The maritime boundary verdict

 Bangladesh has got 19,467 kilometres of the Bay of Bengal following the historic verdict of a Hague- based international court. It is a piece of good news as a longstanding dispute has been settled amicably. Now both the countries can and should move on.

India has accepted the verdict. Bangladesh and India have many longstanding bilateral issues which should be sorted out if both the countries want to establish peace and friendship. When a third party settled a matter, no one can complain now. It is indeed a good move to remove any misunderstanding and create goodwill. Now the world has become smaller and no country can live alone. We all need cooperation of others.

Bangladesh and India can settle their other unresolved disputes in this manner. Random border killings are also a burning issue which should be solved as every year many innocent Bangladeshis are killed at the hands of trigger-happy India Border Security Force. The issue deserves the highest priority of India.

Human life is sacred and valuable and no one has a right to kill another human being. I hope Bangladesh will create awareness in international press so that the border killings are stopped for ever and people live in peace and harmony.

Saiful Islam

Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka

sohelhara@hotmail.com