"They will discuss the latest situation with Myanmar officials and try to defuse the situation," he said.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh would "endeavour to settle the issue diplomatically" but warned of unspecified action if Myanmar continued to hunt for gas.
"Let it also be understood that we will do all that it takes to protect our sovereignty," he said, repeating earlier warnings that the South Asian nation would not hesitate to take "all possible measures."
He said Bangladesh has so far refrained from energy exploration in disputed waters, despite its earlier invitation to foreign oil companies to explore offshore for gas.
"It is our hope Myanmar will do the same," he added.
A top navy official said a frigate had been sent to the disputed waters, joining the three warships already deployed 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Saint Martin Island, close to the border between the two countries.
"We deployed a British-made frigate, the BNS Kopothakka, to step up patrols, as Myanmar's navy had not yet shifted its vessels engaged in exploration activities" he said.
"Other vessels in our fleet were kept on stand-by," he said.
Myanmar has discovered huge reserves of natural gas in the Bay of Bengal and has expressed its intention to carry out further exploration in a stretch of the sea also claimed by Bangladesh.
The two countries have held a series of meetings in the past year aimed at resolving the disputes over the maritime boundary, including a meeting last month in Dhaka of senior ministers from both countries.
The foreign ministry announced that more substantive discussions on the maritime boundary would be held in Dhaka on 16-17 November when a delegation from Myanmar will come to Bangladesh.
Earlier this year Bangladesh divided its sea territory into 28 blocks and auctioned off the area to international oil companies as part of its efforts to end chronic gas shortages in the once gas-rich country.
Myanmar protested the move.
Myanmar refugees sold off at M’sian border, MP claimsChowdhury said Bangladesh would "endeavour to settle the issue diplomatically" but warned of unspecified action if Myanmar continued to hunt for gas.
"Let it also be understood that we will do all that it takes to protect our sovereignty," he said, repeating earlier warnings that the South Asian nation would not hesitate to take "all possible measures."
He said Bangladesh has so far refrained from energy exploration in disputed waters, despite its earlier invitation to foreign oil companies to explore offshore for gas.
"It is our hope Myanmar will do the same," he added.
A top navy official said a frigate had been sent to the disputed waters, joining the three warships already deployed 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Saint Martin Island, close to the border between the two countries.
"We deployed a British-made frigate, the BNS Kopothakka, to step up patrols, as Myanmar's navy had not yet shifted its vessels engaged in exploration activities" he said.
"Other vessels in our fleet were kept on stand-by," he said.
Myanmar has discovered huge reserves of natural gas in the Bay of Bengal and has expressed its intention to carry out further exploration in a stretch of the sea also claimed by Bangladesh.
The two countries have held a series of meetings in the past year aimed at resolving the disputes over the maritime boundary, including a meeting last month in Dhaka of senior ministers from both countries.
The foreign ministry announced that more substantive discussions on the maritime boundary would be held in Dhaka on 16-17 November when a delegation from Myanmar will come to Bangladesh.
Earlier this year Bangladesh divided its sea territory into 28 blocks and auctioned off the area to international oil companies as part of its efforts to end chronic gas shortages in the once gas-rich country.
Myanmar protested the move.
An opposition MP highlighted the plight of Myanmar refugees in Malaysia, claiming that some of them were "sold off" at Malaysia-Thai border by immigration officers to human traffickers during deportation.
Charles Santiago (DAP - Klang), said that based on those who have come forward to relate their ordeal after paying off the traffickers, the refugees were sold off as slaves to fishing trawlers and the women as prostitutes in Thailand.
NTV 7 had also featured on May 3 in a programme called "Refugee for sale."
Together with Charles was Aegile Fernandez, co-ordinator of Anti-Trafficking in Persons in Tenaganita Sdn Bhd and Alice Nah from the Migration Working Group.
Aegile said the sum the traffickers asked was between RM2,500 and RM3,000 and they allowed the refugees to make one or two calls to their family.
"For those who were unable to pay the sum, they would be sold off and many just disappeared like that.
"Among those who managed to come back, only few were willing to come forward and relate their traumatic ordeal," said Aegile.
Tenaganita had also published a book entitled "The Revolving Door - modern day slavery refugees."
Charles said that, in a written reply by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on July 9, the minister had said the Immigration department had set up a special committee to investigate the case of "refugee for sale" but did not find any officers involved in such trade.
However, Syed Hamid said the committee would continue to probe.
In another written reply on Oct 22, Syed Hamid said an internal probe was conducted to gather information to decide if there was any need to set up an independent committee to investigate into the allegation but no proof was found later.
Syed Hamid also replied that the internal probe was carried out by the intelligence unit of the enforcement department of Immigration.
Charles said the committee set up by the department had either conducted poor investigation or covered up the matter.
"We have the Anti-Trafficking in Persons act but this is a complete violation of human rights," he said.
Charles Santiago (DAP - Klang), said that based on those who have come forward to relate their ordeal after paying off the traffickers, the refugees were sold off as slaves to fishing trawlers and the women as prostitutes in Thailand.
NTV 7 had also featured on May 3 in a programme called "Refugee for sale."
Together with Charles was Aegile Fernandez, co-ordinator of Anti-Trafficking in Persons in Tenaganita Sdn Bhd and Alice Nah from the Migration Working Group.
Aegile said the sum the traffickers asked was between RM2,500 and RM3,000 and they allowed the refugees to make one or two calls to their family.
"For those who were unable to pay the sum, they would be sold off and many just disappeared like that.
"Among those who managed to come back, only few were willing to come forward and relate their traumatic ordeal," said Aegile.
Tenaganita had also published a book entitled "The Revolving Door - modern day slavery refugees."
Charles said that, in a written reply by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on July 9, the minister had said the Immigration department had set up a special committee to investigate the case of "refugee for sale" but did not find any officers involved in such trade.
However, Syed Hamid said the committee would continue to probe.
In another written reply on Oct 22, Syed Hamid said an internal probe was conducted to gather information to decide if there was any need to set up an independent committee to investigate into the allegation but no proof was found later.
Syed Hamid also replied that the internal probe was carried out by the intelligence unit of the enforcement department of Immigration.
Charles said the committee set up by the department had either conducted poor investigation or covered up the matter.
"We have the Anti-Trafficking in Persons act but this is a complete violation of human rights," he said.
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