Khaleda for joint survey before construction

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Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia has sent a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to talk to Bangladesh before going for constructing the controversial Tipaimukh dam, reports UNB. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir disclosed this at a press briefing at the party central office at Naya Paltan Wednesday. Fakhrul said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia Monday sent the letter to the Indian PM urging him to discuss Tipaimukh dam issue with Bangladesh and conduct a joint survey before constructing the dam. In her letter, Khaleda said the Indian government should not construct a dam over the common river Borak without any discussion with Dhaka. "We think the Indian government should conduct a joint survey with Bangladesh after holding discussions between the two countries before construction of the Tipaimukh dam," she wrote to the Indian premier. Criticising the government's stand and failure against India's move to construct the Tipaimukh Dam, Fakhrul alleged that the Indian government has unilaterally signed the agreement and is going to construct the dam. He said during his recent visit to Bangladesh, Manmohan discussed with Khaleda the Tipaimukh issue and told her (Khaleda) that India would conduct a joint survey with Bangladesh before taking any decision on constructing the dam. Replying to a question about sending letter by the Bangladesh government to its Indian counterpart over the dam, Fakrul said they (govt) make too much of statements but cannot do anything concrete.