Dhaka - Bangladesh has resolved to protect its sovereign territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal where it claims Myanmar authorities allegedly intruded for oil and gas exploration, officials said Thursday.

A high-level meeting of government and military officials in Dhaka reviewed the situation in the Bay of Bengal over Myanmar's presence in the disputed waters.

In a statement issued in the evening, foreign ministry adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said that Dhaka wants a peaceful resolution of the current issue in the Bay of Bengal with Myanmar.

Tensions rose earlier this week when Myanmar deployed warships and began hydrocarbon exploration in the disputed waters. Dhaka lodged strong protest against the exploration summoning the Myanmar envoy twice to Bangladesh's foreign ministry.

"But it resolved to protect her sovereign territory including the territorial waters," Iftekhar said.

"Of course we have goodwill for Myanmar, a close neighbour, but critical national interests have to be protected," he added.

Dhaka also sent a three-member delegation headed by Foreign Secretary Mohammad Touhid Hossain for talks with Myanmar authorities to defuse tension. Bangladesh intensified naval patrols and deployed warships in the bay waters.

A senior official at the Bangladeshi foreign ministry said that Myanmar had not thus far withdrawn its vessels from the disputed territory.

But the Korean company, Daewoo, which was awarded the Myanmar exploration bid, has initiated the process of withdrawal of the installation placed in areas claimed by Bangladesh as its territorial waters, Iftekhar said.

"This is indeed good news, if true, and would mean that our initiatives have paid off," the foreign adviser said,

Meanwhile, China on Thursday suggested that Bangladesh and Myanmar to settle their dispute in the Bay of Bengal through equal and friendly negotiations.

"We hope the countries will settle it through equal and friendly negotiations and maintain a stable bilateral relationship," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a press conference in Beijing.

"As their friend, China will contribute in an appropriate manner," he added.

Bangladesh and Myanmar failed to reach a consensus on their maritime boundary, although talks on the issue have been repeatedly held in the past.

Myanmar had assured Bangladesh in September that it would not pursue oil and gas exploration in the disputed territory unless they settled the issue. (dpa)