Oil firms win Bangladesh rights

Bangladesh has granted Conoco Phillips of the US and Ireland’s Tullow Oil three offshore exploration blocks in disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal. The firms have been given the right to explore for gas, despite ownership claims on some of the territory by neighbouring India and Burma. The oil firms will spend $160.5m (£98m) on exploring the area. The offshore bidding round was introduced last year by the then army-backed interim government.