The government has not yet emerged with any formal response to the signing of a deal by the Indian authorities on the construction of the Tipaimukh dam in the state of Manipur.
Although the news regarding such a significant development appeared in the Bangladesh media on Friday, the government has remained inexplicably silent and so has not cleared Bangladesh's position in the last four days.
Following repeated media requests for an official statement the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (Nov 19): “We are in touch with the Indian side. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has referred to the assurances given by India at the highest level in this regard. Senior officials at the MEA have informed us that they will be able to provide further details on the issue once offices reopen on Monday.”
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry also hinted at making a statement on the Tipaimukh issue yesterday (Monday), but till 9pm yesterday the media were still waiting for the statement.
Officials at the Foreign Ministry told reporters that there would be a formal press briefing or written statement clearing Bangladesh's official position on Tipaimukh by yesterday (Monday). Nothing of the kind happened.
An official of the Foreign Ministry on condition of anonymity told The Daily Star that though India's Ministry of External Affairs had promised to provide Bangladesh with details of the agreement on the construction of the Tipaimukh dam in Manipur, Delhi made no contact with Dhaka throughout yesterday (Monday).
“We are still waiting to get details of the deal signed recently by National Hydro Power Company, Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. and the Manipur government to build the 1,500-MW project,” the official added.
The very signing of the deal has sparked fresh controversy and created serious repercussions in Bangladesh's media, civil society and among common people.