Bangladesh and Burma, two of the world's poorest nations, have sent warships into the Bay of Bengal as tensions escalate over a vast but disputed gas find.
Bangladesh said yesterday it had sent a British-made frigate, the BNS Kopothakka, to join three other warships 30 miles south of the tiny St Martin's Island. The Burmese authorities estimate that 400bn cubic metres of gas (about 14 trillion cubic feet) lie beneath the sea floor.
The military-backed government in Dhaka has said it will take all possible measures to protect the nation's assets. The country is sending a top civil servant to meet the military junta in Burma.
The row began after a Burmese exploration ship escorted by a naval flotilla skirted the island last week. Bangladesh insists that the waters are within its territory and has demanded that the Burmese ships withdraw until a maritime boundary can be established through talks. However, Burma's foreign ministry told Reuters: "We have no reason to stop the exploration activities since these blocks are located in our exclusive economic zone. We will go ahead with it."
Burma's regime views hydrocarbon wealth as essential to its survival. In the last year, Burma earned $2.6bn (£1.6bn) from selling gas. A report by the Asian Development Bank this year warned that sales of natural gas were creating a valuable buffer for Burma's ruling generals.
