Dhaka, July 13 - The prime ministers of Bangladesh and India are expected to meet this week on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit to discuss New Delhi's plan to construct the Tipaimukh dam in Manipur, a move that has triggered protests in Dhaka.

Dhaka and New Delhi have indicated their willingness to talk on the issue as pressures have mounted on the Sheikh Hasina government, with opposition parties joining environmentalists to allege that the dam on the Barak river would deny Bangladesh its share of water and have deleterious effect on the environment.

The 15th NAM Summit will take place July 15-16 at the Egyptian resort of Sharm-Al-Shaikh.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni had last week stopped over in New Delhi and conveyed the need to talk over the Tipaimukh dam project. Barak flows into Bangladesh's Meghna river system. Tipaimukh is located 200 km upstream of Bangladesh.

Dhaka has accepted in principle New Delhi's proposal made in May for sending a team of parliamentarians and water resource experts to visit the dam site.

However, no dates for the visit have been finalised with Hasina's political rival and opposition leader Khaleda Zia refusing to nominate her representatives on the team.