BSF on alert over B'desh 'Long March' against dam project

Dawki (Meghalaya), Aug 10 (PTI) The Border Security Force
(BSF) have been put on alert as 12,000 agitators from
Bangladesh advanced towards the country's borders for a 'Long
March' protesting the Tipaimukh dam project at the trijunction
of Assam-Manipur-Mizoram.

The 'Long March' was kicked off in Dhaka on Saturday.

The marchers are heading to Sylhet, 272 km northeast of
Dhaka, where they would reach on Tuesday and then proceed to
the Indian border. Sylhet district borders Assam and
Meghalaya, official sources said.

"We will ensure that no untoward situation arises," a
BSF spokesman said, adding that the troops were also prepared
to thwart any possible infiltration attempt taking advantage
of the gathering of massive crowd at the borders.

Bangladesh is protesting against the proposed Tipaimukh
dam as it fears catastrophic destruction in the greater Sylhet
area as it would block the flow of Barak river, the main river
flowing through the plains of Bangladesh to Bay of Bengal.

Several leading NGOs and main Opposition party of
Bangladesh - Bangladesh National Party (BNP), are
participating in the 'Long March'. PTI RTJ
SDE