The auction offers 15 deepwater blocks and nine shallow-sea blocks. : The Bangladeshi government has issued an invitation to international oil and gas companies offering 15 deepwater blocks and nine shallow-sea blocks for exploration. The deep-sea licenses available for bidding are DS-08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The shallow-water ones are SS-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10 and 11. Dhaka is offering several perks including tax exemptions and leeway for contractors to manage their finances, as the South Asian country faces strains in its cash reserves.