A group of public university teachers has invited the government to an open public dialogue on gas and coal export policies that have touched off debates and protests in recent times, reports bdnews24.com.

Professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury at a news conference in the city said Friday that ten persons, five agreeing with the government's explanation and five others who differ, could take part in the dialogue.

He presented a set of recommendations from the 'teachers of the public universities' at the news conference at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

"Since neither the people nor the government wants to export the reserve gas and coal of the country, a transparent and reasonable solution is needed to the opposing opinions," he said.

From the teachers' side he announced the names of justice Golam Rabbani, professor Mohammed Nurul Islam, professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, professor MM Akash and professor M Shamsul Alam.

The government in August approved the proposal to award US-based ConocoPhilips and Irish Tullow Oil plc contracts to explore oil and gas in three blocks in the Bay.

A left-leaning National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports has been demanding cancellation of Model PSC 2008 formulated during the immediate past caretaker government.

State-owned exploration authority Petrobangla Chairman Moktadir Ali said Thursday that ConcoPhilips was expected to sign the deal in the first week and Tullow in the second week of the current month.

"Observing the situation it seems that the role of the government is vague. How much effective is the condition for permitting the companies to export has not been analysed," he said.

Dhaka University professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury highlighted a set of recommendations on the energy security of the country, where calls were made to make a law that barred exporting gas or coal before ensuring energy for 50 years.

The teachers called for putting in place a long-term energy policy.

"We need a long-term energy policy to utilise our limited resources. We can not export coal and gas to secure the energy needs of others leaving ourselves vulnerable," he said.

He also urged the government to take initiatives to determine the maritime boundaries of the country.

Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes admitted Thursday that Bangladesh was at odds with India and Myanmar over maritime boundary of the three blocks earmarked for oil and gas exploration in the deep Bay.

"India has claimed that two blocks, 5 and 10, that have overlapped their maritime boundary while Myanmar made the same claim about block 11," he said.

Forty-six teachers from Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology are involved with the initiative, said professor Akash.