Govt receives BD-India maritime dispute verdict
The government on Monday received the copy of the verdict on maritime boundary dispute between Bangladesh and India which will formally be disclosed on Tuesday.
“Yes, we’ve received the verdict this (Monday) afternoon. It’s being reviewed now,” Director General (External Publicity) at the Foreign Ministry Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury told UNB over phone.
He said the ministry would share the outcome of the verdict with the media on Tuesday afternoon after the necessary review.
The Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) officially conveyed the verdict both the parties but no party will be able to make it public before 24 hours as part of court rules.
On December 18, the Arbitral Tribunal constituted in the matter of the Bay of Bengal Maritime Boundary Arbitration between Bangladesh and India concluded its hearing on the merits.
The hearing was held from 9 December to 18 December 2013 at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
On December 9, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Attorney General of India, Goolam E Vahanvati made opening statements on behalf of the Parties.
Following the opening statements, Bangladesh agent Dr Dipu Moni, MP made introductory remarks.
On December 16, the Deputy Agent of Bangladesh and Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (retd) Mohammad Khurshed Alam concluded Bangladesh’s second round of oral arguments.
Over the course of the hearing, the parties have presented their positions on certain key issues relating to the maritime boundary between the two States, including the location of the land boundary terminus between them, the delimitation of the Territorial Sea, the Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Continental Shelf within and beyond 200 nm.
On October 8, 2009, Bangladesh instituted arbitral proceedings concerning the delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and India pursuant to Article 287 and Annex VII, Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Parties have subsequently exchanged written pleadings.
In October 2013, the Arbitral Tribunal also conducted a site visit to relevant areas of the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh won a landmark verdict against Myanmar on March 14, 2012 at the ITLOS. The verdict confirmed Bangladesh claim to the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic and territorial rights in the Bay of Bengal.
