August 18, 2003	Monday	Jumadi-us-Sani 19, 1424

DHAKA, Aug 17: Bangladesh will go to international forums against India if the latter ignores the former’s concern about the massive “river-linking” project.

“Bangladesh will make every effort to settle the issue bilaterally. If these efforts fail, we will consider international measures,” a Dhaka-based English language daily has quoted Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as saying on Saturday.

“The river-linking project, if implemented, will obviously have tremendous adverse ecological and economic impacts on the lower-riparian Bangladesh,” the minister said

The minister’s comment came a day after Indian President Abdul Kalam in a nationwide address on Thursday spoke of the necessity of the plan.

Bangladesh formally conveyed its “protest note” on Aug 13 to India over the “unilaterally” decided river-linking project.