Allow Bangalees to perform Hajj
September 26, 1972
BANGABANDHU'S CABLE TO KING FAISAL
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has sent a telegram to His Majesty King Faisal Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud, sovereign of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, requesting him to allow prospective Hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh to visit Saudi Arabia during the forthcoming Hajj season, says a press release of the government.
The following is an extract of Bangabandhu's telegram to King Faisal: "As Your Majesty is aware most of my countrymen are devout Muslims and strictly adhere to the tenets of Islam. Many of them who are able and resourceful have made it the cherished objective of their life to perform the Hajj. Every year thousands of our people have gone to your great country for this most sacred pilgrimage. I am very anxious to send them to perform Hajj this year also.
"To enable these people to fulfil their long ambition of performing this sacred pilgrimage I request Your Majesty to allow them to visit your country so that they could go to the holy cities and be in Kaaba, the house of Allah, where all Muslims are equal and universally accepted.
"My foreign minister had already sent a similar request to Your Majesty's foreign minister on the 12th September. If Your Majesty is agreeable to send an official to my country to grant visas to the intending pilgrims prior to their departure he would be received most warmly and all facilities will be extended to him. If Your Majesty has no objection, we would also like to send a small team of officials to your country before the Hajj season commences to look after the welfare our Hajis."
GOVT TAKES OVER TV CORPORATION
The government has taken over the Pakistan Television Corporation Limited in Bangladesh to ensure better operation of television services. The president has in this connection promulgated the Pakistan Television Corporation (Taking over) Order 1972 which comes into force at once.
SOURCES: September 27, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.
Comments