Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh/Myanmar)
On 14 December 2009, proceedings were instituted before the Tribunal in relation to the delimitation of the maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
By a letter dated 13 December 2009, which was filed in the Registry of the Tribunal on 14 December 2009, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh notified the President of the Tribunal of declarations issued by Myanmar on 4 November and by Bangladesh on 12 December 2009, respectively.
In its declaration of 4 November 2009, Myanmar stated that it “accepts the jurisdiction of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the settlement of dispute between the Union of Myanmar and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh relating to the delimitation of maritime boundary between the two countries in the Bay of Bengal”.
In its declaration of 12 December 2009, Bangladesh stated that it “accepts the jurisdiction of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the settlement of the dispute between the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Union of Myanmar relating to the delimitation of their maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal”.
Based on these declarations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh stated that “[g]iven Bangladesh’s and Myanmar’s mutual consent to the jurisdiction of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and in accordance with the provisions of article 287, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Bangladesh considers that your distinguished Tribunal is now the only forum for the resolution of the parties’ dispute”. The Minister further stated that “Bangladesh respectfully invites the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to exercise jurisdiction over the maritime boundary dispute between Bangladesh and Myanmar, which is the subject of Bangladesh’s 8 October 2009 statement of claim”.
In the light of the agreement of the parties, as reflected in their respective declarations, to submit to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for adjudication their dispute relating to the delimitation of their maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal and taking into account the notification of Bangladesh filed on 14 December 2009, the case was entered in the list of cases as Case No. 16.
On 25 and 26 January 2010, the President of the Tribunal held consultations with the representatives of the parties in order to ascertain their views with regard to questions of procedure.
On 28 January 2010, the President adopted an Order fixing 1 July 2010 as the time limit for the filing of the memorial by Bangladesh and 1 December 2010 as the time limit for the filing of the counter-memorial by Myanmar.
By an Order dated 17 March 2010, the Tribunal fixed 15 March 2011 as the time limit for the filing of the reply by Bangladesh and 1 July 2011 as the time limit for the filing of the rejoinder by Myanmar. The pleadings were duly filed within the time limits so prescribed.
Both Bangladesh and Myanmar nominated judges ad hoc pursuant to article 17 of the Statute of the Tribunal and article 8 of the Rules of the Tribunal. Thomas Mensah was chosen as judge ad hoc by Bangladesh and Bernard Oxman was chosen as judge ad hoc by Myanmar.
On 19 August 2011, the President, after ascertaining the views of the parties, fixed 8 September 2011 as the date for the opening of the hearing.
Prior to the opening of the hearing, the Tribunal held initial deliberations on 5, 6 and 7 September 2011.
The hearing took place in Hamburg from 8 to 24 September 2011, during which the parties presented their oral statements at 15 public sittings. In accordance with article 75, paragraph 2, of the Rules, in their concluding statements, the representatives of the parties presented their final submissions.
The Tribunal delivered its Judgment in the case on 14 March 2012.
Special Agreement
Written Proceedings
- Memorial submitted by Bangladesh
- Counter-Memorial of Myanmar
- Reply of Bangladesh
- Rejoinder of Myanmar
Oral Proceedings
Verbatim Records
- ITLOS/PV.11/2/Rev.1 - 8 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/3/Rev.1 - 9 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/4/Rev.1 - 12 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/5/Rev.1 - 12 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/6/Rev.1 - 13 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/7/Rev.1 - 15 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/8/Rev.1 - 16 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/9/Rev.1 - 19 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/10/Rev.1 - 19 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/11/Rev.1 - 20 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/12/Rev.1 - 21 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/13/Rev.1 - 22 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/14/Rev.1 - 22 September 2011 p.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/15/Rev.1 - 24 September 2011 a.m.
- ITLOS/PV.11/16/Rev.1 - 24 September 2011 p.m.
Minutes
Orders
Judgment
Press Releases
- ITLOS/Press 140: Proceedings instituted in the Dispute concerning the maritime boundary of Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal
- ITLOS/Press 142: Fixing of time-limits
- ITLOS/Press 169: Public hearing to be held from 8 September 2011
- ITLOS/Press 174: Tribunal to deliver its Judgment in the Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, 14 March 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
- ITLOS/Press 175: Tribunal delivers its Judgment in Case No. 16
Case no. 16: President Jesus/Affaire no. 16 : M. le Président Jesus
Case no. 16: the courtroom/Affaire no. 16 : la salle d'audience
Case no. 16: the delegation of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : la délégation du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: H.E. Mrs Dipu Moni, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agent of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : S. E. Mme Dipu Moni, membre du Parlement, Ministre des affaires étrangères, Agent du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Md. Khurshed Alam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Agent of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : Le contre-amiral (à la retraite) Md. Khurshed Alam, secrétaire d’Etat auxiliaire, Ministère des affaires étrangères, Agent adjoint du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: Mr Payam Akhavan, Member of the Bar of New York, Professor of International Law, McGill University, member of the delegation of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : M. Payam Akhavan, membre du barreau de New York, professeur de droit international à l’Université McGill, membre de la délégation du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: Mr Alan Boyle, Member of the Bar of England and Wales, Professor of International Law, University of Edinburgh, member of the delegation of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : M. Alan Boyle, membre du barreau d’Angleterre et du pays de Galles, professeur de droit international à l’Université d’Edimbourg, membre de la délégation du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: Mr Lawrence H. Martin, Foley Hoag LLP, Member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, member of the delegation of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : M. Lawrence H. Martin, cabinet Foley Hoag LLP, membre du barreau de la Cour suprême des Etats-Unis d’Amérique, du barreau du Commonwealth du Massachusetts et du barreau du district de Columbia, membre de la délégation du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: Mr Paul S. Reichler, Foley Hoag LLP, Member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and of the District of Columbia, member of the delegation of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : M. Paul S. Reichler, cabinet Foley Hoag LLP, membre du barreau de la Cour suprême des Etats-Unis d’Amérique et du barreau du district de Columbia, membre de la délégation du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: Mr Philippe Sands QC, Member of the Bar of England and Wales, Professor of International Law, University College London, member of the delegation of Bangladesh/Affaire no. 16 : M. Philippe Sands, QC, membre du barreau d'Angleterre et du pays de Galles, professeur de droit international, University College de Londres, membre de la délégation du Bangladesh
Case no. 16: the delegation of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : la délégation du Myanmar
Case no. 16: H.E. Mr Tun Shin, Attorney General of the Union, Union Attorney General’s Office, Agent of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : S. E. M. Tun Shin, procureur général de l’Union, Bureau du procureur général de l’Union, Agent du Myanmar
Case no.16: Ms Hla Myo Nwe, Deputy Director General, Consular and Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Agent of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : Mme Hla Myo Nwe, directrice générale adjointe du Département des affaires consulaires et juridiques, Ministère des affaires étrangères, Agent adjoint du Myanmar
Case no. 16: Mr Kyaw San, Deputy Director General, Union Attorney General’s Office, Deputy Agent of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : M. Kyaw San, directeur général adjoint, Bureau du procureur général de l’Union, Agent adjoint du Myanmar
Case no. 16: Mr Mathias Forteau, Professor at the University of Paris Ouest, member of the delegation of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : M. Mathias Forteau, professeur à l’Université Paris Ouest, membre de la délégation du Myanmar
Case no. 16: Mr Alain Pellet, Professor at the University of Paris Ouest, Nanterre La Défense, member of the delegation of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : M. Alain Pellet, professeur à l’Université Paris Ouest, Nanterre La Défense, membre de la délégation du Myanmar
Case no. 16: Mr Coalter Lathrop, Attorney-Adviser, Sovereign Geographic, Member of the North Carolina Bar, member of the delegation of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : M. Coalter Lathrop, avocat-conseil du bureau Sovereign Geographic, membre du barreau de Caroline du Nord, membre de la délégation du Myanmar
Case no. 16: Mr Benjamin Samson, Researcher at the Centre de droit international de Nanterre (CEDIN), University of Paris Ouest, member of the delegation of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : M. Benjamin Samson, chercheur au Centre de droit international de Nanterre (CEDIN), Université Paris Ouest, membre de la délégation du Myanmar
Case no. 16: Sir Michael Wood, K.C.M.G., Member of the English Bar, Member of the International Law Commission, member of the delegation of Myanmar/Affaire no. 16 : Sir Michael Wood, KCMG, membre du barreau d’Angleterre et membre de la Commission du droit international, membre de la délégation du Myanmar
Case no. 16: the courtroom/Affaire no. 16 : la salle d'audience