BANGLADESH

Foreign minister Dipu Moni hopes the verdict of the International Tribunal for Law of the Seas (ITLOS) on the maritime boundary disputes between Bangladesh and Myanmar would be favourable for the country.

"The way we have presented data and statistics, as well as precedents," she said, "we are hopeful."

The minister expressed her hope at a dinner with editors and senior journalists at the state guest house Padma on Monday – about a week before ITLOS is set to settle the dispute.

The two countries approached ITLOS to settle the maritime boundary dispute in 2009 and the verdict is expected on Mar 14.

Dipu Moni said there have been instances of award by arbitrators based on principles of "equitable" sharing. "So we are more hopeful that we will at least get more than what Myanmar or India is proposing based on equidistance."

The dispute over the maritime delimitation between the countries began when Bangladesh tried exploring gas reserves in the Bay of Bengal.

While Dhaka demands "equitable" method to settle the dispute, both India and Myanmar push for the "equidistance" principle.

Bangladesh's interests could be hampered if the delimitation takes place based on equidistance principle, as it might end up forgoing its claim over 17 out of 28 sea blocks.

Responding to a query, Dipu Moni also said that the dispute with India over a similar issue would be settled by 2014.

She said, "Apart from protecting its rights on the maritime boundary issue, Bangladesh is also active in exploring and collecting the sea resources."

The government would be paying more attention to collecting the resources after the rights over the boundary are established, she added.