‘Devote yourselves to alleviating human suffering’

April 21, 1972

BANGABANDHU'S MESSAGE TO DOCTORS

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman calls upon doctors to devote themselves to alleviate human suffering . "Let the humanitarian ideals inspire you more than what your professional obligations can preoccupy you." In a message sent to the organisers of the first conference of Bangladesh Medical Association, Bangabandhu says doctors can play a revolutionary role in carrying the fruits of independence that Bangladesh achieved at the cost of the blood of lakhs of martyrs. He wishes the conference all success.

MUKTI BAHINI KILLED 8,400 PAK ARMY PERSONNEL

Pakistan lost 5,400 officers and men in its fight against Mukti Bahini before December 1971 and another 3000 between December 4 and 16 of 1971 in Bangladesh, marking a total of 8,400 killed, according to the Indian Defence Ministry Annual Report. The number of Pakistanis wounded by Mukti Bahini is estimated to be 4,675.

YAHYA AN USURPER

The Pakistan Supreme Court has ruled that former President Yahya Khan's assumption of power was an act of "usurpation, illegal and unconstitutional". The Court also holds that all legislative and administrative measures except those covered under the doctrine of necessity taken by Yahya's  unauthorised and unconstitutional regime cannot be upheld on the basis of legitimacy.

RENEGOTIATION ON BONN-FINANCED PROJECTS NEEDED

Finance Minister Tajuddin Ahmad today tells the visiting West German economic delegation that renegotiation on the ongoing projects in Bangladesh financed by West Germany is necessary under the changed circumstances. Renegotiation should be made on common interests and cooperation, adds the finance minister. The delegation also calls on the Minister for Power and Natural Resources Dr Mafiz Chowdhury and discusses in detail early re-commissioning and servicing of the West Germany-aided 120MW Ashuganj Power Station and supply of spare parts for the installation. They also discuss setting up of a training school to train power plant operators and technicians at Ashuganj.

REGULAR SUPPLY OF CRUDE OIL ENSURED

To meet the shortage of petroleum products in the country arising out of discontinuance of the contract for supply of crude oil to the Eastern Refinery entered into in pre-Independence days, the government of Bangladesh earlier arranged one lakh tonnes of crude oil from India as grant-in-aid and now has arranged a further five lakh tonnes through India under normal trade arrangement, says a government press note.

SOURCES: April 22, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Ittefaq