Bangladesh protests Indian ship crossing into its waters

Bangladesh Friday asked India to postpone a deep sea survey in its waters until a wartime maritime boundary between the neighbouring countries is settled by mutual agreement."Bangladesh is lodging a formal protest with the India government about activities of a survey ship in its (Bangladesh) waters," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

He said the Indian ship was seen surveying in the deep sea block 14 at the maritime area claimed by Bangladesh on terms of Territorial Water and Maritime Zones Act, 1974.

The ministry said the navy vessel that located the India ship during patrol asked them to leave Bangladeshi waters. The ship initially moved towards the Indian waters but came back to its earlier location Dec 25.

When Bangladesh navy asked for the second time to leave its maritime waters, the ship claimed that it was in the Indian waters.

Meanwhile, a navy officer requesting anonymity said that despite protest, the three survey ships, one belonging to India and two from Bahamas, continued their exploratory activities till Friday evening.

The officer said two more Bangladeshi naval ships were sent to the area to back up their patrol ship.