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Bangladesh-Myanmar ties face new strain
Bangladesh-Myanmar relations witness strains as Yangon authorities began oil exploration in disputed waters with warship escorts prompting Dhaka to send three navy ships to the scene, officials and reports said on Monday.
- By Anisur Rahman, Correspondent
- Published: 00:23 November 4, 2008
Dhaka: Bangladesh-Myanmar relations witness strains as Yangon authorities began oil exploration in disputed waters with warship escorts prompting Dhaka to send three navy ships to the scene, officials and reports said on Monday.
They said Myanmar began oil exploration in the disputed waters of Bay of Bengal, engaging four vessels with escorts of two navy ships, defying an earlier deal, while three Bangladeshi naval ships went to the scene challenging the exploration.
"Some degree of tensions has mounted over the Myanmar's move but the situation is not severe which cannot be resolved through discussions," a defence ministry official told Gulf News requesting anonymity.
He also added that Myanmar navy ships went back to their territory leaving the exploration rig at the scene yesterday after the intervention of the Bangladesh navy as diplomatic communications were underway to resolve the dispute.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry yesterday said an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by a foreign adviser of the emergency-ruled Bangladesh's interim cabinet reviewed the situation as well as areas of bilateral cooperation.
"The foreign adviser said all steps would be taken to protect the sovereignty and territory of Bangladesh," a foreign ministry statement said.
Note of protest
His comments came as the foreign ministry on Monday summoned the Myanmar envoy in Dhaka to be handed over a strong note of protest after Yangon intruded into disputed waters claimed by both countries.
A foreign ministry spokesman late last night said foreign secretary Touhid Hussain handed Myanmar's ambassador Phae Thann Oo the "strong protest note against the intrusion of Myanmar vessels near the Bangladesh deep sea block 08-13".
The Myanmar envoy was asked to convey to his government Dhaka's request to immediately suspend all activities within the "declared maritime zones of Bangladesh" in accordance with the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act 1974 of Bangladesh.
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