Published on 12:00 AM, February 04, 2020

First year of Bangladesh: Bangabandhu’s nation-building challenges

A set of 14 volumes of works of Tagore which were looted by Pakistan Army from Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi residence after March 25,1971 is being presented to him by Shahana Khanam, lecturer, Dhaka College who purchased these books from a footpath shop (Feb 4, 1972).
Shamsuddoza Sajen

FEBRUARY 4, 1972

UK, WEST GERMANY AND EIGHT OTHERS RECOGNISE BANGLADESH

Ten nations announce their recognition of Bangladesh, thus bringing the total number of countries recognising the new republic so far to 30. The latest list is made up of Britain, Norway, West Germany, Denmark, Israel, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Austria.

Bangabandhu, giving his reaction to West Germany’s recognition of Bangladesh says, “We welcome this gesture and look forward to the development of friendly understanding and cooperation with Bonn.”

On Britain’s recognition, Bangabandhu says, “We are indeed happy to receive recognition from a country like Great Britain which has been a cradle of democratic values and basis of human rights.” He shares that the Bangladesh government will adopt necessary measures to become a member of the Commonwealth.

BBC, for the first time, airs the national anthem of Bangladesh, Amar Sonar Bangla, when at 8.15 pm (BST) it announces Britain’s recognition of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh runs short of 2.5m tons of food grains

AHM Kamaruzzaman, Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, informs that the country runs short of 2.5 million tonnes of food grains for the current year. He discloses that every day he is receiving many telegrams from different districts for the immediate supply of food. He says that there is no stock of food, particularly in the northern districts, where the demand has been increasing every day with the return of hundreds of refugees from India.

Due to transport difficulties and lack of communication, the distribution of foodstuff to some districts is being delayed, adds Kamaruzzaman. He requests the UN to immediately arrange some helicopters for Bangladesh to help in the quick distribution of food grains to hard-to-reach areas.

Bangladesh Biman starts internal operation

Bangladesh Biman, the national airline of Bangladesh, begins its internal commercial flights with a Dakota aircraft flying between Dhaka and Chittagong.

234 technical experts killed by Pak army

234 technical personnel of different autonomous bodies of the government including Bangladesh Industrial Development Corporation, Titas Gas, Oil and Gas Development Corporation were killed by the Pakistani occupation forces, according to a preliminary assessment made by the government.

Emergency loans for farmers

Bangladesh Agricultural Development Bank has decided to give loans on an emergency basis to farmers for buying bullocks. A loan not exceeding Tk 600 will be given for buying a pair of bullocks to any farmer who holds five acres of land or less. A bigger loan will be given to farmers having more than five acres of land.

Sources: February 5, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, The Daily Ittefaq, Morning News, The Bangladesh Observer and Purbodesh.

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