Bring back university autonomy

July 10, 1972

BANGABANDHU RESUMES OFFICE TODAY

Feeling still very week, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman comes to his official residence, the Gono Bhaban, today and immerse in work and meetings with political leaders. He spends more than 10 hours in the office. The prime minister, it may be mentioned, had been taken ill on July 5 with pain in the abdomen and is still under the treatment of his personal physician.

WITHDRAW UNIVERSITY ORDINANCE

The teachers' associations of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jahangirnagar, and Engineering University in a joint statement demand the immediate withdrawal of 1961 University Ordinance which was imposed by the Pakistani regime to suppress freedom of expression in academic institutions. Terming it to be an encroachment on the autonomy of the universities the association maintains that political parties were in support of its withdrawal since its first imposition. During the 1969 mass movement the demands of its withdrawal was raised by the political parties, it adds.

20,000 EVACUATED IN SIRAJGANJ

Erosion by the Jamuna has become severe at Sirajganj town and various other places of the subdivision. So far four villages adjacent to Sirajganj town are completely washed away and 20,000 inhabitants are evacuated to safer places.

CHITTAGONG PORT IN FULL SWING

The war-affected and crippled port of Chittagong has made not only early recovery but also is making spectacular progress every month so far as its operational efficiency in respect of shipping and cargo-handling is concerned. This was possible due to relentless effort made by the port authority and gratuitous assistance given by the Soviet salvage team to bring back the port to normalcy. The Karnaphuli, which became blocked due to sunken vessels, has now almost been cleared for ships to navigate.

CHINA HAPPY OVER SIMLA AGREEMENT

Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai welcomes the India-Pakistan Agreement in Simla as an important development which would lead to peace and stability in the region.

SOURCES: July 11, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.