Indian Army withdraws from Bangladesh

MARCH 15, 1972

INDIAN AMBASSADOR CALLS ON BANGABANDHU

The Indian Ambassador in Bangladesh Subimal Dutt calls on Bangabandhu at his official residence. It is reported that he has discussed with the PM matters relating to the forth coming visit of the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

INDIAN ARMY WITHDRAWAL COMPLETED

The withdrawal of the Indian army from the soil of independent Bangladesh completes today when the last contingent of the Indian army personnel leave Dhaka for India. The final pull-out began on March 12 after a ceremonial farewell parade at Dhaka Stadium.

FRENCH PRESIDENT POMPIDOU'S MESSAGE

George Pompidou, president of the French Republic, in a message to President Justice Abu Sayed Chowdhury hopes that the friendship and cooperation between France and Bangladesh will be fruitful. He recalls the painful events through which the personality of the people of Bangladesh has affirmed themselves. The message also hails Bangladesh government's declared policy and adds that this underlines Bangladesh government's desire to work in the country as well as among nations in favour of democracy, justice and peace.

NO JEDDAH TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED

A foreign office spokesman of the Bangladesh government says that the government will not allow a delegation of the Muslim countries come here if the delegation members are from those countries which have not yet recognised Bangladesh. The spokesman adds that the delegation members named among others from countries like Algeria, Tunisia and Malaysia. Among these countries only Malaysia has recognised Bangladesh.

3-PHASED PROGRAMME FOR GREEN REVOLUTION

Agriculture Minister Sheikh Abdul Aziz says that the government plans to implement a three-phased programme in agriculture sector to bring about a green revolution. He adds that in the immediate phase, the government plans to reach the position existing at the time of Pakistan occupation army's crackdown and then take up the short-term programme. Under the long-term programme the agriculture sector will be the part of socialistic planning which would involve among others the consolidation of fragmented lands, introduction of cooperative farming and ownership of land by tillers. The minister also informs that Tk 180 crore has been allocated for sinking of 22,000 tube-wells aiming at irrigating 35 lakh acres of land.

SOURCES: March 16, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, The Daily Ittefaq, Azad, Morning News, The Bangladesh Observer and Purbodesh.