Bangladesh asks Myanmar to stay off disputed waters

By NNN-PTI,

Dhaka : The row between Bangladesh and Myanmar is hotting up over lucrative hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay of Bengal.


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For the second time in the last ten days Bangladesh has warned Myanmar in continuing exploration in overlapping claim areas in the Bay of Bengal.

The warning from Dhaka came as the two countries resumed talks today to reach a settlement over the disputed maritime boundary.

“We asked them not to go for hydrocarbon exploration in areas of overlapping claims until the dispute is settled,” a Bangladeshi official familiar with the meeting told reporters as the second day talks began today at the foreign office.

Additional foreign secretary MAK Mahmood, who is leading the Bangladesh side in the meeting, earlier said that Yangon should restrict its survey and exploratory activities to the east of 180 degree line claimed as Bangladesh’s territorial waters, until a final agreement between the two countries on maritime delimitation is signed.

The two neighbours yesterday began the two-day crucial talks on maritime disputes a week after the end of a military standoff with mobilisation of warships in Bay of Bengal and troops in their borders.

No tangible progress was made in the opening day’s expert-level talks as the two sides remained rigid on their stance on the methodology to be used in delimitation, the sources said.

Bangladesh prefers the maritime boundaries to be drawn on the basis of “equity” while Myanmar argues for “equal-distance” method.

“We sincerely believe whatever method or rule is applied to maritime boundary delimitation, we have no scope to deviate from the principle of equity and justice,”

Mahmood earlier told newsmen referring to a verdict and proceedings of international courts.

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