China, India to be urged to consider Bangladesh’s interests during dam construction: Rizwana

China and India will be requested to ensure that planned dams on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh and near the Tibet border are constructed without compromising Bangladesh's interests, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (27 January).

"We have formally sought information from China regarding their hydropower project near Tibet. They assured us that lower riparian countries will not be adversely affected. However, we have sought further data through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," she said responding to a journalist's question after attending a board meeting at the River Research Institute's circuit house.

Padma and Teesta rivers are already experiencing reduced water flow and if the Brahmaputra's flow is reduced, the riverine nature of Bangladesh will face severe challenges, she said.

Rizwana shared directives given to the River Research Institute to expand its scope and visibility.

Among these are identifying pollution levels in industrial zones and pinpoint GPS locations of contamination in major rivers around Dhaka.

"This approach will reduce reliance on external funding for tackling river pollution. The institute has also been instructed to assess the ecological impacts of sand extraction from rivers," she added.

Among those present were River Research Institute Director General SM Abu Huraira, Water Development Board Director General Tahmidul Islam, Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammad Yusuf, and Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Kamrul Hasan Molla.

China recently approved the construction of the world's largest dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet's Medog County, near the border with India.

The project, described as China's most ambitious, was officially announced in 2020.

In response, Indian officials began exploring the possibility of building a counter-dam to address potential disruptions caused by China's project.