Bangladesh and India can cooperate more in the exploration of deep and shallow seas, after getting the verdict on the maritime boundary dispute.
“We have cooperation at present, and we can have more cooperation on the exploration of shallow and deep seas, when we get the verdict,” Energy Adviser to the Prime Minister Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, also communicated the same view.
“Definitely, we can have more cooperation when the verdict is announced,” Saran told the Dhaka Tribune.
Petrobangla yesterday awarded two shallow blocks to an Indian company, ONGC, to search for gas and oil in the Bay.
The oral hearing on delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and India was concluded between the parties in December last year, and it is expected that the court will give its verdict by June.
On October 8, 2009, Dhaka instituted arbitration proceedings concerning the boundary with the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Bangladesh submitted its initial argument in 2011 and India its initial argument in 2012. Dhaka then submitted a reply argument last year, soon after which India submitted its reply.
Bangladesh and Myanmar resolved their maritime boundary dispute by filing a case with the Itlos and getting verdict in 2012, clearing the way to enhance the medium and long-term energy security interests of the country.
Dhaka awarded two deep-sea blocks to US-based company, ConocoPhillips, in 2011 for it to search for gas and oil in the Bay.
