Dhaka, Aug 14: Bangladesh has opposed India's proposal to link rivers for diverting water, saying the project could cause environmental and economic damage.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry today handed over a protest letter to Indian Deputy High Commisioner Dilip Sinha expressing Dhaka's concern and called on New Delhi not to pursue the proposed river-link project.
Director General of the Minstry Fazlul Karim handed over the note to Sinha.
"It would have serious adverse ecological and economic impacts on Bangladesh," Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chaowdhary said, adding "in the note we have expressed our concern that the move if implemented will also trigger displacement of people."
"I will convey Dhaka's concern to my government," Sinha later told reporters.

The envoy was summoned two days after a decision to this regard was taken at a meeting attended by Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman and Secretary Water Resources Ministry Saifuddin.

A task force led by Foreign Secretary and Water Resources Secretary was also formed in the meeting held on Monday for maintaining coordination between the two ministries in performing all tasks relating to the subject.
Bureau Report