Tipaimukh Dam
India's attitude of 'no harm done' doubted
Speakers at a seminar yesterday doubted India's attitude of "no harm to Bangladesh by proposed Tipaimukh dam" and sharing of Teesta water, saying that India has historically dodged Bangladesh on water sharing issue several times.
Prof Moniruzzaman Mia, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University, said India has assured Bangladesh several times but did not deliver the promises. In his keynote paper, he cited examples of India's attitudes regarding water sharing and results of bilateral talks in the past.
Like Manmohan Singh, prime minister of India, Prof Moniruzzaman recalled, former premier N Rao assured his Bangladeshi counterpart Khaleda Zia in May 1992 that "India would not create any problem for her neighbour".
The professor thinks that for one or more decade, India would continue to say they would not do any harm to Bangladesh for a decade or so. "By that time, it would have built the storage/diversion structure", he said, talking of Tipaimukh dam.
Prof Moniruzzaman shared his thoughts at the seminar, "Water Sharing of Common Rivers", organised by the Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD) in the city's Cirdap auditorium.
CFSD secretary general Mahfuz Ullah said India's attitude has not changed though it assured it would not take any step likely to hamper the interests of the neighbours.
He said basin-wide management of international rivers could only give solutions acceptable to all. "Rights over water of international rivers are internationally recognised. It does not depend on kindness of anybody".
An ex-ambassador, Dr Mustafizur Rahman pointed at the knowledge gaps of Bangladeshi bureaucrats. "We are not prepared properly. We must know precise information on all aspects of water sharing of international rivers", he said.
According to Prof Dilara Chowdhury of Jahangirnagar University, India has already made dams on 34 international rivers out of the 54 common rivers the two countries share.
Zahirul Islam, former water secretary, said bilateral talks on water sharing would not bring any fruits, as India discounts Bangladesh due to it's weak military power.
A former member of the joint river commission, Tauhidul Anwar Khan, said from his experience that Indian delegates were very good at delaying to reach consensus during the past water talks.
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