VZCZCXRO4820
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0663/01 1831022
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021022Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9123
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2140
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2890

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000663 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INSB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ETRD PREL EAGR SOCI PGOV IN BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH OPPOSITION USING INDIAN DAM TO ATTACK 
GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: DHAKA 646 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) India's construction of a dam on a major river that flows 
into Bangladesh has triggered protests from the opposition 
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which claims the project 
threatens the region's environment and livelihoods.  Party leaders 
clearly believe they can get political mileage out of the Tipaimukh 
Dam, particularly because most Bangladeshis view the governing Awami 
League as friendly towards India. Squabbling over the dam could also 
affect relations with India, just as the two neighbors are improving 
cooperation in counterterrorism and other areas vital to regional 
stability. 
 
Strategic Area 
-------------- 
¶2.  (SBU) India plans to build the Tipaimukh Dam on the Barak River 
in India's northeast state of Manipur, about 100 km from the 
Bangladesh border.  The river flows into northeastern Bangladesh 
near the major city of Sylhet and feeds into many tributaries vital 
to farmers in the region.  The magnitude of the dam concerns 
environmentalists, who believe an earthquake could damage the dam 
causing catastrophic flooding.  Bangladeshi critics of the dam claim 
it will cut off vital water supplies here. 
 
Under Pressure 
-------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Following street demonstrations in recent weeks by his 
party, BNP General Secretary Khandaker Delwar Hossain criticized the 
Government of Bangladesh (GOB) for failing to protect national 
interests with regard to Tipaimukh Dam.  He threatened to file a 
case with the United Nations claiming violations of international 
waters law, specifically the 1997 Convention on the Law of 
Non-navigational uses of International Watercourses.  On June 21, 
the BNP demanded the immediate removal of Indian High Commissioner 
Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty for allegedly disparaging Bangladeshi 
experts who criticized the dam.  According to the BNP, Bangladesh 
should not stand silent while India builds a dam that could 
allegedly do irreparable harm to the environment and farmers' 
livelihoods. 
 
GOB Response 
------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On June 16, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water 
Resources formed a nine-member team of lawmakers and experts to 
visit the Tipaimukh Dam area to assess the dam's likely impact on 
Bangladesh.  Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the team would focus 
on three issues: 
 
--the dam's impact on biodiversity, 
--potential increases/decreases to Barak River water flows after the 
construction of the dam; and 
--whether the dam would increase the likelihood of seismic activity. 
 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in Parliament on June 29 that 
concerns about the dam would be resolved through bilateral talks 
with India.  She expressed confidence her Government could 
successfully negotiate Bangladesh's interests and as proof of this 
pointed to the 1997 Ganges River Treaty signed during her previous 
government. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The BNP sees in this issue an opportunity to damage the 
Awami League, which swept Parliamentary elections in December and 
may be vulnerable because of the widely held perception that it is 
pro-India.  When asked whether the United States would get involved, 
the Ambassador said at a gathering of media and academics June 25 
that Bangladesh should hold talks with India to settle this 
dispute. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Speculation over the effects of the Tipaimukh Dam 
continues.  Some in Bangladesh point to the nation's experience with 
the Farakka Barrage, a dam-like structure built by India on the 
Ganges River in West Bengal in 1975, which diverted water to the 
Hooghly River flowing through Kolkata and destroyed a key source of 
water for western Bangladesh.  These experts worry the Tipaimukh Dam 
project will include embankments to divert water into India and away 
from Bangladesh.  We continue to urge Bangladesh's political parties 
 
DHAKA 00000663  002 OF 002 
 
 
to work together to address this issue through talks with India. 
 
Moriarty