Bangladesh ends first round of arguments in int'l court
Bangladesh has concluded the first round of its arguments on its claim in the maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg, Germany.
Dhaka will present the second round of arguments on September 21 after Myanmar presents its case beginning September 15, according to a Foreign Ministry press release from Hamburg.
Bangladesh began its arguments on September 8.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Additional Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (retd) Khurshid Alam, and Bangladesh appointed international lawyers made strong arguments in favour of Bangladesh's claim.
The press release said Bangladesh on the 4th day of its presentation yesterday covered entirely the issues related to the delimitation of the outer continental shelf, which extends up to 390-460 nautical miles (NM) in the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh counsel Dr Lindsay Parson of Maritime Zones Solutions Ltd of UK began Bangladesh's presentation in the morning and another counsel, R Parson, presented to the Tribunal a vivid overview of geological evolution of the Bay of Bengal, the distinctive features of the tectonic plates on which Bangladesh and Myanmar situates.
Parson also explained provisions of Article 76 of the Convention and entitlement of Bangladesh to the outer continental shelf (OCS).
Also yesterday, Khurshed Alam presented the data and methodology used by Bangladesh in preparing the Article 76 continental shelf submission which was lodged with the United Nations on February 25, 2011.
Prof Boyle then took up the podium to discuss the methods and principles of outer continental shelf delimitation in legal perspective.
Prof Boyle referred to the provisions of Article 76 and decision of International Court in the North Sea Case to define natural prolongation which is fundamental for a country to claim OCS.
He then proposed that since Myanmar does not have any entitlement to geological outer continental shelf after 200 NM, the entire overlapping area should be given to Bangladesh.
However, Prof Boyle also said, in case, the Tribunal decides otherwise regarding Myanmar's entitlement to the OCS, the delimitation has to be effected equitably as per Article 83 of the Convention.
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