JP long march today to protest Tipaimukh dam

Jatiya Party (JP), a key ally of ruling grand alliance, will start a long march today (Saturday) to protest the Indian government's move to construct Tipaimukh dam on the common Barak river in northeastern Indian state of Monipur, reports UNB. The long march will begin from the party's Banani central office in the city at 7 am on the day. JP chairman HM Ershad will lead the road march. Party insiders said that a public meeting will be held at 3.00 pm on Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground followed by the long march. Ershad and other central JP leaders will address the rally. The long march will start its journey from Sylhet towards the frontier Zakiganj upazila tomorrow (Sunday). Another public meeting will be held there to voice JP's demand for halting the construction of Tipaimukh dam. Ahead of the long march, Ershad at a press conference Thursday urged the Indian government to conduct a joint study to assess the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of Tipaimukh Dam project in the region before going for implementing it. He said if the joint study findings show that the project will not pose any environmental and socioeconomic impact to Bangladesh, then India will have to guarantee through an international treaty that they will never withdraw water for irrigation in other areas. He said if India takes the final decision for implementing the Tipaimukh project, JP as a component of the grand alliance will put pressure on the government to go to the international court to resist the Indian bid.