Bangladesh, India and Nepal have agreed on construction of a special reservoir for year-round river flow, the water resources minister said yesterday.

"The reservoir, to be built in Nepal, would bring life to the rivers of Bangladesh and India in the dry season," Ramesh Chandra Sen told German radio channel Deutsche Welle in an interview.

The first and foremost challenge in South Asia is the vulnerability to water related disasters. This cause huge loss of life and property estimated loss range from 2-20% and revenue loss between 12-66% and it hinders sustainable development for poverty reduction by eroding hard earned gains of development.

India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan have planned a total of 552 hydropower projects in Himalayan region, of which some have already been built and some are under construction, that may have far-reaching impacts on downstream Bangladesh, informed sources said.

The World Bank has said that the maternal mortality ratios in four countries, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan are still 2 to 4 times higher than the millennium development goals (MDG) set for 2015, however, Sri Lank has shown an improved performance.

Expressing concern over disruption by local people in repairing of the Kosi river embankment at Kusaha in Nepal, the Bihar government on Monday sought Centre