A fresh confrontation appear to be brewing between Myanmar and Bangladesh as Yangon has warned US energy giant ConocoPhillips against exploring an offshore block for Dhaka in Bay of Bengal, which it said were in disputed waters. Bangladesh officials claimed that Myanmar along with issuing the warning had mobilised extra troops on frontiers sparking tension on the border.
An official said the US oil company sought to take up the matter with the foreign ministry. He said the company had received the warning letter claiming that the offshore Block11, awarded to it by Bangladesh, was located within Myanmar's maritime boundary.
"The Conoco Phillips' officials want to discuss the issue with the foreign ministry. We have taken steps so that a meeting can be held this week," the New Age reported quoting official who said that the overlapping claim areas was "not significantly large". The US company earlier informed the state-run Petrobangla, which awarded it the block, about the Yangon warning asking it not to take over offshore Block 11.
The development came as reports from southeastern frontiers, bordering junta-ruled Myanmar, said Yangon mobilised extra border troops in the frontline sparking tension in the area over the past two weeks.
