Bangladesh News

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday said Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty might have violated diplomatic norms through his comments on controversial Tipaimukh dam and Bangladeshi water experts.

“I personally feel he [Indian envoy] might have breached diplomatic rules,” Dipu Moni told journalists in reply to a query at a press conference at the foreign ministry.

Foreign diplomats have limitations to making comments but the Indian envoy might have crossed that limit, said Dipu Moni.

Pinak at a seminar on June 21 termed the Bangladeshi water experts opposing the Tipaimukh dam project ’so called experts’ in presence of the foreign minister.

His remarks drew widespread criticism from various quarters including main opposition BNP that demanded his withdrawal for ‘meddling with Bangladesh’s internal affairs.’

When asked about Pinak’s remarks, Dipu Moni said being a foreign minister she did not feel it necessary to respond to an ambassador’s remarks.

Appropriate authorities may take necessary measures if he had breached diplomatic norms, she said.

On Pinak’s claim that there is no international law that bars India from implementing the project, the foreign minister said it does not matter whether a treaty exists or not as the issue can be settled through bilateral talks.

Dipu Moni said bilateral ties with India are important but Bangladesh would do whatever necessary to protect its national interests.

She said a parliamentary team will visit the dam site this month to examine the present situation and collect related data and statistics.

“After analysing the data and information received from the Indian government, Bangladesh government would make its decision. If the data and statistics go against the country’s interest, we will do whatever it takes to protect our interests,” Dipu Moni said.

Asked about opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking facilities for a BNP-nominated expert team to visit the dam site, the foreign minister said her ministry would act according to the decision of the Prime Minister’s office.

Both Dipu Moni and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud said it would have been easier for the present government to deal with the issue if the previous BNP-led coalition government had raised the matter before India in 2003 when the Tipaimukh dam project was firmed up.

“The previous BNP government remained silent when the land acquisition for the project began in 2005. Their (BNP) policy is to please India while in power and protest India’s moves when they are in opposition,” said Hasan Mahmud.

“They (BNP) remained mum when they had the opportunity to speak against the project. Now they are trying to make it a political issue,” Dipu Moni.

The foreign minister said during her New York trip, she asked the Indian state minister for foreign affairs to stop construction works of the dam until Bangladeshi experts visit the spot and make an assessment.

“He assured me of conveying the message to his government,” she added.

India plans to construct the dam on international river Borak without any consultation with Bangladesh. Various quarters have been demanding cancellation of the project, fearing its adverse environmental impact on Bangladesh.