Readers Respond
Here are some comments that came in response to Sunday's The Daily Star report headlined “No Tipai 'harm'”
Mayen Uddin Tazim
Thanks to the prime minister of India for his assurance that the proposed project would not adversely impact on Bangladesh. India had expressed earlier that Tipaimukh project would be a hydroelectric project with provisions to control floods and it would not involve any diversion of water for irrigation. This indicates that the proposed project will be implemented. So, what is the context of the assurance of the Indian prime minister? Anonymous
If Manmohan Singh gives only verbal assurance to Bangladesh, both Khaleda and Hasina should join hands and take the Tipaimukh issue to the UN. Abul
I don't see any other option than taking it to the international forum. With its unilateral actions, India is harming us beyond all proportions. Sheikh Monirul Islam, Opee
Is the Indian PM in a position to give us any assurance? Indian bureaucrats can always verrule their political bosses. So, where do we stand at this critical juncture? Anupam
Being a neighbour, we expect due respect from India. If building a dam on a common river is feasible, it should be built, of course, for common benefits of both the countries. Reaz Hassan
Indian assurances signify nothing. New Delhi 's credibility has touched the lowest point as could be seen from a variety of unfulfilled promises in the last 40 years. India will certainly go ahead with Tipaimukh dam, despite our serious objections and thereby cause untold sufferings to millions in Bangladesh. Wasting no time, therefore, this contentious issue should be raised at the International Court of Justice. It is a matter of our survival and India has no right whatsoever to interfere with the flow of a major common river like Barak on such a massive scale. Upfront
The letter is yet to be opened by the opposition leader. Yet, a number of speculations are already flooding the news media. If my guess is correct, it is simply a standard diplomatic response to the letter of our opposition leader to maintain the status quo of Indian standpoint already expressed before, and that is why very little time was needed to send the reply. My only concern and worry is: is it going to stop our government from sending a special envoy and seeking joint environmental study? We should analyse and examine the plan to be satisfied with the assurance of the Indian premier. Engr. Shaikh Wazir
The Tipaimukh Dam may release water for irrigating only the Indian farmlands downstream, depriving Bangladesh. Only sending a survey team to the proposed site by the BNP and the GoB is not enough to know the Indian intention. They must seek data about the rainwater catchments area, water flow, water retaining capacity of the lake, the height and other dimensions of the dam, etc., and then do their own calculations to know how the dam will affect downstream Bangladesh.
Thanks to the prime minister of India for his assurance that the proposed project would not adversely impact on Bangladesh. India had expressed earlier that Tipaimukh project would be a hydroelectric project with provisions to control floods and it would not involve any diversion of water for irrigation. This indicates that the proposed project will be implemented. So, what is the context of the assurance of the Indian prime minister? Anonymous
If Manmohan Singh gives only verbal assurance to Bangladesh, both Khaleda and Hasina should join hands and take the Tipaimukh issue to the UN. Abul
I don't see any other option than taking it to the international forum. With its unilateral actions, India is harming us beyond all proportions. Sheikh Monirul Islam, Opee
Is the Indian PM in a position to give us any assurance? Indian bureaucrats can always verrule their political bosses. So, where do we stand at this critical juncture? Anupam
Being a neighbour, we expect due respect from India. If building a dam on a common river is feasible, it should be built, of course, for common benefits of both the countries. Reaz Hassan
Indian assurances signify nothing. New Delhi 's credibility has touched the lowest point as could be seen from a variety of unfulfilled promises in the last 40 years. India will certainly go ahead with Tipaimukh dam, despite our serious objections and thereby cause untold sufferings to millions in Bangladesh. Wasting no time, therefore, this contentious issue should be raised at the International Court of Justice. It is a matter of our survival and India has no right whatsoever to interfere with the flow of a major common river like Barak on such a massive scale. Upfront
The letter is yet to be opened by the opposition leader. Yet, a number of speculations are already flooding the news media. If my guess is correct, it is simply a standard diplomatic response to the letter of our opposition leader to maintain the status quo of Indian standpoint already expressed before, and that is why very little time was needed to send the reply. My only concern and worry is: is it going to stop our government from sending a special envoy and seeking joint environmental study? We should analyse and examine the plan to be satisfied with the assurance of the Indian premier. Engr. Shaikh Wazir
The Tipaimukh Dam may release water for irrigating only the Indian farmlands downstream, depriving Bangladesh. Only sending a survey team to the proposed site by the BNP and the GoB is not enough to know the Indian intention. They must seek data about the rainwater catchments area, water flow, water retaining capacity of the lake, the height and other dimensions of the dam, etc., and then do their own calculations to know how the dam will affect downstream Bangladesh.
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