From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 13: The scheduled historic research programme between India and Bangladesh has been postponed after the neighbouring country (Bangladesh) kept on hold the permission for Indian scientists to research in their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The expedition for which the memorandum of understanding is signed by Dona Paula Goa based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Dhaka University was scheduled to be held in October this year.

"As of now the expedition has been kept on hold. We will get back to you with a fresh date,” NIO Director SW Naqvi told daijiworld in Panaji today.

He refused to give further details, but the sources stated that Bangladesh Navy has been holding the file pertaining to the Indian scientists’ presence in the EEZ.

The Indo-Bangladesh expedition was announced earlier last year by Union government claiming it to be a milestone in the history of ocean research between both the countries.

NIO’s research ship – Sindhu Sadhana has been assigned the job to cruise the scientists. The ship is waiting for the green signal from NIO headquarter to sail East.

The researchers in NIO and Dhaka University were looking forward for this expedition as it was ‘first ever such exercise’ between both the neighbours.

The research was supposed to be held in North of Bay of Bengal within EEZ of Bangladesh which extends up to 200 nautical miles, where India never had an access.

The Bangladesh EEZ which has an indirect impact on India’s marine life has never been studied in the past.

The multi disciplinary oceanographic expedition which is now likely to be delayed till next month is expected to study circulation of water, currents, impact of river run off and others.