“Asians will decide their own fate”

FEBRUARY 23, 1972

MUJIB'S APPEAL TO UN CHIEF 

Bangabandhu appeals to the UN secretary-general to use his office urgently to alleviate the plight of the Bangalee population living in different parts of Pakistan. He also requests the UN secretary-general to send his special representative to Pakistan for this purpose. 

Bangabandhu says in his message that grim reports about the conditions of the Bangalees living in Pakistan are reaching him every day, which say that they are living in Pakistan in a state of fear and insecurity. In many places they are deprived of water and electricity. In some places, they have been put into unknown concentration camps, he adds. 

In this connection, Bangabandhu reminds the UN secretary-general that all possible arrangements to assure the security of non-Bangalees living in Bangladesh have been made. 

MUJIB CRITICISES NIXON ADMINISTRATION

Bangabandhu says that Nixon will not be able to solve the Asian problems "by sitting in Peking". President Nixon may play his game in whatever manner he likes but that can bring nothing for the people of Asia in solving their problems. The Asian nations will decide their own fate and destiny, he adds. 

Bangabandhu criticises the attitude of the Nixon administration towards Bangladesh. However, he expresses his heart-felt gratitude to the American people and press for supporting the cause of Bangladesh. 

SOVIET HELP APPRECIATED

In an interview with the Soviet news agency Tass and Radio Moscow, Bangabandhu says that the people of Bangladesh gratefully remember the help and support given by the Soviet government and people during the struggle for the liberation of Bangladesh against all machinations by international imperialism.    

REHABILITATION OF AFFECTED WOMEN

Bangabandhu has set up a high-power autonomous organisation for immediate and all-out relief and rehabilitation of the women who were tortured by the Pak Army during the liberation war. He has, on principle, also approved a detailed programme involving about Rupees 10 crore in this regard. 

Besides providing essential medicine and relief to the affected women, the organisation would also arrange for vocational education, employment and rehabilitation.  

C'WEALTH NATIONS' RESPONSE GOOD  

Sir Arnold Smith, secretary general of the Commonwealth, informs that there has been response from various Commonwealth governments to the SOS sent by him for helping Bangladesh. He says that initially the international forums failed their duty in giving Bangladesh its due sympathy and other concrete help. But this failure of the international system is being compensated by the recent trend, which is overwhelmingly in favour of Bangladesh, he adds. 

SOURCES: February 24, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, The Daily Ittefaq, Azad, Morning News, The Bangladesh Observer and Purbodesh.