Banglaesh has accused India of diverting rivers upstream to the extent that it is leading to desertification of the country.

Bangladesh alleged that construction of numerous dams by India on common rivers is drying up more than 80 water bodies in the country.

"The present condition of rivers in Bangladesh are worse compared to other Asian countries," Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed told at a seminar in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Bangladesh's major rivers are losing navigability due to construction of barricades and diversion of the rivers' courses upstream by India, Local Government Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said.

The country's weather and environment depend heavily on the flow of water from upstream, he said.

Bhuiyan said, "Bangladesh is facing desertification due to withdrawal of water and fall in groundwater level."