The entire south-west and north-west of Bangladesh, with 37 per cent of the country's area and 40 per cent population. face desertification due to India's unilateral withdrawal of water of the Ganges at Farakka. reports UNB.

.This horrific stated in a speech picture of the consequences of the Indian barrage was by Mosharef Hossain Shahjahan. Minister of State for Irrigation. Water Development and Flood Control at a function in the city yesterday.

Shahjahan was not present at the function but his speech was read out by a ministry official.

The Sundarbans. the world's largest single tract mangrove forests, are also facing extinction due to rising salinity caused by upstream withdrawal at, the Farakka. It said

Expressing his dismay over the "absence of any positive cooperation" from the upper riparian country (India) in resolving the water sharing problem, the minister in his speech said that Bangladesh should, look for an "Alternative solution". He. however, did not elaborate.

He also appealed to the international community to resist a reported attempt by "vested quarters" to amend the International river laws which prohibit any obstruction on common rivers.

The latest agreement on the Ganges water sharing with India expired in 1988 and the country has since been facing severe crisis over dry season flow Last year, flow of the Gartges dwindled to its lowest

ever, threatening Bangladesh's ecology and the economy.

Bangladesh Unnayan Pari-shad (BUP). a development research organisation, arranged the function on occasion of the publication of a research study on "Resource. Environment and Development in Bangladesh: With Particular Reference to the Ganges. Brahmaputra and Meghna basins".

Academic Publishers published the study report carried out by a group of reputed scholars.

Eminent water expert Amjad Hossain Khan, former Secretary A S H K Sadique, former chairman of the Public Services Commission S M Al-Hussalny. resident representative of Ford Foundation Dr. Raymond C Offenhelser and BUP chairman Dr Q K Kho-llquzzaman Ahmad also spoke at the function.

Amjad Hossain Khan stressed on an urgent solution to the water sharing problem to avert further damage on the economy and ecology. We have miserably failed to resolve the problem... I. myself, also share the responsibility." Khan, a former chairman of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, said.

A S H K Sadique. member. Advisory Council of Awami League spoke against a proposed mediation . between Bangladesh and India by the World Bank to resolve the Farakka crisis.

"World Bank is a highly politicised institution.... its accountability and transparency are also questionable," he oh-