'Build awareness, raise voice to resist Tipaimukh project'

21 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Prof Muzaffer Ahmed addressing a regional convention organised by Tipai Bandh Protirodh Andolon at M Saifur Rahman Auditorium in Sylhet city yesterday to create awareness about the disastrous effects of Tipaimukh project in the Indian state of Manipur.Photo: STAR

Prof Muzaffer Ahmed yesterday emphasised awareness building and raising voice at home and abroad to resist Tipaimukh project in the Indian state of Manipur as the mega project would bring ecological disaster in the state as well as large downstream areas in Bangladesh. "Manipur University in India has conducted the highest volume of works on the Tipaimukh project but we are much behind in this respect," Prof Muzaffer said at a regional convention styled 'Surma-Kushiyara-Meghna Basin Regional Convention' at M Saifur Rahman Auditorium in Sylhet city. He was addressing as the chief guest there. About a thousand people from 12 districts of greater Sylhet, Comilla, Mymensingh and Narayanganj joined the daylong programme organised by Tipaimukh Bandh Protirodh Andolon, Sylhet to create mass awareness about the adverse effects of the project. "Unfortunately our parliamentary team which had a trip to India did not visit Manipur state. And so, the Manipur people and organisations that have been vehemently protesting the mega project, could not discuss with the team members," Prof Muzaffer said. On invitation from India to join the All India Conference on Tipai Project last month, a team from Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon wanted to go there, but the Indian High Commission did not permit, he said. "Most of the people in Manipur are against the Tipai project as its implementation will dislodge a large number of indigenous people from their own lands while it would cause a disastrous situation in the region. We need to join their voice at home and abroad. "During the world climate conference on December 12, our prime minister should convey our concern over the Tipaimukh project to her Indian counterpart. "We had done wrong in Chittagong Hill Tracts in the past. We are still suffering greatly for the Farakka project. If we fail to settle Tipai issue rightly there would be more critical things over the 54 common rivers in near future," Prof Muzaffer said. Convener of Tipaimukh Bandh Protirodh Andolon, Sylhet, Bedananda Bhattacharya chaired the first session while joint convener Lokman Ahmed read out the convention declaration in the morning. Representatives from the 12 districts spoke, among others, at the session moderated by joint convener EU Shahidul Islam. Water expert Dr Enam Ul Haque presented a documentary on the effects of dams and embankments worldwide.