British oil and gas firm Cairn Energy has announced plans for further exploration and development drilling in Bangladesh's offshore gas field.

"Now we are seeking approval from the government to begin offshore drilling at the end of 2006," Cairn chief executive officer Bill Gammell said.
He came to Bangladesh for a three-day visit.
"We are reviewing to increase production from Sangu field and block 16 as a whole," he added.
Cairn Energy is currently operating Bangladesh's only offshore gas field at Sangu in the Bay of Bengal, off Chittagong port.
In addition, Cairn is actively exploring in blocks 5 and 10, where new seismic data has been acquired, and is participating with Chevron in block 7, where a seismic campaign commenced recently.
"The result of the survey has been encouraging," Gammell said.