Talks necessary for maritime boundary demarcation Speakers yesterday said that bilateral and multilateral negotiations is very important to find solution to the problem of national issues like maritime boundaries, demarcation of boarder, Asian highway with neighbouring countries. Addressing a dialogue on "Bangladesh's Maritime Boundary Concerns, Regional Tensions and the Centre Myanmar Faction" organized by Neeti Gobeshona Kendro, a private research at CIRDAP Auditorium, they said that the national consensus can help to solve the problems. Prof Dr Tareque Shamsur Rehman moderated the dialogue while columnist Farhad Mazhar, Prof Dr Dilara Chowdhury, journalist Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Abu Sayed Khan, Prof Maimul Ahsan, Prof Khairul Azim, Prof Monsoor Huda, former Ambassador Rased Ahmed Chowdhury, Ayesha Kabir, Farida Akter, Maj (retd) Rashed Ahmed Chowdhury, Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury spoke on the dialogue. Farhad Mazhar said that the dispute regarding on maritime boundary with the Myanmar and India is a part of control of worldwide energy resources. "We must proceed forward keeping that reality in mind," he said adding that several 'contractors' of multinational companies were active to promote their selfish interest. Earlier US oil company Conocophilips was awarded an offshore block for gas and oil search, he said adding that now they want eight blocks on the offshore. He alleged that the multinational companies have been trying to make the country act as per their desire. "For this they engaged the 'so-called' civil society personals here," he added. "We cannot control our own maritime resources until we can uphold our national dignity," Mazhar said. Prof Dr Dilara Chowdhury said that USA, China and India are playing vital role in geopolitics of this region. "So, Bangladesh has a major challenge to sustain in the geopolitics," she added. Bangladesh could build better diplomatic relations with Myanmar if it wants, she said adding that unfortunately it could not be promote the relationship due mainly to indifference. The government, she said, could not take any initiative to promote better ties also with neighbouring India to solve the problems as regards Asian highway, Prof Dilara alleged. Abu Sayed Khan said that political harmony between government and opposition parties are required to take any decision on issues of national interest. "But foreign affairs of the country changes here with the change of government in our country," he said. He said that only bilateral relations with India and Myanmar could solve the maritime boundary problems. Prof Prof Maimul Ahsan said that we can save our natural resources if we can get rid of political meanness. Earlier, Mahbubul Haque presented the keynote paper. http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/11/23/news0268.htm |
__._,_.___