Burma-Bangladesh dam row eases

By Zubair Ahmed in Dhaka

Bangladesh and Burma have agreed to defuse tension on their border and resolve their differences over a controversial dam which Rangoon is accused of building.

Bangladesh has accepted a Burmese proposal to form a joint survey commission that will visit the site on the Naaf river, which flows through both countries.

The commission will look into Burmese allegations that Bangladesh made a similar dam on its side of the river last year, an allegation Dhaka has denied.

But despite these diplomatic efforts, villagers are fleeing from border villages and troops on both sides remain on full alert.

Dispute

The director general of the Bangladesh Rifles, Major General Fazlur Rahman, told the BBC that talks to resolve differences with Burma would start within two weeks.

Bangladesh has reinforced its border troops

He said that his country has not built any dam on the river and that Dhaka welcomed the appointment of a survey team to verify the Burmese allegation.

Burma, he said, had violated agreements between the two countries signed in 1966 and renewed in 1980 by beginning construction on the river Naaf.

The Burmese counter-allegation was just a cover-up for their guilt, he alleged.

Tension

Earlier, Burma had threatened to resume work on the dam if Dhaka failed to dismantle the embankment it allegedly built last year.

But now it appears to have withdrawn its threat until the findings of the joint survey are published.

Tension surfaced last week when border guards exchanged fire following reports that Burma was constructing the dam on the Naaf.

Bangladesh later reinforced its border guards after accusing Burma of deploying regular troops.

Burma and Bangladesh have traditionally lived as good neighbours.

But the relationship soured last year following allegations that Burma was laying landmines on the border in an apparent bid to stop the movement of Burmese insurgents.