It follows therefore that the Tipumaikh Dam should be vigorously opposed by the AL government as the Dam was so vociferously opposed by the AL opposition :)
The environmentalist credentials of AMA Muhith are impeccable. He is an extraordinary man.
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Cyrus <thoughtocrat@...> wrote:
>
> I see that Alochok Momen bhai has done half the research for me already. :) Thanks for the historical perspective.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: WCI <sylhet@...>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 11:19:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Re: Fw: Prime Minister or Chief Minister?
>
>
>
> Tipaimuk Dam Project: A Historical Perspective
>
> You raised an interesting point about what the Opposition party the Bangladesh Awami League and environmentalist groups or civil societies did during 2001-2006 on Tipaimuk issue while the BNP government was in power.
>
> When the Indian central government against the wishes of the Manipur government (they imposed Presidential rule in Manipur in 2001) and finally approved the Tipaimuk Project in 2001, the Bangladesh government did not oppose it (Manipur Assembly adopted a resolution against the project in 1998). However, the opposition AL and environmental groups opposed it and organized demostrations/ meetings against it. When the Indian government announced budget for the project and appointed a construction firm to complete the Tipaimuk project in 2004, the Khaleda-Nizami government of Bangladesh decided not oppose it as it might destabilize the relationship between Bangladesh and India. Reportedly, they even did not want the story to be publicized as per Bangladesh's environmentalist group, the Angikar. When Angikar sent out information to local media, most of the TV channels decided not to do a story on it.
>
> As per government document, during the Joint River Commission (JRC) meetings between Bangladesh and India in 2003 and 2005 the BNP government led by then Water Resources Minister Major (Retd) Hafizuddin did not oppose the Indian move. When he was asked about it by journalists, he stated 'the issue is under study'. However, the opposition AL party and many environmentalist groups in Bangladesh opposed it and and did a letter writing campaign against it. They sent thousands of letters to the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh opposing the Tiapaimuk project. In addition, they organized many grass-root 'boat press conferences' throughout the country.
>
> The environmentalist groups led by 'Angikar Bangladesh Foundation' (angikarbd@yahoo. com) organized an International Conference on Tipaimuk Dam project at the Engineers' Institute in December 30-31, 2005 and it was participated by AL leaders like AMA Muhith, Nurul Islam Nahid, Dr. Abdur Rajjak, et al plus experts or opinion leaders from all over the world including Manipur, Mizoram and Assam. Opinion leaders like Engg. Hilaluddin, Dr. Zafer Iqbal, Mohidul Huq, Dr. Ainun Nishat, Dr. Nazrul Islam, Nasreen Huq, Maniruzzaman, et al attended it and presented papers. Most of the Bangladeshi dailies published headlines on the issue and the conference on Tipaimuk. The theme of the Conference was "NO to Tipaimuk Dam".
>
> Few newspaper headlines were like the following: the Daily Star headline read "Tipaimuk Dam: Indian Move to Trigger Severe Eco-disaster" , the Bangladesh Observer, "India urged to Abandon Tipaimuk dam project', the New Nation, "India urged to Stop Project", the Bangladesh Today, "India Urged to Abandon Tipaimuk Project", Prothom Alo "Baad Nirman Prokolppo batil Korthe Bharater proti Abban", Ajker Kagoj, "Tipaimuk Baad Prokolppo Bathiler Dabi". etc .etc. You can see the details in its Conference Volume ISBN: 984-300-000657- 0. The book is available and it cost $20 or Tk300 only. Contact: itdc2005@barcikbd. org or angikarbd@yahoo. com
>
> In 2006, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Tipaimuk Dam Project. The people of Monipur and Mizoram provinces called for 'Bharat Bandh" (general strike) and they cripped Prime Minister's trip. As a result, Indian Prime Minister could not lay the foundation stone. Bangladeshi AL leaders like AMA Muhith joined the environmentalists in India and spoke against the project. A few effigies of Muhith were burnt down in Kachar, Assam and Mizoram by the supporters of the Tipaimuk project and he was asked to leave India within 24 hours as he took leading role against the Tipaimuk dam project and spoke against it. However, greater majority of Monipur, Mizoram, and Kachar those who oppose Tipaimuk project they protested against the burning of the effigy of Mr. Muhith and demanded withdrawal of his deportation order.
>
> Tipaimuk project was initially picked up in 1955 and in the 1st JRC meeting in 1973, it was decided that the issue would be discussed between Bangladesh and India prior to the site selection and also construction of it. The Indian government decided the construction site in 1984. Bangladesh government did not oppose the site selection. In 1993, a group of experts and opinion leaders demanded the abandonment of the Tipaimuk project as it would create environmental disaster, the Bangladesh government of Khaleda Zia simply ignored it and did not take up the issue with India. It just ignored it.
>
> Abdul Momen
>
>
>
>
> Jul 19, 2009 10:56:10 AM, alochona@yahoogroup s.com wrote:
>
>
> >If we accept Cyrus' point of view as a fact that Begum Zia as a Prime Minister had ignored the dam issue willling or unwillingly when she was in charge but my point is: where were our opposition leader back then? and by the way, where were those back-ender or rear-ender civil societies and the media, doing then?
> >
> >Today, BNP is not in power as BAL was not in power back then. BTW If BNP can make a political issue now, why didn't BAL or so-called left-wing dingbats make a political issue back then?
> >
> >By calling Didi Zia or Chief Minister Zia, if the so-called left-wing dingbats try to escape or evade their duties or responsibilites then how does the left-wing-mongers' philosophy differs from the right-wingers?
> >
> >--- In alochona@yahoogroup s.com, Cyrus wrote:
> >>
> >> it is amazing to me that these right-wing dingbats still continue to spread fact less rubbish. AL govt. is by no means perfect, but it was the BNP govt. that allowed construction of several other dams in India, allowed water allocation and reservation, almost gave up big chunks of the Sundarban, and I can name a few other stupid things that they had done. Where was the community outrage then? Madam Zia should have been called Didi Zia or Chief Minister Khaleda.
> >>
> >> I just have had enough with the lies. The philosophy, it seems, that if you don't have facts to support your argument, just pull them out of your rear end!!
> >>
> >> Enough already.
> >>
> >> C
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ____________ _________ _________ __
> >> From: Zahid Hossain
> >> To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:10:38 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Fw: Prime Minister or Chief Minister?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Amar Desh is rarely a source for any credible news...
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 9:43 PM, Isha Khan wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >--- On Sun, 7/12/09, Zoglul Husain wrote:
> >> >
> >> >Amar Desh report, 13 July 2009, last page.
> >> >>
> >> >>Leftist teachers, intellectuals and writers in meetings held at the Dhaka University asked Hasina whether she wanted to remain a Prime Minister or wanted to become a Chief Minister. They called upon the Prime Minister to refrain from being collaborators of India and the US and, in the interest of the country, to oppose the Tipaimukh Dam and the selling of oil-gas to foreigners. They called for the expulsion of Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty.
> >> >>
> >> >>They alleged against the Prothom Alo of info-terrorism and fascism and demanded release of Ashish Koraia and Prince Mahmood of the Lamp Post cultural organisation from police custody. They criticised Ramesh Chandra Sen of not understanding the magnitude of the adverse effects of the Tipaimukh Dam project.
> >> >>
> >> >>Please click to read the details:
> >> >>
> >> >>http://www.amardesh bd.com/dailynews /detail_news_ index.php? NewsID=230961&NewsType=bistarito&SectionID=home&IPP=ZJKXGQTI
> >> >>
> >> ____________ _________ _________ __
> >>
> >> >>Beyond Hotmail - see what else you can do with Windows Live. Find out more.
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >
>
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