Skip to content Skip to navigation

Bangladesh disputes Chinese activities on Brahmaputra

In a significant development in which India failed to take-up issues with the Chinese government, Bangladesh has dared to push the issue relating to both the neighboring countries.  According to a media report Chinese government planned to construct several mega dams and hydro projects in Brahmaputra (Lohit) basin in Tibet’s Jangmu and Great Bend region. Bangladesh opposed the Chinese plan through a strong letter from Dacca to Beijing. A copy of the letter from Bangladesh’s foreign office was also sent to Bangladesh high commissioner’s office at New Delhi and Chinese embassy in Dacca. Bangladesh through this letter suggested to hold a three-party meeting among China, Bangladesh and India to discuss on this issue. In the protest letter named ‘Note Verbal’ it has been said that Brahmaputra is an international river and on this river commissioning of a 500 Megawatt Jangmu hydropower project near Arunachal Pradesh of India’s Great Bend river’s circular bend, world’s greatest hydro project’s news is in the knowledge of Bangladesh. After commissioning of 40,000 KV hydro project, Bangladesh under the lower basin would be badly affected. Bangladesh water resource minister, Ansul Islam Mehmud speaking to media persons in Dacca recently said that his country had asked the Chinese authorities to inform about the commissioning of the project and suggested to hold a three-party meeting among the three countries. Indo-Bangla Joint River Commission’s member Meer Sajjad Hussain said that Chinese authorities were asked to send ‘Note Verbal’ on this matter. Afterwards a protest note was also sent to China.

Bangladesh’s water experts feel that during dry seasons their country would be badly affected if dams are constructed at Brahmaputra, the river which supplies 75 percent water to Bangla rivers. The Bay of Bengal’s salty water would badly affect country’s agriculture, forestry, horticulture, navigation and environment also. Besides, that the natural life of Brahmaputra would also extinct, if the project comes in operation. The construction of mega dam at Brahmaputra is bound to bring natural calamity to both India and Bangladesh. According to Bangladesh water resource ministry and Indo-Bangla Joint River Commission’s sources on November 20, 2014, China started the construction of Jangmu hydropower project, which is to be the world’s heaviest hydropower project. China plans to produce forty thousand megawatt power from this project. There is also a plan to establish four more projects from which 2000 MW power would be produced.

According to China’s national hydropower company Sino-hydro and Chinese Society of Hydropower Engineers, Brahmaputra runs straight through Tibet about 1700 kms and enters into India at a place named Motuo, the place which is famous in the name of Great Bend. Coming down from the hills to plain the river’s current is very high. By constructing 40,000 MW power project at Great Bend China would save ten crore tones of coal. Jangmu hydropower project has been planned by China keeping an eye at this site. Brahmaputra is known as Sangpo in Chinese territory running about 2850 kms. After entering Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra turns towards south and enters into Assam. In Assam it makes way towards west and afterwards through Kurigram in south enters Bangladesh. In Bangladesh up to Bahadurabad it is known as Brahmaputra and prior to joining Ganges, it is known as Jamuna. It runs through Bangladesh about 230 kms.(End)

 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Stage set for Lakhimpur LS by polls

18 Nov 2016 - 3:17pm | AT News
Amid a mammoth security arrangement, Lakhimpur is holding its Lok Sabha by polls where 15,11,110 voters are exercising their franchise to decide on the fates of 5 candidates on Saturday. Voting is...

Book on Gangetic Dolphin

6 Jan 2011 - 7:59pm | Amarjyoti Borah
“Hihur Sandhanot Luitedi”,- a book written in Assamese is released today at Guwahati Press Club by Dr. Kulendu Pathak, Former Vice-Chancellor, Dibrugarh University and prominent...

Modar flower

27 Feb 2008 - 8:34am | editor
A bird relishing a last winter afternoon with taste of Modar flower's nectar at Guwahati on 27-02-08. As the winter going, Modar blooms here and there with beauty of attractive red, that brings the...

Udalguri DC pleads more powers to administration in BTC area

22 Dec 2010 - 2:06pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
The district administrations in all the four districts in BTC area have been facing serious set backs due to the curtailment of most of the powers generally enjoyed by other Deputy Commissioners...

Other Contents by Author

The people of Assam are likely to face serious flood and erosion during the new-year 2012 due to reluctance of state governments to take necessary steps to tackle the situation, despite the demand of All Assam Water Resource Contractors’ Association (AAWRCA). Speaking to the media people recently, Muhi Bargohain, President of AAWRCA, alleged that the state’s water resource department has not taken any step to get last year’s damaged embankments repaired till now. It is learnt that Assam’s Revenue and Finance departments have not approved the schemes related to it. It is well known fact that the northern districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Shivsagar etc...
Protest against use of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, has shifted from extreme northeastern part of the country to the remote northern part. Now, demands are high by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, to withdraw at least partially, the aforesaid Act, from his state in order to bring peace in the troubled region of the country. It is alleged that in guise of the search for militants, the security personnel are misusing the Act and ‘harassing and torturing’ the innocent people of the state. The Union government is now facing an embarrassing situation due the state’s demand. Similar demand for withdrawal of the AFSP Act1958 is long...
History repeats itself and it seems that our Union government is trying to get it repeated as early as possible by allowing foreign investments in every sector of industries and agriculture as well. The Union Cabinet by justifying 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail trade has proved that it has no regards either for the poor people of the country or the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who cherished a dream to bring ‘Ram Rajya’ in the country by his followers. Now, the country is moving head very fast to ‘Ravan Rajya’. It has to be mentioned that Mahatma’s name is being utilized by our leaders to save the ‘corrupt politicians...
The anti-corruption movement launched by the Gandhian leader, Anna Hazare, has threatened a number of politicians, bureaucrats and big businessmen involved in various financial crimes against the country and the society. The issue of black money in Swiss banks and calling back the same to the country for investment and prosperity of the nation, has also threatened them of losing their unfair incomes. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress party, has been found involved in the practices leading to great sufferings of the countrymen. The Civil Society’s proposal in respect of the Lokpal Bill, has been ‘turned down’ by the Union cabinet...
Reacting to the recent ‘blatant lies’ of the Assam Power Minister, Pradyut Bardoloi, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi made it clear that he is not opposed to the demand and need of power for the state, but he wanted to know the ‘secrets of the deal’ which made the state government to ignore all the facts related to the geographical and environmental needs of Assam. Addressing the media persons in Guwahati recently, the RTI activist, Akhil Gogoi said that the power minister had given the history of Lower Subansiri Project. He said an unknown fact of this history was that the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report of October 2001 gave rank...
Yoga Guru Ramdeva fighting to get back the Indian’s black money in the foreign banks to the country continued his fast from June 4, had to give up on 9th on demand of millions of countrymen, who wanted his precious life to be utilized in the welfare of mankind. His tirade against the ‘unholy’ politicians and bureaucrats, who are involved in top-level corruption continued during his fast and none of high- level officials approached to solve the issues raised by him. This was interpreted by a section of the society as the government was not interested in bringing back the black money in the country. Even the government was not interested to reveal the names of such persons,...
The Gauhati High Court directed petitioners Asian Centre for Human Rights and others in PIL No.6/2011 to provide practical and workable solutions to the issue of displacement of the Rabhas and Garos as submitted before the Court pursuant to the respondents States of Assam and Meghalaya and the Union Home Ministry within a week to act upon. It had earlier directed the petitioners on January 22 last to submit practical and workable solutions. Addressing the media persons the petitioner, Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights said that he appeared in person before the Chief Justice, Madan B Lokur. The matter is listed for May 2011 after the state governments take necessary...
National Election Watch (NEW), a nationwide campaign comprising of more than 1200 NGOs and other citizen-led organizations working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India, has stepped up the pressure on political parties to demand accountability from them in the state of Assam as well. It announced several initiatives with the purpose of bringing transparency and accountability in the political system on February 17 last through a press conference organized in Guwahati Press Club. Addressing the media persons the coordinator of the Assam Election Watch, Tasaduk Ariful Hussain, said that different civil society organizations, eminent citizens, media, senior...
Trade is the ‘spinal cord’ of a country’s economy and the traders are its protectors. It was said at a time, when our traders were among the most trusted nationals, who scarified all their earnings of life and belongings, when the country needed it. Now, the time has changed and the national feelings in the trading community have gradually diminished. ’Honesty’ the essence of the trade has lost its value and it is no more the ‘best policy’ in the trade. Majority of the traders feel difficulty in surviving, if they try to be honest in the present political situation of the country. They have to oblige political leaders and parties, some of whom...
The Asian Centre for Human Rights in a briefing to media persons at Guwahati Press Club on Friday, alleged that about fifty thousand Garos and Rabhas displaced by conflict since January 1, 2011, are being discriminated in terms of relief and rehabilitation in comparison to assistance being provided to the Kashmiri Pandits and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, by the Government of India. Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights, Suhas Chakma said, in terms of rations at the relief camps at Jammu and in Delhi, Kashmiri internally displaced persons are given Rs.1,000 per head per month subject to maximum of Rs.4,000 per family per month plus dry ration. The Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India...