We have also received an assurance from India that it will not implementing any other projects which may appear to be harmful to Bangladesh without talks, the minister said.

Bangladesh has invited Indian water resources minister to the 36th meeting of Bangladesh-India Joint River Commission scheduled for October, Hafiz said while taking part in live online discussion styled "Flood 2004 and our role" yesterday. The discussion was jointly organised by websites www.kobitaogaan.com and www.banglasociety.com at the ministry's conference room.

He sought cooperation of neighbouring countries for an effective flood management plan as "Bangladesh alone can't accomplish it."

"A multilateral flood management plan involving India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China is necessary," the minister said responding to a query about the country's flood management plan.

On the multilateral flood management, Hafiz said Bangladesh has taken steps to this end. Nepal has already responded and we are now waiting for India's response.

Dhaka was concerned about India's plan to link 37 major rivers including the Ganges and the Brahmaputra and divert their flow from northeastern India to water-deficient southwest areas. Once implemented, this scheme will deprive Bangladesh of its fair share of water.

Bangladesh is very much dependant on the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, as 85 percent of its dry season surface water stream from them, officials said. If the flow of these rivers stops due to the river-linking project, seawater will gradually fill southern rivers and land, increasing salinity and reducing land fertility, they noted.

The minister said Bangladesh with its own resources has faced the recent deluge which left at least 500 people killed. The extent of damage of the nearly one-month long deluge was estimated at about $7 billion.

In reply to another query, he said food grain production has increased three-fold to 2.50 crore tonnes from 80 lakh tonnes in the 1960's. Bangladesh can attain self-sufficiency in food production by increasing irrigation and using hybrid seeds, he added.

Dr Omar Faruk Khan, secretary of the ministry, Md Mokhlesuzzaman, director general of Water Development Board, ANH Akhter Hossain, managing director of Dhaka Wasa, Dr Asif Nazrul, associate professor of Dhaka University, and water experts also took part.

A panel of selected journalists, experts and professionals from home and abroad attended the session moderated by Aman-Ud-Dowla, a US expatriate journalist.