Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, has described the Tipaimukh Dam on India’s Barak River as a “man-made disaster” for Bangladesh, saying it was initiated following a request from the Bangladeshi side at the time.
He made the remarks on Wednesday during the question-and-answer session of Parliament while Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo was responding to a query from treasury bench MP Abdul Malique of Sylhet-3 regarding the dam’s possible impact on the northeastern region, particularly Sylhet.
The Speaker said the proposed 1,500-megawatt hydroelectric project in India’s Manipur state was originally pursued following a request from the then Bangladeshi foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad, and later turned into a situation that has adverse consequences for Bangladesh.
He added that, based on his experience as former water resources minister, the initiative eventually contributed to what he termed an environmental and regional “catastrophe” for Bangladesh.
“The project was initiated by India at the request of the then foreign minister of Bangladesh. In that sense, this is a disaster we helped create ourselves,” he said while drawing the attention of the House.
The Tipaimukh Dam project, located near the confluence of the Barak and Tuivai rivers in Manipur, has long been a subject of concern due to fears of environmental and ecological impact downstream in Bangladesh.
The Barak River flows into Bangladesh and splits into the Surma and Kushiyara rivers, which are vital for the Sylhet region’s agriculture, fisheries, and overall ecosystem.
Construction of the dam began in 2003 but faced repeated delays amid domestic and international concerns over environmental risks. Work resumed later in 2008, while India has previously assured Bangladesh that the project would not harm downstream water flow.
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