[zamir]

I want to alert every Bangladeshi from Sylhet or anywhere from Bangladesh of the threat of the TIPAIMUKH DAM project. The Dam which is planned by the Indian government is just one kilometre from the border with Bangladesh and threatens the water supply to much of Sylhet. It is being built on a fault line which means it is vulnerable to earthquake which would then flood the north east region.

The India government is using their power to complete this destructive project without due respect to the destruction and devastation this will bring both to the natural environment and the social an economic well-being of the area. India, once again, is trying to justify this as it did with the construction of the Farakka Barrage. But the evidence shows the harm Farakka Barrage has brought to Bangladesh.

The Indian government has not consulted the Bangladeshi people who will be affected by this project. It is in violation of international law. By constructing Tipaimukh and other barrages, India is threatening to deprive the people of Bangladesh of life-giving water. India has resumed construction of the Tipaimukh barrage on the Barack river just a kilometre north of Zakiganj in Sylhet. The construction work was stalled in March 2007 in the face of protests within and outside India.

The barrage when completed in 2012 is supposed to provide 1500 megawatts of hydel power to the Indian state of Assam but in return its going to bring about a major disaster for Bangladesh, practically contributing to the drying up of the 350 km long Surma and 110 km long Kushiara rivers which provide water to most of the north-eastern regions of Bangladesh.

The Tipaimukh barrage is going to seriously affect not only agriculture in large portions of Bangladesh, particularly in winter, but is also going to bring about negative ecological, climatic and environmental changes of vast areas in both Bangladesh and India. Bangladeshis, with our friends from environmentalist groups, must face this challenge and force the Indian government to stop constructing this Dam. We don’t want to see more destruction and suffering for the people of Bangladeshi, its economy and nature.

Time to take action! Help stop the construction of the Dam to save the 10 million people!