The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Myanmar Ambassador U Phae Thann Oo was summoned to the foreign office yesterday again to lodge Dhaka's strong protest against continuing Yangon's survey for oil and gas by intruding into country's maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.

The Ambassador was told that Dhaka would mount diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Yangon's oil and gas exploration in the Bay.

Bangladesh emphasised the need for immediately stopping the survey and resolve the dispute before the situation aggravates and goes beyond control.

Foreign office made it clear that Bangladesh would protect its sovereignty and interests at any cost.

After the meeting with the Myanmar Ambassador, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters that Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain would be sent to Myanmar tomorrow (Wednesday) as special envoy to resolve the dispute through diplomatic efforts.

Terming Myanmar a friendly country, the Adviser hoped that Yangon would take necessary measures to take back its ships with a view to resolving the dispute.

"We're sending the special envoy to lodge our protest at the highest level of Myanmar so the situation does not go beyond control…We're sending him (foreign secretary) to protect our interest," he said.

Iftekhar said several Myanmar vessels intruded into Bangladesh territorial water for hydrocarbon exploration near deep sea bloc 8-13 claimed by Bangladesh. But Myanmar claims those are within their territorial water.

He said all steps would be taken to protect the sovereignty and territory of Bangladesh. "We want to put an end to this situation forthwith. We want to resolve the matter diplomatically," he said.

The Adviser noted that Bangladesh is a peace-loving nation. "We don't want to go for any confrontation as Myanmar is our friendly neighbour," he said.

He said Bangladesh and Myanmar would hold talks here on delimitation of boundaries between the two countries on December 16 and 17. A deputy minister from Myanmar will lead his country's delegation as Yangon attaches importance to the meeting.

A private news agency reported earlier that Dhaka had sent a naval vessel to patrol the area, but the Foreign Adviser could not confirm or deny this.

Earlier on Sunday the Myanmar Ambassador was summoned to the foreign office in Dhaka to receive Dhaka's strong protest against the intrusion of Yangon's vessels in the deep-sea block 08-13.

Meanwhile, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting at the Foreign Ministry on follow-up actions in the aftermath of the visit of General Maung Aye, Senior Vice General of Myanmar and his delegation of seven cabinet ministers.

The meeting reviewed the progress in areas such as border trade, rice purchase, contract farming, road building and boundary delimitation issues.