“After analysing the data and information received from the Indian government, Bangladesh government would make its decision. If the data and statistics go against the country's interest, we will do whatever it takes to protect our interests,” Dipu Moni said.
Asked about opposition leader Khaleda Zia's letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking facilities for a BNP-nominated expert team to visit the dam site, the foreign minister said her ministry would act according to the decision of the Prime Minister's office.
Both Dipu Moni and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud said it would have been easier for the present government to deal with the issue if the previous BNP-led coalition government had raised the matter before India in 2003 when the Tipaimukh dam project was firmed up.
“The previous BNP government remained silent when the land acquisition for the project began in 2005. Their (BNP) policy is to please India while in power and protest India's moves when they are in opposition,” said Hasan Mahmud.
“They (BNP) remained mum when they had the opportunity to speak against the project. Now they are trying to make it a political issue,” Dipu Moni.
The foreign minister said during her New York trip, she asked the Indian state minister for foreign affairs to stop construction works of the dam until Bangladeshi experts visit the spot and make an assessment.
“He assured me of conveying the message to his government,” she added.
India plans to construct the dam on international river Borak without any consultation with Bangladesh. Various quarters have been demanding cancellation of the project, fearing its adverse environmental impact on Bangladesh.
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Thursday, July 2, 2009 04:37 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
I do not like the ambiguity about whether High Commissioner has breached the diplomatic norms or not. If the breaching has occurred then we should move fast and make a diplomatic protest to the proper channel rather than making muddy water with the media. Since I was not in the seminar, I can't stop wondering why an Indian High commissioner was invited there and given time to speak. What else one would expect? Our experts gave their versions of future and he did not like it. The man was there to defend his country's policies and he went for the credibility of our experts.
I think it was a mistake to invite him there in the seminar and expect him to be a silent listener. With the same breath, I would also ask our experts to be more vigilant about our rivers, lakes and wetlands, which have been gradually being grabbed by the indigenous criminals. It took Daily Star reporters to focus on that deadly problem.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 06:46 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Why did it take so long for the foreign minister to wake up? She herself was present at the event where Mr Pinaki made the insulting and disgraceful remarks against our water experts.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 07:13 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Pinak Babu has just crossed his own limit.
But the reality is that its the reflection of Indian attitude towards its neighbours.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 09:26 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
We do not want to see Indian diplomats High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty in Bangladesh.This diplomat exceed his limit.
I send a protest letter to Mr. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty Wednesday July 23 2008 13:33:31 PM BDT. But he didn't answer.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:50 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
OH! At last our FM awoke. In presence of her Pinak humiliated our experts but she was silent that time. So we expect stern initiative of proper authority abt this issue.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 08:58 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Good grief! Here goes blame game again. Why not just admit that you are failing to deal with India's arrogancy and stop blaming BNP in each of your cases?
I guess someone knocked some senses in to Dipu Moni. Though I think she will reverse her comments if asked again sometime soon and outright deny of saying that Pinak breached diplomatic norms.
We've elected some weirdos to run our country, so far so terrble!
Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:00 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
It appears to me that Dipu Moni still does not beleive that Pinak Ranjan has violeted diplomatic norms.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:04 AM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Thanks Ms. Dipu Moni for realizing that Pinak ' might have broken' diplomatic norms. And we also hope u would take necessary steps for that.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 01:12 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
This gentleman has been arrogant, impolite right from day one of his tenure here in this country. It is time he left our country and spare us of his obdurate verbosity.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 02:25 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Pinak's comments have exceded limit as a diplomat,but why Foreign minister Dr. Dipu moni not protest at that time ,After some days now she make a commets on that matter.It is not acceptable.I think She would not make any comment ,if media are silent.As a foriegn minister she is completely failed.
Thursday, July 2, 2009 03:17 PM GMT+06:00 (20 weeks ago)
Recently at a meeting in Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) the vainglorious Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh passed highly objectionable remarks on the experts, environmental scientists and activists. He undermined many learned professors, PhDs, and highly experienced officials of Bangladesh by saying 'so called experts'¯. We are astonished by the audacity he exhibited in front of a few people of his caliber. He said, Bangladeshi people are agriculturally better off now by the blessing of Farakka Barrage. He does not care anymore to maintain diplomatic norms. His behavior has made it clear that the present government is not working for Bangladeshi people but for India. He must apologize to the people of Bangladesh and go back to his country immediately. It is shocking and unthinkable that he could have uttered such remarks while Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni was in the same meeting. The Minister supported him by remaining silent- without a word of disapproval of the statement that the High Commissioner had made. Now again the Foreign Minister is hesitating to say directly that Pinak did wrong and trespassed the line of diplomatic norms. and said she did not feel it necessary to respond. This is not the case. The fact the matter is , she is an unexperienced person holding a very important ministry of the country.