ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Siddique Islam | Dhaka – The scaling down of tension between Bangladesh and Burma after the withdrawal of the hydrocarbon-exploration rig by Daewoo from the disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal is a win-win situation for both countries, Foreign Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in Dhaka on Monday.

"This happy conclusion in the Bay is a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and Myanmar [Burma]. Peace benefits everyone," the Foreign Advisor told the media at the Foreign Ministry in the capital, Dhaka on Monday evening.

The South Korean Company, Daewoo, was involved in hydrocarbon explorations under a contract with Burma in block AD-7 in the Bay of Bengal; a location Bangladesh claims is in its territorial waters.

Tension mounted further when Burma sent naval warships last week to guard Daewoo's drilling about 50 kilometers south of Bangladesh's St. Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh's Foreign Advisor said Bangladesh always wants a close neighbourly relation with Burma and "our policy will be directed towards that end".

The development came a day after the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Mohammad Touhid Hossain returned home after his three-day trip to Rangoon along with two other officials where he held talks with Burma's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Maung Myint.

Bangladesh earlier explored diplomatic channels to engage South Korea and China, a close ally of military-ruled Burma, while Daewoo two days ago said they had already initiated the process of withdrawal of their rig from the area in the sea.

Bangladesh and Burma have so far held three rounds of talks to resolve the maritime boundary dispute while the fourth round is expected to be held in Dhaka next week when the Burmese Deputy Minister is due to visit, foreign ministry sources said.