The New Nation - Internet Edition

Niko graft cases: ACC scrutinises probe reports

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission is now scrutinising the investigation reports of the two separate Niko graft cases, filed against two former Prime Ministers and nine others, before taking a decision on submission of charge sheets. The investigation report of the case against Khaleda and four others was submitted on March 13, reportedly recommending submission of charge sheet against a total of 15 persons, including those charged initially.

On the other hand, the investigation officer submitted the report of another Niko case against Hasina and six others Thursday (March 20) with a recommendation of submission of charge sheet against seven initially charged ones, including Hasina and reportedly another two persons.

On December 9, ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed the case with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia, former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, ex-State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif. They were accused of signing the "illegal" deal with Niko through corruption that caused a loss of Tk 10,000 crore to the State. ACC deputy director Shabbir Hasan filed a separate case on the same day with the same police station against Hasina, former State Minister for Power and Energy Rafiqul Islam, former principal secretary Dr SA Samad, former Power and Energy secretary Dr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, former Power and Energy secretary Akmal Hossain, former Petro Bangla chairman Dr Mosharraf Hossain and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the "corrupt and illegal" deal with Niko that inflicted a loss of Tk 13630.50 crore on the national exchequre. During the two-month long investigation into the case against Khaleda, the involvement of another 10 persons were reportedly found apart from the initially accused five persons and which is why inclusion of these names in the charge sheet has been recommended. tional persons recommended to be charge-sheeted include former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, former Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan and Law Ministry joint secretary Noren Das. In the investigation into the case against Hasina and six others, it has been reported that the investigation officer recommended inclusion of another couple of individuals in the charge sheet apart from the first seven.

About the state of the two high-profile cases, ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal, also the Commission's spokesperson, told UNB that the investigation report of the Niko case against Khaleda is being scrutinised at the moment.

About the case against Hasina, he, however, said, "I'm not sure whether the investigation report of this case was submitted or not. I didn't inquire about it."

But, a senior ACC official, requesting anonymity, confirmed UNB that the investigation report of the case was submitted with the Commission Thursday and it is now being scrutinised. About the next steps after the submission of the investigation reports, Col Hanif Iqbal said following the submission of a memo of evidence first it is seen by a director followed by a director general before it goes to the Commissioner in charge of the investigation.

Then, he said, the Commissioner present this report in front of the full Commission for taking a decision on submission of charge sheet and who to be included or excluded.

Hanif said that if the Commission feels necessary it could discuss legal opinions with lawyers.

Replying to a question, he said the ultimate authority rests with the Commission as to how many people in a case would be charge-sheeted.

Iftekhar tells Labour Attaches: Explore opportunities of employment abroad

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday stressed the need for ensuring Bangladesh's due share of jobs abroad.

Inaugurating a three-day training "Workshop for Labour Attaches," jointly organised by the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment and International Organisation of Migration (IOM) at a hotel, he said labour attaches have to remain vigilant not only about current jobs but also about future employment opportunities.

Dr. Iftekhar, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, said the information which the labour attaches would provide help develop the skills required for new jobs in the destination countries.

Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate welfare and Overseas Employment Abdul Matin Chowdhury and Country Representative of IOM Ms Rubub Fatima also addressed the function, which was participated by a good number of labour attaches serving in Bangladesh Missions abroad.

In this context, Dr. Iftekhar said remittances from more than four million Bangladeshis living overseas, now exceed 10 per cent of the country's GDP. This, he said, is nearly five times larger than the ODA and ten times larger than the FDI the country received last year. He emphasised the need for pursuing coherent and consistent policies to realise the full potentials.

The foreign adviser said the labour attaches have to play pro-active role and build rapport with employers so that " Bangladeshi workers become their default choice".

Migrant workers, he said, often face discrimination, maltreatment and abuse in the host countries. He said often just a sympathetic hearing from an official can alleviate some of their sufferings.

He said we must not allow our workers to sink in misery, without receiving necessary assistance from the relevant officials of Bangladesh missions.

Dr. Iftekhar said that the country does not expect that the labour attaches would be able to solve all their problems, but they are expected to remain compassionate at all time.

The relevant officials, he said, are expected to use their negotiating skills regarding fair treatment and living wage of the workers.

Dr. Iftekhar said there is need for building a broad coalition to set a mutually agreed minimum living wages for the migrant workers. This, he said, will have a significant welfare enhancing effect.

He said there is need for concerted efforts so that the countries of origin do not undercut each other. He stressed the need for intensifying diplomatic efforts not just vis-a-vis the government counterparts, but also vis-a-vis the employers and their colleagues in other missions.

The adviser said despite full liberalisation in goods and capital markets, the integration of labour markets, still face insurmountable challenges. While foreign capitals receive preferential treatment, foreign labour often faces negative discrimination, he said.

He said there should be renewed efforts to put labour and capital at par and host countries must not take foreign labour for granted. He said they must ensure that the migrant workers receive full national treatment without discrimination.

Sarkozy's ex-wife to wed at New York's: Rainbow Room

AFP, New York

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife is to marry her Moroccan-born lover at New York's glitzy Rainbow Room on Sunday, according to a programme of the celebrations seen by AFP.

Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz and Richard Attias, a multi-millionaire events organiser, were to tie the knot at a black tie ceremony at 7 pm (2300 GMT) attended by 150 guests, many of whom flew in from Europe for the nuptials.

The 65th-floor Rainbow Room is one of the best-known establishments in New York. Part of the Art Deco Rockefeller Center dating from the 1930s, it features chandeliers, a revolving dance floor and views across Manhattan.

According to the programme, the ceremony was to be followed by cocktails and dinner at the Manhattan venue described by New York Magazine as "one place true New Yorkers expect never to visit" and catering for "easy-to- impress tourists."

Details surrounding the wedding had been shrouded in secrecy. Rumors had suggested the couple would hold a Jewish ceremony at a New York synagogue on Sunday, but there was no mention of any religious ceremony on the programme.

Guests of the couple kicked off three days of celebrations on Friday with a party at Attias's Connecticut home. On Saturday, they were treated to dinner at an upmarket 1920s steakhouse just off Broadway.

They were later due to take in the ABBA-themed Broadway show "Mamma Mia!"

According to reports, guests have been told not to bring cameras or phones with cameras, to protect the couple's privacy.

Other reports said that French magazine Paris-Match had declined an offer of exclusive rights to cover the wedding, apparently over fears of upsetting Sarkozy, known to be friends with the magazine's owner, Arnaud Lagardere.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Sarkozy's ex- wife, 50, was to marry Attias, 48, and Italian fashion house Versace said earlier this month it would be dressing the couple for the occasion.

Ciganer-Albeniz's involvement with Attias first became public when the couple were photographed stepping out of a New York hotel together in 2005, during a break in Ciganer-Albeniz's marriage to Sarkozy.

She later returned to Sarkozy, but the couple announced their divorce last October, ending a stormy 11-year marriage.

In February, less than four months after his divorce, Sarkozy, 53, married Carla Bruni, the Italian-born former model turned singer-songwriter.

Lifetime president: Mugabe says, power for those who planned liberation war

Robert Mugabe

Internet

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has told a rally in Harare ahead of next week's elections the main opposition party would not rule in his lifetime.

The 84-year-old, who is seeking a sixth term in office, also repeated threats against British-owned firms in Zimbabwe he accused of backing the opposition.

His main rivals are Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and ex-ally Simba Makoni.

Mugabe has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

Analysts say the 29 March general election poses the biggest threat to his rule since he took office, but he dismissed the MDC's chances of office.

"It will never happen as long as we are still alive - those (of us) who planned the liberation struggle," Mugabe told thousands of supporters at the rally in the capital.

He did not mention ex-Finance Minister Makoni, who was expelled from the ruling Zanu-PF last month after announcing he would stand against Mugabe as an independent.

Instead he focused on the main opposition party, saying: "You in the MDC, it's treasonous to continue assisting the British to make sure they have a say here."

The opposition of Tsvangirai, who has said he fears next week's poll could be rigged, denies any direct links with the UK.

Mugabe claimed Britain was supporting the MDC in a bid to stop the seizure and distribution of white-owned land to black Zimbabweans.

He continued: "[The British] still have companies here and we have not yet touched them.

"Four hundred British companies and so they must take care. After elections we will look into that."

The president claimed foreign businesses were hiking prices to turn voters against his government.

On Friday, five police officers in southern Zimbabwe were jailed for breaking regulations by allegedly expressing support for the MDC.

The officers were given two-week sentences for violating a law banning police from actively participating in Zimbabwean politics.

Economic crisis in the country has sent inflation past 100,000%, the world's highest, which has resulted in food, fuel, water shortages.

GP to finance anti- cervical cancer vaccination

Staff Reporter

Grameen Phone (GP) will finance a pilot vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer among economically disadvantaged young women in the country.

The vaccination programme will be conducted by Bangladesh Medical University in collaboration with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Harvard University.

A committee headed by Prof Shaila Khatun, Prof Samina Chowdhury and others will conduct the programme, according to the GP officials.

Under the pilot programme, the HPV vaccination will be administered among 30 economically disadvantaged young women.

Prof ABMF Karim, Professor Emeritus of Vrije University of Amsterdam, Chairman of the Oncology Club and Adviser of the SAARC Federation of Oncologists, said, "The pilot vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer among poor young women is a great initiative. This vaccine has only recently been introduced in some developed countries like the USA, Canada and European countries and this is perhaps for the first time it is being implemented in any developing country."

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in many developing countries like Bangladesh.

The Harvard Medical School will conduct an impact study on the vaccination programme. This pilot study of evaluating the HPV vaccine in Bangladesh was proposed by Dr Bimalangshu Dey and Dr Annekathryn Goodman both from the Harvard Medical School.

The study was designed to look at the cost implications and feasibility of possible integration of the programme into routine vaccination schedules for women aged between 11 and 26 years. Issued of culture and parental attitude will be also studied.

Banglalink hosts sea festival from Mar 26 to 28

Staff Reporter

Banglalink Sagor Utshob is going to be taken place from March 26 to 28 to revive and attract attention to the SIDR affected tourist destination Kuakata.

The festival is organised by Kuakata Hotel, Motel and Resort Owners Association (KHMROA) and sponsored by the giant mobile phone operating company Banglalink. The Speakers informed this in a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity yesterday.

Sharfuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, PR and Communication Manager of Banglalink, said, Kuakata has the potential to

be one of the premium tourist destination of the country. This festival would help to attract the tourist from home and abroad.

Mostafa Shiblee, Vice president of KHMROA, said Bangladesh a opportunity to earn foreign currencies through tourism sector. Kuakata is a unique tourist spot with mind-blowing natural scenario. The government as well as individuals should work together for further improvement of the spot.

During the three days of the event, there will be cultural programme by the local indigenous groups and a seminar celebrating Independence Day. Sagar mela, Bar-B-Q, Rakhine Cultural presentation and a seminar titled "Resurrecting Kuakata" will also be highlightened. It will be followed by band music and film show.

Deputy commissioner of Patuakhali district GM Mir Moshiour Rahman will inaugurate the festival. Bangla vision and Radio today are the media partner of the festival.

Tuberculosis Day today

BSS, Dhaka

The government in cooperation with the BRAC and other supporting organisations has chalked out an elaborate programme to observe the World Tuberculosis Day-2008 today.

The programme includes rallies, screening of mobile films on tuberculosis (TB) and discussions in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Bogra. Besides, rallies, discussions, cultural functions and workshops will be held at 68 district and 460 upazila headquarters. Government officials, TB experts, journalists and NGO workers will participate in the programmes.

This was informed today at a press briefing jointly organised by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP), the BRAC and other organisations at the DRU auditorium here. DRU general secretary Elias Khan conducted the function. The theme of the year is 'I am also for preventing TB'.

Director of the Microbiological Disease Control (MBDC) and NTCP line director Prof Dr Pravat Chandra Barua, superintendent of the TB Control and Training Institute Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Dr ABM Tauhidul Islam of the World Health Organisation (WHO), director of the BRAC public relation department Anwarul Haque and BRAC health programme chief Jalal Uddin Ahmed spoke at the press briefing.

They said the TB kills at least 70,000 people and infects three lakh people in the country each year. Out of the 200 countries in the world, the disease is preventable in the 22 countries, including Bangladesh where the detection rate of the disease is 95 per cent.

Prof Barua said the government has taken a five-year plan for combating the disease in the TB-prone areas of the country, including Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and haors.

"We have provided training for 80,000 doctors, nurses and health workers for improving our laboratories," Prof Barua said.

Dr Tauhidul Islam said the administrating of multi-drug resistance fails to cure TB patients due to wrong treatment and taking uncontrolled medicines.

FFs demand ban on communal politics

Staff Reporter

Freedom fighters at a press conference in the city urged the Caretaker Government (CG) to punish war criminals, ban communal politics and declare them illegal to participate in the national election.

They also urged the CG to give them punishment who illegally grabbed the head office of Muktijoddha Sangsad at 393, New Eskaton on November 23, 2001.

They demanded to finalise the list of the freedom fighters and refresh the previous lists.

They urged the government to give the freedom fighters Tk 3,000 as 'honorary allowance' every month.

The press conference was organised by Central Command Council of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday to demand punishment of war criminals, disclose corruption charge against Muktijoddha Sangsad.

Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, Chairman of Central Command Council of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, read out a written statement.

Ahad Chowdhury said, "There were some corruption and mismanagement charges against Muktijoddha Sangsad. But all these were took place during the tenure of four-party alliance government between 2001 and 2006."

"If the CG will take action to investigate the matter, real scenario will be disclosed to all," he said.

He urged the government to exempt taxes on water, power and holding taxes of all families of the freedom fighters.

The freedom fighters demanded the government to ensure participation of freedom fighters in all government development committees at district and upazila levels in the country.

They urged the CG to increase number of free beds for freedom fighters in the government hospitals and arrange treatment facilities including medicine to them.

Freedom fighters Harun-ur-Rashid, Mazharul Islam, Mozammel Hossain, among others, were present at the conference.

Mass media urged to address human right issues

Staff Reporter

Mass media must play a role to address the human right issues in effective way. Students as well as the people need to be incorporated in raising awareness about human rights and use of power to influence the society. Mass media can help the people to enjoy access to information to being positive change in Bangladesh.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director and Chief Editor of BSS, said this as chief guest in the inaugural session of the Youth Journalism and Human Rights Camp at TARC of BRAC in Savar yesterday.

He said the camp would play an important role to raise awareness regarding journalism and human rights.

Relief International (RI), a US-based NGO, organised the three-day-long camp for marginalised and rural youth to make them aware of the power of the media to influence society and to make media accessible to them.

Its aim is to introduce journalism and human rights topics to the students of Class IX to XI from across Bangladesh. The camp also aims to develop the student's journalism and technology skills and explore journalism as a career or as a social worker. The camp is a part of an 18 months long project titled " Media Access and Education for Human Rights: Bangladesh" implemented by RI with funding support from the European Union.

The programme targets the rural and semi urban youths, local journalists, media professionals and the public at large and implements enabling technologies appropriate to the existing infrastructure.

Topics covered during the camp include journalism, basic issues of journalism, relationship between human rights and journalism, use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in promoting journalism, importance of photojournalism. The camp participants will get an opportunity to visit some renowned print and electronic media house.

The Youth Journalism and Human Rights camp is the first of a series of camps. A total of six camps will be held throughout the year and a total of 144 students will learn how to develop their journalism and technology skill through the camps.

Dr Nasser Rahman and RI country director Nazrul Islam also spoke during the opening session of the programme.

Call to uphold ideal of independence

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting yesterday called for foiling efforts made to divide the people and obstruct the process of development of the country. They said Bangladesh was of interest to its neighbours when it achieved independence, but now global powers were competing to expand their spheres of influence in the country.

Prof Mahbubullah of Dhaka University was the chief guest at the discussion meeting organised by the Prajanma 26 March at the Photo Journalists Association auditorium. Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor, The New Nation, and Prof. M Abdul Karim, Assistant Secretary General of the Jatiya Muktijoddha Parishad were special guests at the function presided over by Abul Ehsan, president of the organisation.

The speakers paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the War of Independence and said the values for which lakhs of them laid their lives should be upheld to pay due respect to them.

Prof. Mahbubullah said that independence does not only mean the possession of a separate geographical area. The people of the country should remain prepared to make more sacrifices in future to make their independence meaningful and fruitful. For this it is necessary to identify those who obstructed the processes of freedom, economic development, and people's progress, he said.

Prof. Abdul Karim said that freedom fighters like him fought the war as they did dream of a better future. He paid respects for the leaders who moulded the movement for the independence of Bangladesh that culminated in the War of Independence.

Abul Ehsan said children of freedom fighters like them now felt frustrated that they were deprived of opportunities to improve their lot. He said heirs of freedom fighters look forward to building a democratic, independent and sovereign Bangladesh.

Pak PM candidate to meet coalition partners

AFP, Islamabad

The man nominated by the party of the late Benazir Bhutto to be Pakistan's new premier is Sunday set to meet members of a coalition that has vowed to take on President Pervez Musharraf.

Former parliament speaker Yousuf Raza Gilani was named on Saturday by slain opposition leader Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as its candidate for prime minister, more than a month after it won the most seats in elections.

The party has agreed to form a coalition government with the party of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Musharraf in a coup in 1999, and other smaller groups who trounced the US-backed president's allies in elections.

Party officials said top coalition members, including Gilani, were set to meet on Sunday ahead of a parliament session on Monday to elect the new prime minister, a vote which Gilani is almost certain to win.

Gilani, 58, a low-key but stalwart aide to Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari, on Saturday called for unity among Pakistan's "democratic" parties.

"We have to take all democratic forces along. I will be giving a policy statement and spelling out my priorities on the floor of the house," Gilani told AFP after he was nominated.

"I am thankful to my party leadership for putting their trust in me," Gilani said, adding that he missed the party's "great leader" Bhutto, who was assassinated in a suicide attack at a political rally on December 27.

Gilani spent five years in jail under Musharraf's regime on corruption charges stemming from his time as speaker-winning admiration from PPP colleagues who said the charges were politically motivated.

Zardari said in a statement announcing the nomination on Saturday that "Yousuf Raza Gilani is not afraid to lead and he knows the way."

Speculation remains however that Gilani would be a stop-gap premier until Zardari-who is not an MP-becomes eligible to stand for the post by contesting a by-election in May.

"This option stays open depending on the performance of the government, it is possible," Hasan Askari, a professor at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington DC, told AFP. Gilani was speaker during Bhutto's second term in power from 1993 to 1996 and a minister during her first term from 1988 to 1990.

Meanwhile the former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, which backed Musharraf in the last parliament, said it was going to choose a new candidate on Sunday to go up against Gilani in Monday's vote.

A nominee of Musharraf's allies on Saturday quit the race for the premiership in a dramatic about-face, saying he would give "unconditional support to the PPP nominee."

Musharraf is set to swear in the new premier on Tuesday.

Western governments are closely watching the political scene in Pakistan amid concerns that instability will hurt the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants behind a wave of recent violence.

The coalition government appears set for a confrontation with Musharraf after vowing to reinstate judges whom the president sacked during a state of emergency in November.

If restored, the judges could overturn Musharraf's re-election as president in a parliamentary vote in October and effectively rule his grip on power illegal.

A New York Times report that Zardari and Sharif intend to start negotiations with Islamic militants in the hope of ending a spate of bombings has caused further jitters in the West.

Analyst Askari said Gilani's nomination would improve stability in the short-term because he was acceptable to the PPP and its coalition partners, but that he faced major problems at home and abroad.

"The new PM faces a difficult challenge of balancing the domestic demand for a dialogue with the militants with American pressure for a tougher approach," Askari said.

"The US government is somewhat perturbed by the new government's plan to negotiate with the militant groups."

BNP writes to CA seeking release of Khaleda, her sons

UNB, Dhaka

BNP has urged Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to use his good offices in releasing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, her two sons and all detained political leaders before the Independence and National Day on Wednesday.

"Celebrations of the Independence and National Day will be incomplete to the nation keeping the family of Ziaur Rahman who had declared independence. The nation wants to see free the competent successors of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman on this auspicious day," said a letter to the Chief Adviser signed by BNP standing committee member Dr RA Gani today.

The decision to seek interference of the Chief Adviser for release of Khaleda Zia was taken at a joint meeting of BNP with heads of its front organizations on March 19 chaired by Dr Gani. The letter said Khaleda Zia was detained for the last six months. But the authorities could not yet bring any specific charge, submit charge sheet or probe the allegations against her. "She was thrown into jail on fabricated charges and thus curbed her basic rights." "It is regrettable and condemnable that a former prime minister of the country and her family members were subjected to inhuman harassment under a heinous conspiracy. The entire nation and important personalities abroad have protested and condemned the action against her," added the letter.

BNP acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed carried the letter and delivered at the reception of Chief Adviser's secretariat at 12-30pm Later he told reporters that the party would decide the next course of action through discussion if Khaleda Zia, her sons and all detained political leaders are not set free before March 26.

ADB DG in city

BSS, Dhaka

Director General of the South Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Kunio Senga arrived here on Sunday on a three-day official visit.

During the visit, Senga will hold discussions with Advisers for Finance and Planning, and Foreign Affairs, Communications, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Power and Energy, and senior government officials on regional cooperation, food security, power and transport sector developments, said a press release.

The ADB Director General will also exchange views with development partners and other stakeholders on a wide range of development issues.

St Martin's now unsafe for sea turtles

BSS, St. Martin's

Due to uncontrolled human activities along the sandy parts of the sea beach of St. Martin's island, the arrival of turtles for laying eggs has been reduced significantly.

Besides, loitering of pariah dogs on the beach in search of turtle eggs and barking at egg laying turtles also create a situation that yearly visits of the beach by sea turtles is becoming rare. Just a few years back locals and tourists have witnessed hundreds of sea turtles laying eggs during the breeding season which was worth seeing, but now a limited number of sea turtles used to visit St. Martins beach to lay eggs.

To protect the sea turtles and allow them to lay eggs safely, Coastal and Wetlands Bio-diversity Project (CWBMP) has undertaken a project to preserve two endangered species of sea turtles - Green Turtle and Olive Ridle Turtle - by keeping the sea beach undisturbed. Steps have been taken to collect the turtle eggs and put those in a newly set up hatchery by keeping the dogs at bay.

The CWBMP has engaged Bangladesh POUSH in protecting the sea beach free of human movement where turtles usually come to lay eggs, imposing restriction on arranging the camp fire along the beach or using flashlights at night, so that the turtles can lay eggs safely.

The POUSH has employed 17 fulltime guards to ensure safe- laying of eggs by the turtles and their return to the sea. The guards collect the eggs and put those in the hatchery.

Under the supervision of Dr Tapan Kumar Ghoshal, the POUSH guards have collected over 5,335 eggs and during the last 14 months over 2,200 turtle hatchlings were released into the sea. He said once the beach is secured from invasion of tourists and dogs, the turtles in increased number would take the St. Martin's beach as their natural breeding ground as before.