Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tipaimukh dam: BNP to send letter to various countries



UNB, Dhaka


The main opposition BNP is going to send a letter to various countries through their envoys in Dhaka requesting them to urge India to refrain from constructing Tipaimukh Dam.

According to party sources, a meeting of the BNP standing committee, the party's highest policymaking body, on Sunday night finalised the draft of the letter to be sent to the heads of government and state through their mission offices in Dhaka.

The letter, the sources said, would also be sent to the international organizations, including the United Nations. The letter describes the possible adverse impacts on Bangladesh if the dam is built on common river Barak in Sylhet region by India.

The letter says that the dam will pose a threat to climate, ecological system, bio-diversity, agriculture, fisheries, drinking water and overall human life in Bangladesh.

It also mentions some clauses of the International River Law, including the one that says that if an upper-riparian country wants to build or do anything over a common river that country must discuss and take permission from the lower riparian country.

A BNP top leader said the letter would be dispatched soon since its draft has been finalized.

Meanwhile, BNP still refrains from providing the names of its representatives to the parliamentary delegation to visit Tipaimukh dam site as their proposal for including experts was not entertained by the ruling Awami League.

Besides, the opposition is still waiting for government reply as it sent on June 29 six names of its separate delegation, including four water experts, in response to the Prime Minister's offer.

The main opposition has decided to disclose "soon" information and data on India's proposed Tipaimukh dam project before public, according to the sources.

BNP chairperson's press wing chief, Maruf Kamal Khan, Sunday said the party is collecting data and information on its own about the Tipaimukh dam and will make those public through holding a function soon.

"Political parties and members of various professional groups, among others, will be invited to the function," he said.

Source: http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/07/14/news0860.htm


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