Wave of protest in 10 districts against Tipaimukh dam
Tipaimukh Bandh Protirodh Andolon forms a human chain along the Surma River in Sylhet, below, on the Monu Bridge in Moulvibazar town yesterday protesting India's decision to construct Tipaimukh dam on the Barak River as the structure would affect flow of downstream rivers Surma and Kushiyara in Bangladesh territory. Photo: STAR
Human chains were formed in 10 districts including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Netrakona yesterday protesting the move for construction of Tipaimukh dam on Barak river in India. A human chain was held along the bank of the river Surma in Sylhet yesterday afternoon as part of the month-long agitation, organised by the 'Tipaimukh Bandh Protirodh Andolan', a left-leaning forum of political activists, reports our staff correspondent in Sylhet. The programme was observed at the headquarters of the districts that, feared to be badly hit by the proposed mega project in the Indian state of Manipur. The protesters in Sylhet staged the programme in front of the Circuit House near Surma River. The human chain was formed in Balughat area of Sunamganj town also on the Surma bank while in Moulvibazar district town it was staged on Monu River bank. In Habiganj town, the programme took place on the Khowai River bank. Convener of the forum Bedananda Bhattacharya, also president of the district Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), chaired a rally in Sylhet while Sylhet District Bar Association president EU Shahidul Islam, former Sylhet pourashava chairman AFM Kamal, International Farakka Committee, USA's general secretary Syed Tipu Sultan, BELA's regional coordinator Shaheda Akhtar, Bapa general secretary Abdul Karim and others spoke. About a thousand social and political activists and others joined the programme. The 'Tipaimukh Bandh Protirodh Andolan' started its month long agitation on 4 December. The programme includes staging human chains in districts, view exchange meetings with the professional and social organisations from 13 December to 31 December and rally at Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar followed by procession in the city on the concluding day. The participants of the human chain in Moulvibazar alleged that despite concerns and anxieties about the Indian attempt to make the dam, the government is yet to take proper measures to resist it, reports our correspondent. They feared that on completion of Tipaimukh dam Surma, Kushiyara, Monu and many other rivers in Sylhet region will die because of decline in water flow. The ground water level in Sylhet region will also go down drastically, they said. Those who spoke include Dr MA Ahad, president of Moulvibazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, central joint secretary of CPB, Dewan Abul Khayer Chowdhury, convener of the Sector Commanders' Forum Moulvibazar unit, and Mamunur Rashid Suhel, BSD Moulvibazar district unit member secretary. In Netrakona, the human chain was formed in front of Central Shaheed Minar in the town. Several hundred activists of left leaning political parties in the district took part at the human chain followed by a rally, reports our correspondent. Mostafa Kamal, president of Netrakona district unit CPB, Anisur Rahman Khandakar, general secretary of Netrakona district CPB, among others, spoke at the rally. The speakers demanded immediate steps to cancel the move for construction of Tipaimukh dam in the Indian state of Manipur.
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