Bangladesh and Myanmar reinforced troops along the border between the two countries after talks over disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal failed in Yangon, officials said on Saturday. The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), a border force, said Myanmar had started reinforcing troops at strategic points along the 320 km (200 mile) border, partly demarcated by the Naf River. “We have also taken appropriate measures and asked for reinforcement,” a senior BDR official told Reuters by telephone from Tumbru, a border point some 500 km (312 miles) southeast of the capital Dhaka. BDR also alerted people living in the border area to leave their homes when the situation warranted. The dispute surfaced after Myanmar started oil and gas exploration last week in a stretch of the sea both countries claim. Bangladesh deployed naval ships to the area and simultaneously sent a diplomatic team to Yangon seeking to solve the issue through negotiations. “The meeting ended without any resolution, but we have apprised our claim on the territory to the Myanmar authorities,” a foreign ministry official said on Saturday. Earlier in the week Bangladesh said a Korean company hired by Myanmar to explore for oil and gas in the disputed waters was withdrawing. Myanmar said it had paused in its exploration activities in the disputed waters, but would not give up its claim on the territory. Dhaka has noted the issue to China, a friend of both, and China advised the countries to solve the issue amicably. The head of Bangladesh's army-backed interim government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, held a meeting on Thursday with the armed forces chiefs and foreign ministry officials to take stock of the situation. Foreign Adviser (minister) Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the meeting underscored Bangladesh's “strong resolve” to protect sovereign territory, including in the Bay. Bangladesh and Myanmar have been holding talks for years trying to settle their claims in the Bay of Bengal. Technical delegations from both sides were scheduled to meet in Dhaka on Nov. 16 and 17 to discuss maritime boundary demarcation, officials said.
