Dhaka in talks to demarcate line with Myanmar

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday received a report from the delegation that visited Myanmar recently and discussed with relevant authorities "to lay the foundation of technical negotiations on maritime boundary."
Additional Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmood led the delegation. The other members of the delegation were Director of Hydrography department of Bangladesh Navy Captain Mir Imdadul Haque and
Director at the Foreign Office M Nazrul Islam.
The foreign adviser broached the subject of maritime boundary demarcation with Myanmar for the first time within 21 years when he visited the country in April 2007.
Thereafter, in order to organise the dialogue and lay the groundwork for technical negotiations, the delegation was sent to Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.
"The delegation has been told that once the Myanmar cabinet approves the dates, technical negotiations would commence", the foreign adviser said.
Iftekhar added: "We now have excellent neighbourly relations with Myanmar and several rounds of talks have been held on different issues at different levels. After my visit, foreign secretary-level talks were held in Dhaka last year. Foreign Secretary M Touhid Hossain is scheduled to travel to Myanmar soon for another set of bilateral talks."
Apart from the maritime delimitation, other items on the agenda are road connectivity, rice import, contract farming, energy cooperation, trade expansion and formation of a joint commission.