Bangladesh working to collect info on China's dams on Brahmaputra upstream: MoFA
Missions abroad have been directed to take appropriate steps to counter propaganda against the country and the government
Bangladesh is working to collect information about the construction of eight hydroelectric dams by China on the upstream of the Brahmaputra River.
"We are working to collect sufficient information about this [the hydropower dams]," Seheli Sabrin, spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs told reporters at a briefing at the ministry yesterday.
Asked if Bangladesh reached out to China regarding speculations that there will not be an equitable water distribution and the dams will cause sufferings for the country, she said the ministry is also working to get more information to this end.
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"We will inform you later when we receive any information," she added.
Regarding whether there have been any talks on an agreement centring the water issue between Bangladesh and China, she said, "So far, no talks have started on the agreement."
On 30 November 2020, China's major hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Zangbo River) in Tibet, raised concerns in India and Bangladesh as the river also flows through the two countries.
In response to the concerns, Yan Zhiyong, chairman of the Power Construction Corp of China, tasked to build the dam, said China will implement the hydropower exploitation in the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River [the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra] and the project would serve to maintain water resources and national security, the Global Times reported at the time.
However, speaking to The Business Standard, water experts and activists in Bangladesh had said the proposed dam would not have any adverse impact on the Brahmaputra's water flow downstream to Bangladesh.
If water is not diverted through China's proposed super dam, there will be no harm to the water flow downstream in Bangladesh, they added.
Counter pre-election propaganda
Meanwhile, Seheli Sabrin said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has directed the Bangladesh missions abroad to take appropriate steps to counter propaganda against the country and the government ahead of the next national election.
"We think we need to work in a more proactive way as there might be more propaganda ahead of the elections," she said at the briefing.
She said the Foreign Ministry has long been working on this issue and Bangladesh missions abroad uphold the country's position with the host countries from where disinformation and misinformation are being spread.
"A committee comprising three ministries – Information, Law, and Foreign Affairs – is working on it," Sabrin said.
Regarding security dialogues with the US, the spokesperson said, "The 8th United States-Bangladesh Security Dialogue was held in Washington DC in 2022. In continuation of this, we hope that the ninth session will be held in Dhaka this year."
"As part of a dynamic bilateral relationship, there are regular discussions between Dhaka and Washington. Recent meetings, dialogues or high-level visits to both countries are part of this regular process," she said at the briefing.
Sehli Sabrin further said that no foreign observer had yet requested to monitor the upcoming elections.
She mentioned that foreign ministry has set up a special cell for facilitating foreign observers in the upcoming general election, scheduled to be held by January.
"The director general is overseeing the cell," Seheli Sabrin said.
She said the cell is in touch with the Election Commission and Bangladesh's missions abroad. "The cell will be in touch with anyone that shows interest in observing the election."
