BANGLADESH

The cabinet has approved a proposal on Bangladesh requesting membership to the United Nations Arbitration Court (UNAC).

A supplementary proposal, titled 'Bangladesh's Proposal for Permanent Membership to the UN', was approved at the cabinet meeting on Monday.

Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the arbitration court was set up in 1899 in the Hague. A case between Bangladesh and India on maritime boundary delimitation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1983 is under consideration of this court.

Azad said, "India is already a member of this court. Now, special necessity has risen to be a member of this court. After getting the membership, Bangladesh and India's position will be equal."

The press secretary said Bangladesh might appeal to the court for financial support to run the case and would also get chances to solve any dispute on both business- and petroleum-related issues.

If Bangladesh gets the membership, it would be able to recruit four international lawyers and also be able to nominate one for the post of a judge, said Azad.