National unity on Tipaimukh issue urged: India should shun big brotherly attitude

Staff Reporter

June 22, 2009

Speakers at a discussion yesterday emphasised the need to forge unity of the nationalist forces to protect the country's interest. They also said that India should avoid big brotherly attitude to help improve bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

This observation came at a discussion on ' Indo- Bangladesh Relations: Recent Developments' organised by Centre for Strategic and Peace Studies (CSPS) at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed MP was present as chief guest in the discussion while Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, former vice chancellor (VC) of Dhaka University presided over.

Prof MA Rob, VC of Manarat International University presented keynote paper and Shah Abdul Hannan, former secretary and chairman of CSPS moderated the discussion.

It was also addressed, among others, by Abul Hasan Chowdhury, former state minister for foreign affairs, Mohammad Qumaruzzaman, assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami Shafiul Alam Prodan, president of Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA), Sheikh Sawkat Hossain Nilu, president of National People's Party (NPP), Prof Tareq Shamsur Rahman, Prof Abdul Latif Masum, Dr Sukamal Barua, Major (Retd) Abdur Rob, Jainal Abedin and Col (Retd) Ashraf.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed said some cabinet ministers of the government do not want to see the construction of Tipaimukh Dam but under pressure from a certain quarter they cannot express their views.

Terming the parliamentary committee formed by the government to visit Tipaimukh Dam as 'one sided' since there was no representative from the opposition parties.

"There is no representative of BNP in the parliamentary committee. BNP would not go to the site of Tipaimukh Dam without experts. Visiting there by parliamentary committee means giving endorsement the construction of Tipaimukh Dam," he noted.

Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said there was no alternative of consensus of the national issues.

He said that it was a matter of regret some ministers have passed such comments as if they were serving other country's interests.

"India does not need to make agents of her own rather a section of people of our country are keen to be their agents," he observed.

Mohammad Qumaruzzaman said India's attitude towards Bangladesh today seems worse than it was with its arch rival Pakistan.

Abul Hasan Chowdury said the Asian Highway and Tipaimukh Dam are not merely political issues rather these are issues of great national interest.

"There is no reason to consider ourselves as citizens of small country as the people of the country are known how to fight with unity for protecting their interests. We must unite ourselves for resolving the present crisis with our neighbours bilaterally and multilaterally," he said.

Shafiul Alam Prodan said conspiracy is on to destroy our patriotic armed forces.

Sheikh Sawkat Hossain Nilu said India is interfering in the internal affairs of Bangladesh.

Prof Tareq Shamsur Rahman said India should stop carrying out anti Bangladesh propaganda and the country should not yield to the pressure of India on transit issue.

Prof MA Rob said Bangladesh has to take a 'realistic policy' towards India for protecting its national interest.

Source: http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/06/22/news0724.htm