Resolution of Bangladesh-India Maritime Boundary: Model for South China Sea Disputes? ( Copy Right @ The Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Author- Sam Bateman)
Naval ships in exercise \( Image credits- Wikimedia commons/ United States Navy) ON 7 JULY 2014, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (‘the Tribunal’) in The Hague delivered its judgment on the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and India in the Bay of Bengal. This helped settle a long-running dispute between the two parties and will help provide a solid basis for cooperative management of the bay and its resources. It is significant because as well as the dependence of the littoral countries on the fish stocks of the bay, the area is believed to be rich in deep-water deposits of oil and natural gas. ‘Win-win’ or ‘lose-lose’outcome? After complex considerations regarding historical and cartographic evidence, the Tribunal determined the location of the terminus of the land boundary between the two countries, and then delimited the boundary between them of their territorial sea, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf within and beyond 200 nautical miles. Bangl