UNB, Dhaka
Chairperson of the main opposition BNP Khaleda Zia on Saturday made a clarion call for Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to immediately make a formal announcement canceling the Tipaimukh-dam project, as the mega-scheme on a common river generated fear of ecological adversities in Bangladesh.
The incumbent Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and former Prime Minister made the call while delivering her introductory speech at a function on presentation of 'Information and Data on Possible Impact on the Ecology and Public Life of Bangladesh' in the event of construction of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam by India on the common river Borak.
Under the initiative of Khaleda Zia, her party organized the function at Hotel Sheraton at 4 pm to make public the information available from different sources, pending a parliamentary team's spot visit that remained uncertain for a cacophony between the ruling and opposition sides.
Begum Zia herself invited distinguished citizens of the country, leaders of ruling and opposition political parties and people of different professions to attend the function and share with them the concerns stemming from the dam, planned by India as a hydroelectric scheme.
In her speech of introduction, Khaleda welcomed the recent statement of the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, as he assured that they wouldn't do anything that harms Bangladesh.
"I am making a clarion call for an immediate formally announcement on cancellation of the Tipaimukh-dam project to put into action this statement of his (Dr Manmohan)," she told the function.
Khaleda also mentioned her letter given to the Indian premier earlier this past June describing adverse impacts on Bangladesh if the dam is built.
The ex-PM urged the present government to play a bold role in protecting national interests. "There is no need to bow down," she said.
"Don't be afraid. You (present government) are not alone. We will remain with you if you uphold the national interest. The countrymen will also remain with you," the opposition leader said of the ruling Awami League.
Not only on the issue of Tipaimukh Dam, they also want to cooperate with the government in many other sectors in greater national interest as she said they have been saying this repeatedly. "I hope the government will come forward to take the cooperation."
Referring to her initiative to organize today's function and having invited all concerned, she said there is a necessity of national consensus on important national issues. It would be tough to face the problem of Tipaimukh dam without national consensus, she observed.
Former Secretary of Power Division ANH Akhter Hossain presented the keynote on power-point presentation at the function, conducted by BNP joint secretary-general Nazrul Islam Khan.
Apart from the keynote speaker, BNP standing-committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossian, vice-chairman and former Water Resources Minister Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, former VC of Dhaka University Prof Moniruzzaman Mia, economist Prof Mahbubullah and ex-DG of Water Development Board Rafiqul Islam were present on the dais as panel members and gave replies to various questions from the audience in the question session after the presentation of the keynote paper.
BNP secretary-general Khandoker Delwar Hossain gave vote of thanks at the function.
Other top BNP leaders and activists, Dhaka city Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, leaders of various political parties, environmentalists, water experts, educationists and representatives of different professions were among others present at the meet, which continued for over two hours from 4:05 pm.
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