ABSTRACT
The four decade-long dispute over the maritime boundary between India and Bangladesh was finally resolved on 7 July 2014. The dispute which was largely a technical issue with overriding economic interests had resulted in decades of hostility among the neighbours. The Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague issued a ruling that awarded to Bangladesh 19,467 sq. km, four-fifth of the total area of 25,602 sq. km disputed maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). By a majority of four votes to one, the course of the maritime boundary line between Bangladesh and India in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf within and beyond 200 nautical miles (nm) was determined. Of the 25,602 sq. km sea area of BoB that was in dispute the UN Tribunal awarded Bangladesh 19,467 sq. km area and India 6,135 sq. km.
