The party did not make any formal statement on the verdict
BNP Vice-Chairman Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday said India’s dominance had been established over the economic zone in the Bay of Bengal through the verdict in the long-running maritime boundary dispute with the neighbouring country.
The party, however, did not make any formal statement on the verdict.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague in the Netherlands has awarded Bangladesh 19,467 square kilometres out of total 25,602 sq-km disputed area in the Bay of Bengal.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali disclosed the verdict at a press conference, saying: “According to the verdict, Bangladesh has finally won more than 118,813 sq-km of waters comprising territorial sea and exclusive economic zone extending out to 200 nautical miles across a sizable area.
“This is a victory of friendship between Bangladesh and India. The maritime dispute between the two countries has come to an end following the verdict.”
In his instant reaction over the verdict, Hafiz, who was the water resources minister during the BNP’s rule, expressed concern as Bangladesh could not gain control over the Talpatti Island.
“I have found some inconsistencies in the verdict. Bangladesh could not establish its supreme dominance over the exclusive economic zone in the Bay of Bengal,” he said.
“But India got the power to establish its dominance there.”
About the Talpatti Island, Hafiz said Bangladesh had claimed the island as its territory since the rule of Ziaur Rahman, but Bangladesh did not get it as per the verdict.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
