They said the proposed barrage would ensure availability of water in some of the dried-up rivers in the southern part of the country during the lean period and save Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world.

The speakers called upon the government to encourage the use of surface water as much as possible as the level of groundwater, contaminated with arsenic, has dropped sharply.

They also raised their voice in favour of incorporating the trans-boundary rivers issue in the agenda of the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit for better negotiation.

The seminar on 'National Consultation on Integrated Water Resources Management Plan and Water Efficiency Strategy in Bangladesh' was organised by Bangladesh Water Partnership at the LGED auditorium in the city.

Speaking as chief guest, Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed

said the country's water resources have been decreasing rapidly.

"Right now we should start building some barrages for water storage as we could not arrive at a solution during the bilateral talks with our neighbouring country," he said.

"We have sat so many times with the representatives of that country to reach a solution but failed," he added.

The minister said the government has already approved the water policy in the cabinet and is now looking forward for its implementation.

Ainun Nishat, country director of IUCN-the world conservation union, said the government should start implementing the long-term water management plan without any further delay.

He said due to lack of cooperation among the different ministries, the government is yet to start its implementation.

In a keynote paper, WARPO Director General H S Mozadad Faruque said the experts have formulated the long-term water policy considering the country's future water requirements.

The policy has laid down the broad principles of developing the water resources and their rational use by both public and private sectors.

Chaired by Global Water Partners President Quamrul Islm Siddiqui, the seminar was also addressed by Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Md Muklesuzzaman, Chief Engineer Aminul Haque, Member of the Joint River Commission Touhidul Anwar Khan, Programme Officer of the Netherlands Embassy Zahir Uddin Ahmed, and President of Coastal Area Resource Development and Management Association Hasna J Moudud.