Dear All, LongLiveBangladesh organized a seminar on "Environmental and Political Crisis Looming in Bangladesh " in Marriott Hotel in Washington DC area. Under the moderation of Mr. Syed Moktadir, internationally recognized specialists discussed on adverse impact feared on Bangladesh due to recent Indian decision to construct Tipaimukh Dam on Borak River just a kilometer north of Zakigonj of Sylhet. It has more: OR: For English, please read the following piece: They also discussed on performance of new Bangladesh Government's first 100 days and the current political crisis in Bangladesh . Keynote speaker Engr. Mahmud M. Hussain spoke on some key facts on India 's decision to construct Tipaimukh Dam and its adverse impact on Bangladesh environment and ecology in the long run. Engr. Hussain had served as a flood control consultant for WAPDA in Bangladesh and he is currently working in a top administrative post in Virginia Department of Transportation. He has more than forty years of experience in major international construction projects in India , Bangladesh , Pakistan , Nigeria and U.S. Going back to the bumpy history of this project, Engr. Hussain said, "The project was perceived in 1954 but the Mijoram government and the people were opposed to it…Subsequently, Indian government successfully maneuvered and convinced the people of Mizoram to go with it. The reasons they have cited that, two benefits, one is controlling floods, second is generating electricity. … And that will create jobs as well. And Mijoram as you know, is a backward area. The Chief Minister of Mijoram had been opposing it until 1995. In 2002 Indian Government with the help of the Local Government of Mijoram, the construction was undertaken." However, Engr. Hussain noted that the potential benefit in electricity and employment will be undermined by the inevitable damage in ecosystem and financial hardship the proposed dam is going to cause. So what Bangladesh has really to worry about? According to Engr. Hussain, "During winter months the water will be collected, stored and utilized for their agricultural purposes and also generating electricity. Once the water is stored and blocked, we are in the downstream and they are in the upperstream, the water is going to be limited, probably a very little... As a result, the Sylhet Division along with some neighboring districts will be affected and impacted. The river will get dry. All the species living including fish will shrink and die. ..So construction of this dam will deprive Bangladesh of its share of international water. Millions of people are dependent on supply of the water from Borak river for fishing and agriculture. It will dry up Surma, Kushiara and any other linked rivers and canals in the area. The dam will seriously affect the agriculture in the winter. Then it will bring negative ecological impact to all the species". About direct human suffering, Engr. Hussain says, "6 to 7% of population out of 150 million people will be affected and its chain effect will affect everyone in the country. When the market doesn't get production from their gardens, the price is going to be high and affect everyone." The human suffering caused by the new dam is likely to cause more harm on the already strained relationship between Bangladesh and India . "This construction and controlling water will definitely generate bitter relationship with Bangladesh . There has been processions and Manab-bandhan in northern region" Engr Hussain said. He mentioned that it's not just a Bangladesh issue but also for a sizable population in Mizoram and Manipur. "During construction, an estimated 275 square kilometers of land will be affected that is inside Mijoram. So 275 square kilometers is a huge area that will be submerged. So people will be affected inside [of India ]" he mentions. Environmental Sociologist Dr. Saidul Islam, a faculty at the College of William and Mary in Virginia spoke on the ecological and social disasters to be caused by the Tipaimukh Dam. Dr. Islam identified the gradual death of some key rivers including Surma, Kushyara, and Meghna; weather change turning a wet cooler habitat into a hot uncomfortable cauldron; massive siltation; flood and salinity as the ecological costs of the Tipaimukh dam. The dam Will, according to Dr. Islam, "dry up Surma and Kushiara rivers in winter season, turn the north-eastern green fertile soil into dry waste land, and will disrupt irrigation, agriculture, drinking water supply, navigation etc." The dam Will destroy fisheries wildlife in numerous haors and low lying areas in the entire Sylhet division and some peripheral areas of Dhaka division. The social costs will be massive. "The social damage caused by the dam will be loss of employment and livelihoods, massive migration and planet of slums, food crisis and massive poverty, and a loss of up to $30 billion a year by Bangladesh." noted Dr. Islam. He also mentioned that the dam will be used a great tool for political control by India over Bangladesh . Environmental Engineer and BUET Alumni Association officer Engr. A.N.S.M Ahsan Kabir discussed on the unavoidable effects on Bangladesh rivers and water bodies and its harmful impact on soil, weather and human health in the affected region. According to Engr. Kabir, affected river water will carry increased heavy metals such as Cadmium and Arsenic. Since these elements are potential carcinogens, there will be higher incidence of cancer cases in the affected regions. So what's the solution? According to Engr. Hussain, " Bangladesh and India needs to have bilateral discussion so that interests of both the countries are preserved". All other speakers reiterated his point emphasizing more active role from Bangladesh government. Other crucial steps proposed by the presenters include massive social and environmental protests and awareness locally and globally, petitions, writing to different environmental forums including Greenpeace and Sierra Club, and potentially suing India in the International Court of Justice. Engr. Masud Rahman, Executive Director of BangladeshWatch , USA , presented an audit of the human rights situation in Bangladesh and talked on performance of current Government's first 100 days. According to Engr. Rahman "Barack Obama campaigned for change and before his hundred days in office we saw some positive changes in US policies. Current government of Bangladesh also invoked on changes and we are seeing changes in the negative direction. In democracy it's the duty of the winner and majority to protect the right of the opposition and minority but now in Bangladesh it looks like that loosing an election equals to loosing even the right to live." Engr. Rahman condemned the Bangladesh government's involvement in the post-poll violence, campus violence and closures, tit-for-tat politics, press harassment, extra-judicial killings and violation of international law. Into the three months of Awami League ruling, BangladeshWatch audit reports 62 deaths and 4258 injured in post-poll violence, 11 extrajudicial killings by RAB, and dozens of BDR members death in custody after the mutiny. The press harassment continues with 18 journalists injured, 5 threatened, 3 attacked and 4 assulted, numerous instances where publications of materials are being obstructed by authorities. He cautioned the audience that 100 days is too early to judge a government, but there are valid reasons to be worried about since "morning shows the day". The seminar ended with a question and answer session, followed by a note of thanks from Dr. Mohammed Abdul Munim, Executive Director of LongLiveBangladesh.
Regards, Nayan Khan |
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