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From: abid bahar <abid.bahar@gmail.com>
To: Masud Ali <ibnmasum@gmail.com>, amader shomoy editor <info@amadershomoy.com>, daily dighanta dighanta <info@dailynayadiganta.com>, daily star <editor@thedailystar.net>, amerdesh amerdesh <info@amardeshonline.com>, notun Bangladesh <notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com>, new age <letters@newagebd.com>, chottala@yahoogroups.com, info@eurobangla.co.uk, iqra@sympatico.ca, mkm@bangla.net, jahmed1947@yahoo.com
Subject: [chottala.com] Re: Demo against Tipaimukh in front of UN Jan 10
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:11:49 -0500
Demo against Tipaimukh in front of UN Jan 10
Dec 20, 2011
The International Farakka Committee at an emergency meeting yesterday in New York decided to holdthe demonstration on January 10 Tuesday, in front of the United Nations Head quarters in NY to protest against Indian Tipaimukh Dam demanding stoppage of its construction and make ahuman chain, according to a message received in Dhaka.
The meeting was presided by Atiqur Rahman Salu, Chairman of the IFC. The meeting was addressed by prominentcommunity leaders and activists. The meeting was moderated by Dr. Shah Alam,adviser, and Assistant Secretary General, Gias Ahmed and Organizing Secretary, Ataur Rahman cooperated.The meeting was attended and addressed by engineers, business men, activists, journalists, and various localcommunity leaders of the Bangladeshi regional organizations.IFC New York has urged to all the organizations in USA, Canada, Bangladesh and elsewhere to make their own protest rally demonstration, human chain, and send a letter to theworld leaders and also send fliers to stop the Tipaimukh Dam, said a pressrelease issued by Atiqur Rahman Salu.
On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 7:53 PM, Masud Ali <ibnmasum@gmail.com> wrote:Assalamu Alaikum!Sorry for late response. Thanks for your�articles. We published hose in www.bdinn.comMasud AliSolutions to Tipaimukh Dam and other problems by I...
Dec 12, 2011
Abid Bahar There has been protests and demonstrations going on all over Bangladesh and in abroad by Bangladeshis against India�s...
READ MORETipai project may trigger strong tremor, tsunami, ...
Dec 13, 2011
The proposed Tipaimukh Dam project taken by the Indian government may trigger a massive earthquake in the region claiming around 30...
READ MORETipaimukh: India�s unlimited thirst for water
Dec 13, 2011
�Abdur Rahman Chowdhury ALL the major rivers in the subcontinent including the Ganges, the Jamuna and the Brahmaputra have their...
READ MOREOn Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 9:05 AM, abid bahar <abid.bahar@gmail.com> wrote:Tipai project may trigger strong tremor, tsunami, fears expert
Posted by: "Isha Khan" bdmailer@gmail.com � bd_mailer
Sun Dec�11,�2011 9:50�am (PST)
Tipai project may trigger strong tremor, tsunami, fears expert
The proposed Tipaimukh Dam project taken by the Indian government may
trigger a massive earthquake in the region claiming around 30 million
people in Bangladesh, fears an expert.
The Tipaimukh Dam site is located in a zone highly vulnerable to
tremor. A series of massive earthquakes occurred in the zone in the
last 110 years,� Dr SI Khan, former UN water and environmental expert,
told a roundtable in the city on Sunday.
He said a 500-foot depth water reservoir will be created due to the
construction of Tipaimukh Dam which will pile a pressure of 160 tonnes
in per square metre beneath the dam, unleashing a massive earthquake
in the region.
�A strong tremor will damage the dam sending its water downstream
which will ultimately wash away people in the Meghna basin. There�s
also a possibility of more devastating tsunami,� Dr Khan told the
roundtable.
International Farakka Committee (IFC), New York, and IFC Bangladesh
jointly organised the roundtable titled �Tipaimukh Dam: Options for
Bangladesh� at the National Press Club.
Chaired by IFC Bangladesh president and former Vice Chancellor of
Jahangirnagar University Dr Jasim Uddin Ahmed, the roundtable was
addressed, among others, by language movement veteran Abdul Matin, Dr
Zafarullah Khan, secretary general of IFC, New York, Syed, Tipu
Sultan, Engr Abdul Quader and New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal
Majumder.
Dr SI Khan, in his keynote address, said the Indian government seems
set to go ahead with its plan to build the controversial Tipaimukh Dam
on the Barak River in Manipur. �But, this is a violation of
international law.�
�According to the international water-related laws and conventions, no
country can carry out such activity on common rivers, as there is
always the chance of harming the downstream countries,� he said.
Dr Khan said as per the World Convention on Dams, if a country wants
to build a dam with a height over 15 metres and minimum water
reservoir capacity of 3 million cubic metres on a common river, the
project must be acceptable not only to the government(s) but also the
people of its river basin.
Referring to the article 9 of the Ganges Treaty of 1996 signed by
India and Bangladesh, he mentioned that the treaty says �Guided by the
principles of equity, fairness and no harm to either party, both the
governments agree to conclude water Treaties/Agreements with regards
to other common rivers.�
Dr Khan, also vice president of the International Farakka Committee,
said although the height of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam is 163 metres
and its water reservoir capacity would be 1.5 billion cubic metres,
India has not shown any willingness to negotiate with downstream
Bangladesh.
According to the Helsinki Convention, he said, upstream countries
cannot carry out any such activities that might adversely affect the
environment and biodiversity of the downstream counties. But, India
has taken a controversial move (Tipai project) that will spell
environmental disaster for Bangladesh.
Dr Khan suggested forming a regional river commission through mutual
understanding with neighbouring countries to meet the water problems
in South Asia.
He also said another river commission should be formed for the common
Barak-Meghna River basin to resolve the ongoing debate over the
Tipaimukd Dam project.
Before implementation the Tipai project, Dr Jasim Uddin Ahmed
suggested conducting a joint survey guided by the United Nations to
assess the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the dam.
He also urged the government to build a strong unity involving all
sections of people to resist the Indian move, keeping in mind the
national interest.
http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-65078On Sun, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:23 PM, abid bahar <abid.bahar@gmail.com> wrote:Indian Water Aggression and Call for Boycotting Indian Goods to Save
Bangladesh*By Abid Bahar, Canada
Indian government's continued arrogance to share the international River
Gange's water causes great loss and desertification in the North West of
Bangladesh. Now India is building Tipaimuk dam to block the North East of
Bangladesh. India already built or in the process of building many more
smaller bridges on rivers entering Bangladesh. Bangladesh is helpless. It
needs your help.Save Bangladesh
(1) For the past 30 years we have seen, demonstrations, organizing seminars
and sending protest letters do not work with the stubborn India. Let�s go
for a boycott movement of Indian goods. Let�s observe it from August 16-23,
let�s observe Indian Water aggression and boycott of the Indian goods week
(Bharotio Ponnoborjon shopta).(2) This should be observed every year and we will demand August 16 as a
national holiday. This week will be to mourn the man-made disaster in the
making in Bangladesh.(3) The peaceful observation is our cold war response to India. It is our
call for freedom from Indian aggression. We know the first war was fought
against Pakistan now this is against the arrogant Indian government. This
is because only the boycott of multi-million dollar Indian goods in
Bangladesh remains Bangladesh's only option to stop India's criminal
activities against Bangladesh aimed at turning it into a desert/ dependent/
a failed state/ a bottomless basket case.(4)This should be a grassroots movement. Political parties of color and
kind can join in the movement but it should continue to remain a pro-people
movement and definitely a nonviolent movement.The date I propose is also to remember Bhasani�s first launch of the
protest march to Rajshahi in the late summer of 1976. The difference is
that this will be a week long activity which should have cultural groups
and cultural activities, the recitation of poems about desertification and
the effect of arsenic poison due to man-made evils. It should also include
drama activities and seminars to inform and attract the mainstream youth.
It can include the symbolic game playing with imported Indian rotten eggs.
The game will be hitting egg by the egg marble game and activities should
be reported to news papers. The seminars will demand the government to
strengthen the border from smuggling of Indian goods by rebuilding our BDR
force and the army. In all this, Indian people should know that
Bangladeshis are not against them but its government�s destructive and
arrogant policy against Bangladeshi people's future.(5) I recommend that the Poinoo Borjon Shopta should be observed from
Tatulia to Taknaf. This seems to be the time to act before Bangladesh
becomes South Asia's "Desert Ethopia" and India's banana republic.(6) We the patriotic Bangladeshis have to keep the pressure up on India and
India's friendly foreign governments against India's actualization of the
barbaric "India Doctrine" and against the desertification of Bangladesh.
Volunteers from local to national level should continue to lobby
internationally. We know Bangladesh already has many sons and daughters
working hard on lobbying against this evil design by India.(7) The point is India can not do anything it wants. The mighty America
couldn't do anything against the patriotic and conscious Cubans, despite
the fact that they also have many Moin U (puppets) Mir Jaffors who
regularly receive horses. It is also because in our time we live in a
global village. Only pressure from average Bangladeshi people at home and
abroad will demonstrate to the pro-Indian governments including the last
caretakers that Bangladesh has the backbone to survive.In this, Bangladesh will not lose anything but will gain everything. If
Gandhi could do it against the mighty British we as a freedom-loving nation
of 144 million importing a substantial amount of Indian third category
goods can do it too. We are going to call it �Water Aggression and
Boycotting Indian Goods week." (Bharito Ponnyo Borjon Shapta)We are asking people to spontaneously join in the movement. I propose non
political people and professors from Dhaka University and BUET should form
a group to fight and lead this annual event and fight the cold war. If it
slowly turns into a spontaneous movement like our great annual language
day, we wouldn't need any leadership from above.(8) I suggest that Bangladeshis should also erect a central monument in
Dhaka protesting Indian aggression and have a national museum depicting the
desertification, arsenic poisoning, border killing, water aggression,
dividing the Bengal by erecting a wall, jamming our TV and India�s
systematic anti-Bangladesh policy. I expect the movement against Indian
water aggression will also attract International attention from the
environmental groups as well.Let's do it now or never!
Let's hear from various Bangladeshi people, including the pro-Indians/
opportunist Bangladeshis what else they think about it. If peace-loving and
patriotic Bangladeshis agree, form your own committee in your city for the
upcoming "Water Aggression and Boycotting of Indian Goods week" from August
16-23. For this you wouldn't need anything except your love for your mother
and Bangladesh, your motherland!In the article below please see how Palestinians through their grass roots
movement doing the unthinkableAbid Bahar
Canada���Solutions to Tipaimukh Dam and other problems by India: Listen to Bhasani
Abid Bahar
�There has been protests and demonstrations going on all over Bangladesh and in abroad by Bangladeshis against India's Tipai mukh dan construction. There had been similat protests against Farakka dam previously but little was done by India. For its objective is to turn Bangladesh into a dependent state of India, Bangladesh a "bottomless bascate case".True, India Doctrine dictates India not to listen to Bangladesh no matter what we do, especially when it had Hasina's AL and its giant proi ndian support base, The Daily Star, The Prothom Alo and several other media keep the focus on War crime tribunal etc and the international media ready to listen mosly to what India has to say. .
Despite all that please don't forget India bought almost everything including the power hungry opportunists politicians and the military but except our people. At this juncture of our critical period we must do what Bhasani instructed us such as to use gherao and the boycotting of goods in this case the imported Indian goods in Bangladesh. and gherao Ashuganj port etc. There have been suggestions to burn imported goods from India as a symbolic gesture. I don't encourage Bangladeshis to burn anything especially imported saris. This was not Bhasani's technique. Bhasani's technique was not violent. We can use his idea of having fire in our heart ( Jalao, Jalao, Agun Jalao) techniques to unite the nation against Indian water aggression. Listen to what Bhasani said, " Freedom Struggle continues." True, we fought against Pakistan now we have nonviolent cold war going on against India, "freedom struggle continues".
�
The following is an article I wrote several years ago on this topic but could still be relevant.
�
�Indian Water Aggression and Call for the Boycotting of Indian Goods
Link: http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2009-07-09&hidType&hidRecord=273389On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Masud Ali <ibnmasum@gmail.com> wrote:Stop Tipaimukh dam: Farakka Committee
Dec 9, 2011
New York-based International Farakka Committee in open letter on Friday urged the international community to stop India from constructing the Tipaimukh dam upstream the river Barak in India, saying that it is a violation of international laws.
�We, the citizens of Bangladesh and expatriate Bangladeshis, are urging you to stop India from constructing dams on upstream rivers that flow through Bangladesh,� reads the letter the committee issued on Friday.
The letter said that India�s unilateral action to build the dam and to withdraw water of the common river is against international conventions.
It violates the spirit of the Millennium Declaration by member states of the United Nations, which pledges �to stop the unsustainable exploitation of water resources by developing water management strategies at the regional, national and local levels, which promote both equitable access and adequate supplies,� the letter says.
Quoting from different international treaties, conventions and statutes, the letter says, �Construction of the Tipaimukh Dam by India on the upstream of the Barak, which, after entering Bangladesh, continues to flow as Kushiyara and
Surma, will be illegal�unless it is preceded by prior consensus with Bangladesh.�
�Although India has not yet ratified the 1997 Watercourse,� the letter reads, �there is every reason to argue that the convention, being adopted by a vote of 103�3 in the UN General Assembly, is applicable as �evidence of
international customary law� to Tipaimukh or any such project on shared�rivers.�
The letter outlined different adverse impacts of hydroelectric dams, once regarded as clean renewable energy sources.
�It has now turned out to be significant generators of greenhouse gases given off by decomposing vegetation in tropical reservoirs. The constant and reliable irrigation hydroelectric dams can waterlog the ground. The water brings underground salt to the surface, which is left behind when the water evaporates.�
�Eventually,� it reads, �The soil becomes too salty for crops to survive. Even the prevention of flood is a mixed blessing. The salt which was once carried downstream by a swollen river replenishing the soil and nutrients, no longer makes its journey to the sea. Instead it clogs up the reservoir.�
�Your excellency,� the letter urges, �We appeal to you, in the name of humanity, for the sake of the environment and ultimately for regional and global security, to stop India from this act of vandalism. We also urge you to demand on India to agree to shared-management of all common rivers in the�spirit of the Millennium Declaration.�
On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 2:06 PM, Masud Ali <ibnmasum@gmail.com> wrote:Web-Seminar in Bangla
Tipaimukh Dam:
Upcoming Disaster for Bangladesh�
Saturday, December 10, 2011/8 pm (Eastern Time)
Join Online: www.savebd.com
Call to voice your concern.
Tell the world why Tipaimukh Dam should be stopped
US/Canada: 1-289-444-5223 password - 1111/ UK: +44.792.400.8904 password - 1111
Key-note Presenter:
Dr. Muhammad Saidul Islam
Assistant Professor - the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Singapore
MA and PhD in Sociology from York University (Canada)
Bachelor degree in Sociology and Anthropology from International Islamic University Malaysia
Research �include environmental sociology and international development with particular emphasis on globalization, global agro-food system, environmental certification and governance, global commodity networks, agrarian change, and gender and labor issues in agro-food industries.
Published over a dozen articles in different peer-reviewed journals including Food Policy, Society and Natural Resources, Journal of South Asian Development, and Asian Profile
Particular interest in Asian Diaspora, power in social organization, and Islam in modernity
Previously taught in the College of William and Mary, one of the top six public universities in the United States, as well as York University
Member of World Aquaculture Society (WAS).
�
Organised by:� Bangladesh Watch, Canada/ Human Rights Development for Bangladesh (HRDB), USA/SaveBD.com
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