Are India, Myanmar slowing Bangladeshs oil exploration bids?
From correspondents in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 02:30 PM IST India and Myanmar are hindering Bangladesh’s exploration bids by raising objections on oil and gas exploration in several blocks bordering their maritime boundaries, say officials here. This may slow down state-owned Petrobangla’s bid to find hydrocarbon resources offshore in the Bay of Bengal, The Daily Star said Wednesday. Petrobangla and Bangladesh foreign ministry sources said while India categorically objected to exploration in eight offshore blocks close to its maritime border, Myanmar had raised objections in general terms earlier this year. The oil companies on Tuesday drew Petrobangla’s attention to India’s views. Nevertheless, Petrobangla and the foreign ministry believe these would not totally stagnate the bidding process. ‘Fixing maritime borders like these take time to finalise. It cannot be done overnight. Differences of opinion concerning our maritime boundary may exist. There is a certain formula that has to be appl
