Leadership to people
FEBRUARY 19, 1972
BANGABANDHU EMPOWERED TO REORGANISE AL
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been empowered by the working committee of Awami League to form a committee to reorganise the party to provide the people leadership. The working committee also sets up three subcommittees -- constitution subcommittee, disciplinary subcommittee, and manifesto and policy planning subcommittee.
In a resolution, the working committee urges the government to ensure that those who had collaborated with the occupation army are effectively dealt with in due process of law. They also note with grave concern the harassment of Bangalees in Pakistan and urges the government to take all possible measures to ensure their safe return. The committee also urges for initiatives to rehabilitate the families of martyrs, particularly the widows, orphans, and women who were victims of brutal torture by the Pakistani occupation forces.
The working committee suggests certain steps to commemorate the historic events which formed part of the national liberation struggle: 1) compilation of a comprehensive history of the national liberation struggle, 2) establish of a museum of the national liberation struggle, 3) erection of a monument at Mujibnagar, the first seat of Bangladesh government and 4) renaming the country's capital as Mujibnagar, erstwhile 'second capital' as Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Race Course Maidan as Suhrawardy Udyaan.
BHUTTO AGAIN PROPOSES TO MEET BANGABANDHU
Pakistan President ZA Bhutto has once again proposed talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, sidestepping the issue of Bangladesh's recognition -- a precondition set by Bangabandhu for talks with Bhutto.
FREE BOOKS UP TO CLASS V
The government has taken a decision to provide free textbooks on all subjects to students of up to class V. It will benefit students in over 28,000 primary schools in the country. The government will also provide books to students of classes above V at a commissioned price with 40 percent reduction.
LESS EXPENDITURE ON DEFENCE
Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad declares that Bangladesh will not spend much money for her defence as the government wants to depend on the people for the country's defence. The foreign minister shares, "our foreign policy will be such that we can develop friendship with all countries, including those who behaved like enemies. For this we want to avoid power blocs and military alliances."
POPOV CALLS ON BANGABANDHU
The Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Valentin Popov calls on Bangabandhu today. He is understood to have finalised details of the tour programme of the prime minister's visit to Moscow.
SOURCES: February 20, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, The Daily Ittefaq, Azad, Morning News, The Bangladesh Observer and Purbodesh.
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