Yangon won't encroach on our territorial waters

The assurance was given to Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin during the first formal foreign secretary-level consultations with his Myanmar counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister U

Kyaw Thu in Yangon on May 19.

“They (Myanmar) do not believe they have made any encroachment…They assured that they would never encroach on Bangladesh territorial water at any point of time,” he told newsmen at the Foreign Ministry on his return from Yangon.

Bangladesh earlier had lodged protests to both Myanmar and India against exploring hydrocarbon into Bangladesh's maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.

Describing the first-ever foreign secretary-level consultation as constructive and fruitful, Hemayet said all bilateral issues, including repatriation of Rohingya refugees, border security, road connection and bilateral trade and investment, were discussed.

He said the Myanmar side agreed to repatriate the remaining 21,172 l Rohingyas sheltered in Cox's Bazar. They expressed readiness to take back 8,000 already cleared by Myanmar authorities. After the repatriation of 8,000 through UNHCR, the remaining Rohingyas will be

taken back.

The two sides agreed to strengthen border security to stop illegal movements, particularly of drug smugglers and gunrunners. They agreed on holding frequent meetings between the border guards of the two countries--BDR and NASAKA--to maintain a secure and peaceful border.

On bilateral trade, the foreign secretary said the two sides agreed to increase the trade volume through border and coastal trade by improving the banking system and shipping line. They expressed keen interest in importing more pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh.

Two-way trade favours Myanmar as Bangladesh imported 32.43 million dollar against its export of 4.18 million dollar in 2004-05 fiscal year.

The Myanmar side agreed to ease the visa regime for businessmen by extending visa for at least 15 days.

On construction of Bangladesh-Myanmar road, Hemayet said the two sides will soon sign a MoU on construction of 23-km road (2 kms on Bangladesh side 23 kms on Myanmar side) as the two subcommittees completed study on technical and financial aspects.

The proposed road can be linked with Kunming of China on consultation with the Chinese government to establish a greater connectivity in the region.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in defence in the form of training of military personnel.

On the stalled project for tri-nation gas pipeline, Hemayet said the Myanmar side raised the issue when he told them that settlement of some bilateral issues with India could make the way for the trans-border pipeline.

About the release of Bangladeshis in Myanmar prison, Hemayet said he urged his counterpart to take humanitarian look at some Bangladeshi nationals imprisoned over there. Some 89 Bangladeshis, mostly fishermen, are now imprisoned in Myanmar while some 500 Myanmar

nationals are in Bangladeshi jails.

The two sides also agreed to exchange cultural delegations between the two countries.

Hemayet said the Myanmar side invited Foreign Minister Morshed Khan to visit Yangon while the Myanmar Prime Minister is expected to visit Dhaka.