Tension eases as Myanmar withdraws rig, naval ships
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
FE Report
The tension between Dhaka and Yangon over the rights to hydrocarbon exploration blocks in the Bay subsided Monday following withdrawal of the South Korean rig engaged by Myanmar for offshore drilling, said officials.
"This happy conclusion in the Bay has been a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and Myanmar," Foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the newsmen in Dhaka Monday evening.
Pointing to the current relaxation of tension between Myanmar and Bangladesh he said: "Peace leads to bringing benefit for every one."
"Bangladesh always wants a friendly relationship with Myanmar and our policy will be directed towards that end," Dr Iftekhar added.
Bangladesh and Myanmar pulled out their respective naval vessels from the disputed block area following withdrawal of the exploration rig and equipment by the Korean company, Daewoo.
The South Korean company was involved in hydrocarbon explorations under a contract with Myanmar in block AD-7 in the Bay over the last week that sparked tension between the two neighbours.
The tension mounted further when Myanmar sent naval vessels to guard Daewoo drilling some 50 kilometers south of Bangladesh's St. Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal.
In response, Bangladesh immediately sent warships in the area.
Bangladesh also continued looking for a fruitful solution to the dispute and urged China and South Korea to help resolve the issue.
The three-member Bangladesh delegation led by foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain flew to Yangon last week for talks seeking a fruitful solution to the dispute.
A technical delegation, headed by a deputy minister of Myanmar Maung Myint is due to arrive in Dhaka to hold further talks on maritime boundary on Nov 16 and 17, foreign ministry sources said.
The tension between Dhaka and Yangon over the rights to hydrocarbon exploration blocks in the Bay subsided Monday following withdrawal of the South Korean rig engaged by Myanmar for offshore drilling, said officials.
"This happy conclusion in the Bay has been a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and Myanmar," Foreign adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the newsmen in Dhaka Monday evening.
Pointing to the current relaxation of tension between Myanmar and Bangladesh he said: "Peace leads to bringing benefit for every one."
"Bangladesh always wants a friendly relationship with Myanmar and our policy will be directed towards that end," Dr Iftekhar added.
Bangladesh and Myanmar pulled out their respective naval vessels from the disputed block area following withdrawal of the exploration rig and equipment by the Korean company, Daewoo.
The South Korean company was involved in hydrocarbon explorations under a contract with Myanmar in block AD-7 in the Bay over the last week that sparked tension between the two neighbours.
The tension mounted further when Myanmar sent naval vessels to guard Daewoo drilling some 50 kilometers south of Bangladesh's St. Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal.
In response, Bangladesh immediately sent warships in the area.
Bangladesh also continued looking for a fruitful solution to the dispute and urged China and South Korea to help resolve the issue.
The three-member Bangladesh delegation led by foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain flew to Yangon last week for talks seeking a fruitful solution to the dispute.
A technical delegation, headed by a deputy minister of Myanmar Maung Myint is due to arrive in Dhaka to hold further talks on maritime boundary on Nov 16 and 17, foreign ministry sources said.