Dhaka reasserts sovereignty over South Talpatti
Seismic survey completed to draw maritime boundary
Dhaka categorically reasserted Bangladesh's sovereignty over South Talpatti, a submerged island under formation in the eastern side of the mid-channel of the bordering river of Hariabhanga, citing the Radcliff Award that had drawn the border with India.
�Bangladesh, according to the map prepared on the basis of the Radcliff Award, asserts its sovereignty over South Talpatti, a submerged island in the eastern side of the mid-channel of the bordering river of Hariabhanga,� Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes on Saturday said at a fortnightly press briefing at the foreign ministry.
He said this when his attention was drawn to media reports on the uninhabited tiny char (island), which, according to the reports, disappeared beneath the waves due to rising sea level and erosion.
The Radcliffe Line became the border between India and Pakistan on 17 August 1947 after the Partition of India. The line was decided by the Border Commissions chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who was to divide equitably 175,000 square miles (450,000 km2) of territory.
According to the Radcliffe Plan, the riverine demarcation line between the two countries is the deepest part of the riverbed. Two streams of the river flow by two sides of the submerged islands under formation.
Bangladesh claims that the main stream is the western one so the island belongs to her, and it named it �South Talpatti� since there is a northern Talpatti along the same longitude.
India was, however, misinterpreting the position of the mainstream of the bordering river Hariabhanga, apparently for grabbing the 3.5 kilometres long and 3.0 kilometres wide South Talpatti, what the Indians called New Moore island.
Mijarul Quayes said the government has completed seismic survey that was essential for putting forward Bangladesh�s claim over the Bay of Bengal to the UN authorities. �We will duly submit our claim with the UNCLCS by July 2011,� he said.
Khurshid Alam, an additional secretary of the foreign ministry, said South Talpatti is considered as a low tide elevation, meaning it goes underwater at the times of tide. For last 10-12 years, it has not been on the surface.
Alam, a senior retired navy officer, said South Talpatti always remains under water and no military installation or flag of any country is there.
He said since 1980 South Talpatti has been under water. It is basically a low-tide elevation char (island).
Dhaka first made the claim on South Talpatti in 1980 during the then government under president Ziaur Rahman.
In the early 1980s, the two countries had political and diplomatic tensions surrounding the claim over South Talpatti. However, the issue became dormant when HM Ershad was president.
Foreign ministry directors general Muhammad Imran, Saida Muna Tasneem, Monirul Islam and M Sufiur Rahman were present at the press briefing.
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/apr/11/front.html
�Bangladesh, according to the map prepared on the basis of the Radcliff Award, asserts its sovereignty over South Talpatti, a submerged island in the eastern side of the mid-channel of the bordering river of Hariabhanga,� Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes on Saturday said at a fortnightly press briefing at the foreign ministry.
He said this when his attention was drawn to media reports on the uninhabited tiny char (island), which, according to the reports, disappeared beneath the waves due to rising sea level and erosion.
The Radcliffe Line became the border between India and Pakistan on 17 August 1947 after the Partition of India. The line was decided by the Border Commissions chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who was to divide equitably 175,000 square miles (450,000 km2) of territory.
According to the Radcliffe Plan, the riverine demarcation line between the two countries is the deepest part of the riverbed. Two streams of the river flow by two sides of the submerged islands under formation.
Bangladesh claims that the main stream is the western one so the island belongs to her, and it named it �South Talpatti� since there is a northern Talpatti along the same longitude.
India was, however, misinterpreting the position of the mainstream of the bordering river Hariabhanga, apparently for grabbing the 3.5 kilometres long and 3.0 kilometres wide South Talpatti, what the Indians called New Moore island.
Mijarul Quayes said the government has completed seismic survey that was essential for putting forward Bangladesh�s claim over the Bay of Bengal to the UN authorities. �We will duly submit our claim with the UNCLCS by July 2011,� he said.
Khurshid Alam, an additional secretary of the foreign ministry, said South Talpatti is considered as a low tide elevation, meaning it goes underwater at the times of tide. For last 10-12 years, it has not been on the surface.
Alam, a senior retired navy officer, said South Talpatti always remains under water and no military installation or flag of any country is there.
He said since 1980 South Talpatti has been under water. It is basically a low-tide elevation char (island).
Dhaka first made the claim on South Talpatti in 1980 during the then government under president Ziaur Rahman.
In the early 1980s, the two countries had political and diplomatic tensions surrounding the claim over South Talpatti. However, the issue became dormant when HM Ershad was president.
Foreign ministry directors general Muhammad Imran, Saida Muna Tasneem, Monirul Islam and M Sufiur Rahman were present at the press briefing.
http://www.newagebd.com/2010/apr/11/front.html
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