By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh and Myanmar are continuing to mobilise troops along their border although the standoff over Yangon exploring oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal waters that Dhaka claims as its territory appears to be dying down.
Dhaka asked Daewoo, the South Korean firm that was conducting the operations under protection from Myanmarese naval ships, to withdraw and not get into the dispute.
Daewoo complied with Dhaka’s request, media reports here said Tuesday.
However, both countries continue to mobilise troops along the border.
The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the crisis in the northern reaches of the Bay ended following the withdrawal of the Korean rigs Saturday afternoon.
However, Myanmar has claimed that it withdrew its presence in the Bay after completing the task.
It was reported in Myanmarese media that Yangon withdrew its warships, exploration rig and vessels as the South Korean company had completed its seismic survey and shifted to another place.
“The necessary survey was completed,” the state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar said Monday.
While Bangladesh claims its diplomatic effort has ended in “a win-win situation” for the two neighbours, this has, however, not stopped the amassing of troops along the 300 km border, The Daily Star said here.
Reports said that although Myanmar withdrew its warships and the rig from the waters, it continued to mobilise troops on the frontiers with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) members along with army personnel are keeping round-the-clock vigil on the borders.
BDR Director General Maj Gen Sakil Ahamed visited various border outposts in Naikkhangchhari of Bandarban.
BDR personnel had on Sunday held three Myanmar citizens in Naikkhangchhari for intruding into Bangladesh territory.
Foreign Adviser (minister) Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters, “Bangladesh has always wanted to establish close relations with Myanmar and our policy will be directed towards that end.”