Dhaka  - Authorities in Bangladesh Sunday claimed that Myanmar has suspended oil and gas exploration in the disputed Bay of Bengal as a result of Dhaka's efforts to defuse tension between the two countries.

"Diplomatic endeavours and a strong presence by the Bangladesh navy resulted in the suspension of exploration by Myanmar in the disputed waters," a statement issued by the Inter-Service Public Relations office of the country's Defence Ministry said.

India may import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to satisfy growing demand of energy in the country. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said on Friday that Indian oil and gas companies must involve in Russian oil and gas fields.

Mr. Deora recently visited Russia and discussed various issues with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 5. He asked the PM for two million tonnes of LNG per year from Russia's Sakhalin LNG project. He also raised the issue of stake in big-ticket Sakhalin-3 oil and gas field in the meeting with the Russian PM.

Dhaka - Reported troop movements near the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar, apparently resulting from a disagreement over offshore oil and gas rights, have ramped up tensions in the area.

Border forces along the Bangladeshi south-eastern border with Myanmar's Rakhain state were put on red alert Saturday after reports of Myanmar troop deployment on the other side of the border.

Vienna - The oil cartel OPEC said Friday th

Yangon - Myanmar has rejected a demand by Bangladesh to stop offshore oil exploration in a disputed area in the Bay of Bengal, state media reports said Friday.

The Myanmar government announced it would continue exploration in the Rakhaing offshore block AD-7 despite Bangladesh's claim to the area, according to state-run TV and newspapers.

Myanmar claimed the AD-7 block was within the special economic zone of Myanmar territorial waters and that the demand by Bangladesh was unlawful and wrong.