Washington has expressed its willingness to take part in a joint patrol of the Bay of Bengal but ruled out building a new US military base in Bangladesh.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said on Sunday that assistance is being offered in helping Bangladesh secure its unprotected maritime boundary if Dhaka desires, adding that, "My country had cooperation with the military agencies of Bangladesh but has ruled out a US military base there."
Boucher spoke with journalists at the Zia International Airport prior to leaving for India following a two-day visit to Bangladesh.
"Some of those are military agencies. We have cooperation with them on things like maritime security and any areas where we have opportunities. I think there is some interest in maritime patrol so that you can protect your sea areas better," said Boucher.
According to a source, Boucher also discussed the issue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, and Home Minister Shahara Khatun during his visit in Bangladesh.
"We can help their [border security agencies'] activities but the modalities will depend on what Bangladesh wants," he said at the end of his visit.
The US is willing to take part in a joint patrol in the Bay of Bengal under the proposed South Asian Regional Task Force on Terrorism. According to sources, two US generals had come to Bangladesh before Boucher's visit.
Bangladesh has been having maritime disputes with both Burma and India. On 3 November last year, the Burmese military government attempted to set up oil rigs in the Bay of Bengal to extract oil and gas from Bangladesh's claimed territory, in defiance of Dhaka's diplomatic and military protests.
Both countries mobilized forces along the border when diplomatic forces failed to defuse tension in the Bay.
The Burmese military regime has built up forces on the western Burmese border after the maritime dispute with Bangladesh. Analysts in the border area believe that the Burmese junta will again attempt to enter the disputed maritime area to explore for gas after they finish reinforcing the military.
