A team of four Soviet and two Pakistani experts was in East Pakistan for about 10 days earlier this month for pre-reconnaissance as part of a comprehensive programme of work covering selected areas in both the wings, which will be spread over several years.

The pre-reconnaissance will be followed by aero-magnetic and geological surveys, which will begin during the coming field season — winter — in both the wings. The next stage will be geophysical (gravity and seismic) surveys. It will be after all these surveys have been carried out that decisions about actual drilling operations will be taken.

The three areas selected in East Pakistan are: 1. In Rangpur and Dinajpur districts in the north extending right up the border with India; 2. Khulna and Jessore districts in the south, again extending up to the border with India; and 3. In the Chittagong district and the Chittagong Hill Tracts extending up to the border with Burma.

It is interesting to note that, though they had a look at these areas, none of the Western oil companies prospecting for oil in Pakistan selected them for their operations….—Special Representative

Students storm ‘Morning News’ offices DACCA: A group of several hundred students shouting slogans and waving placards entered the offices of the “Morning News” Dacca, at about 1p.m. today and damaged furniture and burnt some copies of the English daily.

Wooden partitions in the office and glass panes were smashed to pieces. Some equipment, such as typewriters, was also damaged. The printing press and the news agency teleprinters installed in the office however, were spared.

After about 20 minutes the students re-formed into a procession and marched back towards the University….

It is believed that the students … belonged to the Agricultural College.—Agencies

Qazi courts DACCA: The demand, reportedly raised by Begum Shahnawaz, MPA West Pakistan, for the establishment of the Qazi court system, as was practised during the golden era of the Caliphate, has been hailed by some religious leaders here. —Agencies