This requires taking a strong stance regionally.
Thats not going to happen. We don't have the kahunas to stand up to anybody. Except the political party we oppose :)
Reminds me of our national character abroad - we put up with insult and injustice from any other nationality. But the moment a fellow Bangladeshi tries to beat us we certainly become emboldened - "Ki bhai! Ki paisen? Apni keh?'
--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bd_mailer@...> wrote:
>
> India,Myanmar grabbing BD's maritime territories
>
>
>
>
> Leaders of the National Committee for Protecting Maritime Territory and Resources of Bangladesh (NCPMTRB) on Saturday alleged that Bangladesh's two neighboring countries-India and Myanmar-are trying to grab much of its maritime territories.(UNB, Dhaka)
>
> They demanded the government strengthen the Bangladesh Navy and establish necessary institutions to protect the country's maritime territories and its resources.
>
> Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, Prof Anu Mohammad said it is clear that Bangladesh is under a strong aggression of India and Myanmar as previous governments and even the current one have failed to perform their duties when it came to maritime issues.
>
> "We're losing huge maritime territories to India and Myanmar, which is three times bigger than Bangladesh itself, simply because of negligence of the government," Prof Anu Mohammad said. He said had the previous Bangladesh governments been able to handle the issue strongly neither India nor Myanmar could dare to proceed with this issue after 1982.
>
> Prof Anu said the Bangladesh delegations that visit different countries to discuss bilateral issues only put signatures on papers; even they hardly see the contents of any agreement. "They did never go for bargaining and thus they brought such a horrible situation for us."
>
> Criticizing the remarks of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, he said the envoy might come up with even harsher words as the government has failed to reply to his remarks the way it should have been."Such remarks manifest how aggressive the India government is. We had hoped that our government would give a befitting reply, as it was highly insulting for the people of Bangladesh, but it didn't," he said.
>
> Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said Bangladesh is losing its control over its own sea as there is no one to raise voice against it. "We need to mobilize public opinion both at home and abroad to stop India and Myanmar from grabbing Bangladesh's maritime territories," he said. Prof Islam said politicians could not prove their patriotism as they did not protest the bid.
>
> Earlier, reading out a written paper, NCPMTRB convener Engineer M Enamul Haque said India and Myanmar would have to withdraw the claim over maritime territories, which were placed to the United Nations and demanded implementation of clauses of UNCLOS-III convention. Justice Golam Robbani, Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahid Ullah and Prof Ramjul Haque were also present at the press conference.
>
> ============================================================================================================
>
> Claims of India, Myanmar over maritime boundary Call to lodge formal protest with UN
> The Financial Express July 25 Sunday
>
> Eminent personalities Saturday urged the government to lodge a formal protest with the United Nations (UN) against illegitimate claims of Myanmar and India over Maritime Boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Bangladesh, reports BSS.
>
> Expressing concern over India's plea for unilateral ownership of South Talpatti, and initiating demarcation line and Exclusive Economic Zone in the deep sea, they said it demonstrates disregard to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
>
> Bangladesh will have to bear its brunt for hundreds of years and will lose control over its vast maritime territory if it fails to challenge India's illegitimate claim with reliable and authentic documents in its support, they said adding that India has submitted its data and information about the maritime boundary with the UN on June 29 this year.
>
> They said this at a press conference organised by Bangladesh River Areas and Resources Protection National Committee at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club in the city.
>
> Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Justice Golam Rabbani, Prof Anu Mohammad, Engineer Enamul Haque, Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, among others, spoke at the press conference. Convener of the committee Noor Mohammad read out a written statement at the conference.
>
> Referring to Bangladesh's talks with India last year on these issues, they said there were heated arguments over the direction of flow of the Hariabhanga River.
>
> The ownership of the South Talpatti Island is directly related with the direction of flow of the Hariabhanga, Raimongal and Jamuna Rivers, and the Raimongal and Jamuna flow through Bangladesh territory, they claimed adding that India flew its flag in South Talaptti in 1980s and included it in its map.
>
> India made serious objection although Bangladesh has reportedly completed 70 per cent of its works for preparing documents for demarcating the maritime boundary considering South Talpatti as the starting point.
>
> India is claiming that the point which Bangladesh considered as the starting point to demarcate its maritime boundary is within the Indian territory, which is not true, they said.
>
> "If Bangladesh does not raise its voice strongly now, it will face serious difficulties in 2011 when it submits its claim to the UN. Question is also being raised about virtual non-action of Bangladesh since 2001 for establishing the Bangladesh claim over 200 nautical miles in the deep sea and another 150 nautical miles as the Exclusive Economic Zone," they said.
>
> "Why Bangladesh could not complete the detailed survey and prepare necessary documents with necessary facts and figures over such a long period?" they questioned. It is due to failure of the foreign ministry and different related divisions of Bangladesh," they added.
>
> Mentioning that Bangladesh signed the UN Convention of UNCLOS in 2001, they said according to it maritime boundary of the countries along the sea coast will extend 200 nautical miles from the shore. The EEZ will extend another 150 kilometres in length and breadth in the deep sea, they pointed out.
>
> The countries signing the UN convention shall publish maps of their maritime boundary and EEZ within 10 years of the signing. But Bangladesh failed to complete preparation for mapping its maritime boundary and EEZ even in eight years, they said.
>
> Bangladesh in recent times made efforts to engage international oil companies in exploring gas and oil in its own offshore.
>
> http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm
>
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