‘Peace must be restored’
APRIL 1, 1972
MAKE OPTIMUM USE OF LAND
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today urges farmers to take to cooperative farming for the optimum use of land and increase agricultural production. Addressing a large crowd at Jessore Airport, Bangabandhu says that all properties now belong to people and the root of exploitation has already been destroyed through revolutionary measures, which include nationalisation. He suggests to the cultivators to pool their capital and start cooperative farming.
Regarding antisocial activities and dacoities in rural areas, the prime minister says that peace will be restored everywhere including the countryside at all cost and if necessary, by force. Al Badr members and razakars have not yet deposited their arms and these are the elements who are committing armed atrocities in certain places of the country, he adds. He orders the police and other agencies responsible for maintaining order to shoot the armed miscreants wherever they are found. "I can't allow my countrymen to be harassed by these miscreants because I am responsible to Allah for peace in the country," Bangabandhu says.
PRESSURISE PAKISTAN
Bangladesh government, which has already approached some friendly countries to create pressure on Pakistan for repatriation of Bangalees from that country, is undertaking fresh moves to pursue the issue. Telegrams from Foreign Minister M A Samad are being sent to all the countries that have recognised Bangladesh, urging those countries to put pressure on Pakistan to ensure the safety of four lakh Bangalees and repatriate them to Bangladesh.
TELEGRAM TO SAUDI KING
Bangladesh Foreign Minister M A Samad has sent a telegram to the King of Saudi Arabia, requesting him to repatriate about 100 Bangalee air force personnel and others stranded in that country. Pakistan is insisting on getting those unfortunate Bangalees to Pakistan instead of agreeing to their return to Bangladesh.
The foreign minister has also expressed his gratitude to the King for the repatriation of Bangalee Hajis to Bangladesh in response to Bangabandhu's request to the King.
PRINCE AGA KHAN CALLS ON BANGABANDHU
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan today calls on Bangabandhu. The prime minister raises the question of repatriation of four lakh Bangalees trapped in Pakistan with the Prince. Bangabandhu tells him that Pakistan has no right to detain innocent Bangalees in Pakistan.
JAPAN KEEN ON CONSTRUCTION OF PADMA BRIDGE
Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato is taking keen interest in the Jamuna Bridge project of Bangladesh. This is related to Bangladesh Foreign Minister MA Samad by Toshikazu Maeda, leader of the visiting Japanese economic and technical delegation. Maeda further informs that a survey team will soon visit Bangladesh to prepare a feasibility report for a bridge on Jamuna and apprise the Japanese government of the financial requirements for it.
The proposal for the bridge over Jamuna was personally made by Bangabandhu to the Japanese Parliamentary delegation early this month.
SOURCES: April 2, 1972 issues of Ittefaq, The Bangladesh Observer, Azad, Morning News, Dainik Bangla and Purbodesh.
Comments