The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said that the construction of Tipaimukh dam at the upper reaches of the rivers Surma and Kushiara has to be resisted in the interest of the country. Otherwise, the north-eastern region of the country would be turned into desert, they warned.

They, however, supported the decision of the government to sign agreement to be connected with Asian Highway Network and called for its implementation as soon as possible to increase regional communications.

Organised by Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) the roundtable on 'Tipaimukh Dam-No, Asian Highway, Connectivity-Yes" was held at its Puranapaltan office in the city.

The roundtable was presided over by CPB President Monjurul Ahsan Khan while CPB general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, renowned columnist Syed Abul Maksud, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) Dr Abdul Matin, chief of Angikar Bangladesh engineer Muhammad Hilal Uddin, engineer Sarder Amin, Ahmed Mujtahid, among others took part at the discussion.

Monjurul Ahsan Khan accused BNP and its key Jamaat e Islami of blowing the Tipaimukh issue out of proportion in their own interest.

"We will have to move ahead in the interest of the people of Bangladesh and should not oppose India for opposition sake only," he noted,

Criticising the government, Mujahidul Islam Selim said that the ministers of the government remain silent when the US and other western diplomats talk about Bangladesh's internal matters. The Indian high commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty was no exception. He deplored that our foreign minister remained silent over the Indian High Commissioner's faux pas on the Tipaimukh dam project in her presence,

The speakers said that if the Tipaimukh dam is constructed, It would sour the relationship between Bangladesh and India and in that event the stubbornness of India would be responsible.