Dhaka, Dec 14 (The New Age): The chief of naval staff, vice admiral M Farid Habib, on Friday
expressed the hope that Bangladesh would win in the maritime boundary
dispute with India at the international court that is expected to
deliver its judgement in mid-2014.
‘I believe the judgement will be
in our favour as the documents we have submitted to the court are
accurate… ’ the navy chief told a group of reporters on the occasion of
arrival of the Bangladesh Navy Ship Somudro Joy (F-28) to Chittagong
Naval Base.
The maritime boundary dispute is pending with the
Permanent Court of Arbitration, which is based in the Hague, the
Netherlands.
‘A team representing the judges from the Court has
recently visited the maritime zone of Bangladesh. They also verified the
data that we have provided to them,’ the naval chief said, adding, ‘We
have submitted the actual documents regarding our maritime zone. We’ve
submitted exactly what we found inside.’
Bangladesh submitted the
required papers to lay its claim to territorial waters, Exclusive
Economic Zone up to 200 nautical miles and Continental Shelf up to 350
nautical miles from the baseline. Both the countries co-occupy 180 kms
of a maritime borderline.
The function was organised following 49-day
of journey of Bangladesh’s largest guided missile frigate, which was
named after the victory of maritime boundary dispute with neighboring
Myanmar.
The Somudra Joy, formerly the United States Coast Guard
Cutter Jarvis commissioned in Hawaii in 1972, was transferred to
Bangladesh Navy under the excess defense articles programme on May 21.
After
an extensive programme for training and new equipment installation in
California, the 133-man crew have successfully conducted a six week
transit of the Pacific Ocean.
Bangladesh has spent Tk 70 crore for training of crews and bringing the ship to Chittagong, said the officials.
The ship will be expected to provide the navy two decades of service, the officials said.
Admiral Farid announced two more frigates constructed in China would reach Bangladesh in January.
About
the frigate, the United State ambassador, Dan W Mozena, said the Bay of
Bangal would be more secure, which is good for the Bangladesh, for the
region and for the United States.
‘America is the largest market for
Bangladeshi exports. Almost entire exports go by sea. And now, because
of the ship the sea will be more secure than ever,’ the ambassador said.
Mozena
announced that another ship, just like of Somudra Joy, will be inducted
in the navy and those could work together to ensure security of
Bangladeshi maritime from trafficking in persons, drugs and arms, and
terrorist threat.