Govt wary of data being revealed if experts included: BNP

BNP Vice-Chairman M K Anwar on Friday alleged that the government is not interested to include experts in the parliamentary team to visit Tipaimukh Dam.
“The government fears that experts would disclose the possible adverse impacts of the Tipaimukh Dam on the country which may go against the government interest later. And that is why the ruling party is interested not to include experts in the parliamentary team to visit the Dam site with a view to knowing the possible impact of the Dam,” M K Anwar told reporters while briefing the newsmen at the party’s
central office at Paltan
yesterday.
Anwar informed that BNP will make a presentation on the proposed Dam at Hotel Sheraton on Saturday. The huge information gathered by them will be presented by the experts there on the possible impacts of the Tipaimukh Dam.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be present at the presentation programme. Different political party leaders, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on water resources ministry, cabinet members, members of civil society, professionals and MPs from greater Sylhet have been invited to attend the presentation programme, said Anwar.
He said BNP along with the people will do everything needed to protect the interest of the country and its people. Even they will organize long march and political rallies to resist the Indian move to build Tipaimukh Dam with a view to protecting the countrymen from the massive adverse impact of the Dam.
He said the government’s steps to stop the move of the Indian government for building the Dam are not enough. He also condemned some ministers of the government as they are advocating in favour of India’s move to build the Dam.
He said BNP sticks to the demand for withdrawal of the envoy of India and the Bangladesh government should take steps in this regard considering the country’s interest.
Anwar categorically said that BNP would not compromise on the greater interest of the country and its people for the sake of keeping bilateral friendship with neighboring country.
BD News 24.com adds: Khaleda Zia on June 29 sent a list to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina containing names for a six -member representative team to visit the dam site in northeastern Manipur state.
The delegates are Anwar, former water resources minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, former water resources secretary Muhammad Asafuddoula, former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Moniruzzaman Miah, former director general of Water Development Board Sharif Rafiqul Islam and water specialist Prof Abdur Rob.
Among them, Anwar and Hafiz Uddin have been mentioned as “BNP representative” and the others as “technical experts”.
A 10-member parliamentary panel, headed by chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on water resources ministry Abdur Razzaq, will go to India on July 29 to gather data on India’s proposed dam over the cross-border Barak river in the northeastern state of Manipur.
BNP press conference today
BSS, Dhaka : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will present various information and data on India’s Tipaimukh dam project at a press conference at Sheraton Hotel in the city today (Saturday).
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, other political leaders and professionals will be present at the press conference, said BNP Vice-Chairman and former Minister MK Anwar, while talking to reporters at the BNP central office in the city on Friday.