CASE STUDY FOR BANGLADESH STUDIES

COURSE CODE: GEN-201

ON

THE TIPAIMUKH DAM

CONTROVERSY
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr. Bijoy P. Barua
Chairperson & Associate Professor
Department of Social Sciences
East West University

SUBMITTED BY:
Md. Arif Alamgir
Id# 2006-2-10-006

Submission Date: 12TH August, 2009

EAST WEST UNIVERSITY

THE TIPAIMUKH DAM CONTROVERSY

India recommences Tipaimukh dam construction on the Barak River located just a kilometer
away before entering Bangladeshs territory Zakiganj, Sylhet. Barak River comes apart into two
main Bangladeshi rivers: the Surma and the Kushiara. Indian authorities have targeted to
complete the project by 2012. But construction of this dam is being strongly opposed not only by
concerned Bangladeshis, but also by the people of India.

It is said to be the world's largest rock fall dam. The main purpose for constructing this dam is
for hydro-electric power generation, having an installation capacity of 1,500MW but at the cost
of lower riparian country like Bangladesh. Bangladesh would have to face serious consequences
if this dam is constructed. Even the people of Manipur and Nagaland would have to suffer. Not
only the Dam, India also plans to build a barrage of 100 km to divert its water for irrigation.
These two (the Dam and the barrage) together would dry up two Bangladeshi rivers at the outset,
that is, the Surma and the Kushiara. These will directly setback the agriculture around those
rovers and the rivers connected to those. This will result in upsetting the entire agriculture and
fisheries of Bangladesh. There will also be negative impacts on the ecologies, climates and
environments of both the countries. India seems to pay attention towards power generation for
the time being forgetting aftermath which will take place in the long run. Bangladesh will be hit

instantly due to this enormous project, and India, on the other hand, will be hit too some way or
the other, does not matter if not now.
What is more dangerous is that the risk of dam failure due to earthquake. If it so, the Surma,
Kushiara and Meghna, then, will face 5m high flooding. Thus, there are two way problems for
Bangladesh. Firstly, if India is successful in constructing the dam, then Bangladesh dies up.
Secondly, If India fails due to earthquake or so, Bangladesh will be inundated.
Renowned water expert Dr. Ainun Nishat recently mentioned that- Construction of the
Tipaimukh Dam will not bring any benefits to Bangladesh. Similar concerns are also being
raised by another water expert S. I. Khan. Both of them suggested that the government should
have a serious discussion with the Indian government. Bangladesh must request India to refrain
from the construction of this dam at the proposed site.
Located by India or Myanmar, Bangladesh shares a common border which divides 57 major
rivers discharging water into the Bay of Bengal. All the international rivers are key source for
Bangladesh but upstream interference by India will affect the whole region. With India,
Bangladesh has only Ganges water sharing agreement which will expire in 2026, and there are
no other agreements for 53 more rivers. In a situation like this, India is moving ahead without
taking any concern for neighbors which will put Bangladesh into unavoidable miseries.
Now it is the matter of AL government handling the issue, Tipaimukh dam. We feel that in
matters of important national issues the opposition must be taken on board. It appears though that
the opposition is taking a bit too intransigent a position. Still, the government should try and
engage the opposition and the concerns of the civil society in such a serious matter of national
concern.
Indian government said that the dam will not be harmful for Bangladesh but why are we
depending absolutely on the analysis of our neighbor who naturally will consider their interest
more preferably. By this time we should have our own study and if it is not done at all, we should

start one immediately and with the inclusion of the international water and environment experts
and publish it soon.

ReferenceS
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/print_view.php?news_id=71880
http://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2009/juju/tipaimukh.htm
http://www.uzbekistannews.net/story/522652
http://www.e-bangladesh.org/2009/05/28/no-to-tipaimukh-dam/
http://www.persecutionbd.org/news/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-tipaimukh-dam-acritical-analysis-of-dr-banus-paper/
http://bdoza.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/where-is-bangladesh-own-study-on-tipaimukhdam/