Tipaimukh issue
We have 57 international rivers of which 53 flow through India and Bangladesh. Countries having international rivers need to follow the international laws on sharing the river water. The Indian government has signed a contract to build a dam on Tipaimukh of Barak river which imposes a serious threat to the eastern region of our country. As the Barak river enters our territory, it takes two names - Surma and Kushiyara., Later, these two rivers join Meghna, which then falls into the Bay of Bengal. Surma and Kushiyara are considered the heart of agricultural and economic activities of the people living in Sylhet division. Building the dam will reduce the flow of water in these rivers resulting in the death of several other rivers and haors connected with these rivers. Another thing is that this dam will increase the probability of earthquake. It will also destroy the environment, economy and culture of the people living in Manipur and Mizoram of India. Recently, eminent Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar expressed his dissatisfaction over building of the dam on Tipaimukh without informing Bangladesh, though the Indian government assured in the past that they would not do anything that might let Bangladesh down. But it seems that they are going back on their promises. It is a matter of hope that general people, several organisations and both the government and the opposition parties have protested this decision of the Indian government. We need to continue the protest until the Indian government repeals the contract of building the dam.
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