Call to stop building Tipaimukh dam

Mujahidul Islam Selim addresses a view exchange meeting at Cirdap auditorium in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR

Politicians and environmentalists yesterday protested the Indian government's move to build a dam at Tipaimukh on the river Borak, saying that it would seriously harm the environment in Bangladesh.
They called on India to cancel the decision and reach a mutually agreed solution through talks with the lower riparian country on the possible adverse impacts on the environment.
The experts made the call at a view exchange meeting on 'Tipaimukh dam on river Borak at Manipur in India and possible environmental hazards in Bangladesh: what is our duty' organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa).
Awami League organising secretary Mahamudur Rahman Manna said, "It is a big problem for the country and we want to resolve the issue through holding talks with our friendly neighbour."
"We need to talk on the issue right now. Otherwise, once the dam is built, we would have nothing to say. We have to do everything possible to stop the project," he said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said the dam would hit the people badly in the entire region, but northeastern districts of Bangladesh would be worst affected.
Bapa vice president Syed ANM Wahid said the government should send an expert delegation to Tipaimukh and explain to the Indian government how the dam will have disastrous affects on the environment.
Gono Forum presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya and Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque also spoke at the meeting presided over by Bapa vice president and former adviser to the caretaker government ASM Shahajahan.