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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Nadal notches up Sweeting victory

Defending champion Rafael Nadal swept into the last 32 with another straight-sets victory over American opposition on Centre Court. This time the victim was Ryan Sweeting, who was sent packing 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes with the stadium roof closed to guard against inclement weather conditions.

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns a shot to Ryan Sweeting of the US at the All
England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon

Though he was slow into his stride, the Spaniard was virtually untouchable on serve for two of the three sets and by that stage he was playing well enough to fend off the comeback attempt which the 6ft 5in Sweeting produced in what proved to be the final set.

The 23-year-old Sweeting did well to match Nadal for power and aggression for much of the match, though he was eventually betrayed by a tendency to double-fault at key moments.

In addition to the brilliant serving which saw him concede only eight points in the first two sets, Nadal was the epitome of steadiness and committed just seven unforced errors, an incredible performance.

Nadal supporters had an early chance to rejoice when the world number one broke serve in the fourth game of the opening set, reaching break point with one of his special searing forehands down the line, which was followed by the first of what proved to be 10 Sweeting double faults. Giving virtually nothing away on his own serve, Nadal mopped up the opening set in 36 minutes with the second of his match total of nine aces.

Beneath his back-to-front cap, Sweeting's head dropped a little at the start of the second set, a fatal thing to do against Nadal, and in no time he found himself trailing 4-0. To his credit, the American then hit back bravely but not in time to prevent Nadal capturing the second set in spectacular fashion with three successive aces.

In the opening game of the third set, Sweeting clung onto his serve despite three double-faults and though Nadal broke in the third game the American hit back to capture the Spanish serve for the first - and only - time in the match. Nadal's response was typical. From a 2-3 deficit he swept four of the next five games, extending his Wimbledon winning streak to 16 matches.

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