“We would not allow India to construct the Tipaimukh Dam, if it adversely impacts on Bangladesh,” the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a rally organised by the Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance at the Government Madrasa ground in Sylhet city on March 24,2012. In the rally she also mentioned that her government has already told India to include Bangladeshi representatives in a feasibility study group to look whether it would adversely affect Bangladesh and about the assurance of India that they would not do anything harmful for Bangladesh. It is difficult to understand why the prime minister is in doubt about the adverse impact of the said Tipaimukh dam. She should realise the simple fact that all rivers, canals, mountains and hills, mangrove forests or even the deserts were created by the Creator for the benefits and survival of all living creatures on earth and any alteration in this arrangement of the Creator is bound to impact the environment in any form or other.

We can just think of the consequences of hill cuttings at Chittagong. Bangladesh has been already suffering from the damaging impact of Farakka Barrage built by India. Without waiting for any study result on the matter, the Bangladesh government must take up the issue with India and stop all activities or projects aimed to change the natural course of the common rivers and if necessary we should go to International Court in the light of our past bitter experiences with our friendly neighbour. The government must know that this is a national issue and it has no right to make any compromise on national interest.

Engr. Md. Aminul Hoque

East Rampur, Dhaka