MARITIME BOUNDARYDisputes to be resolved soon: PM

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? The prime minister hopes the disputes over maritime boundary with India will be resolved soon.

"Hopefully, the two neighbouring countries will reach an amicable solution," Sheikh Hasina told parliament on Wednesday.

She was replying to a question from ruling party MP Benzir Ahmed during the question-answer session.

On Feb 26, foreign minister Dipu Moni formally submitted Bangladesh's claim to the United Nations Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea on the extended continental shelf in the Bay of Bengal.

The claim ranges from 400 to 460 NMs in the sea-bed of the Bay of Bengal.

The disputed areas fall within Bangladesh's blocks 10 and 11.

Hasina said, "Both the countries have already moved for legal procedure under Annex-7 of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)."

The foreign minister said Bangladesh can claim the ownership of 200 NMs of exclusive economic zone and 350 NMs over the continental shelf under the UNCLOS.

The day's proceedings in parliament began at 11:15am with deputy speaker Shawkat Ali in the chair.

The prime minister said an opportunity had been created to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries following the takeover by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Congress.

Pointing to her last year's visit to India, Hasina said sea ports were being built in the country as a regional hub according to per the joint communiqu?.

"The process to provide transit facility to Nepal and Bhutan through Mongla and Chittagong ports is at the final stage."

She also claimed that there had been significant progress in discussions with Nepal, Bhutan and India over water resources, energy and power and regional connectivity.

"At the recent secretary-level meeting, India has pledged to put an end to border killing," she said.

About enclaves, Hasina said her government was very sincere.

There are 51 Bangladeshi enclaves on the Indian side, of which 31 fell in Lalmonirhat and the remaining ones in Kurigram districts. Some 500,000 people live in the enclaves.

Regarding the thorny issues with Myanmar, the prime minister said the sea boundary and Rohingya refugee problem still remained unresolved.

"There has been much progress in bilateral cooperation in other areas with the neigbouring country."

She hoped that the current relations would improve further since a non-military government had been in power.

On completion of the arbitration on maritime boundary with Myanmar in 2011, Hasina said, "It'd finally be resolved in 2012".

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