DHAKA: With disputes over allocation of off-shore territories for oil and gas exploration piling up, Bangladesh and India yesterday resumed talks on their maritime boundary in the energy-rich Bay of Bengal after a gap of 28 years.
Officials and experts began three-day parleys here. The last meeting was in 1982 and had ended after preliminary talks, The Daily Star reported.
Bangladesh shares the bay with India and Myanmar but has not demarcated the sea territory with them, which is creating disputes mainly over offshore search of oil and gas. Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a statement Sunday: “The technical-level talks are taking place after 28 years. We believe today both the governments are now deeply committed to strengthening their relations through resolutions of all outstanding issues.”
A seven-member team led by Indian Rear Adm. B.R. Rao and the Bangladesh delegation led by Additional Foreign Secretary M.A.K. Mahmud will discuss different technical issues.
A Bangladeshi official source said Dhaka would insist on the determination of the staring point, which is crucial for registering with the UN a valid claim on common territories. It will emphasize a joint inspection for the delimitation of maritime boundary.
The Bay of Bengal has become very important, especially after India’s discovery of 100 trillion cubic feet (tcf) gas in 2005-06 and Myanmar’s discovery of 7 tcf gas at the same time.
