Morning News
19th May 1957
Bharat Forcing Labourers To Migrate to Pakistan
Will result in Repercussion : Mujib’s Waring
The East Pakistan Industries and Commerce Minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said in Dacca yesterday that the Bharati Government by refusing “F” category visas to Pakistani citizens working in West Bengal and Assam had been indirectly forcing the day labourers to migrate to Pakistan” reports APP.
In a statement issued in Dacca last night, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said, “It is unfortunate that the Government of Bharat is forcing the citizens of Pakistan numbering about 1,40,000 labourers working in different parts of West Bengal and Assam to leave that country. These people have been working there as day labourers generation after generation and earning their livelihood.” He added, “In the last Delhi Trade Pact I raised this question to the Labour Minister assured me that he would look into the matter sympathetically.”
“But unfortunately, no step was so far taken by the Bharati authorities in this regard and on the other hand, ruthless repression is being perpetrated on the labourers, by the industrialists.” he added. Citing an example, Mr. Rahman said, “a few days ago, about 800 Pakistani labourers working in a firm were retrenched.” The Minister warned and said that the Bharati authorities should not forget that thousands of Bharati nationals were also working in Pakistan in different industrial concerns. He said, “We have not yet taken any action against any Bharati labourers working here. We want to live together peacefully. But if the Bharati Government does not change its hostile attitude, there will be very bad repercussion in East Pakistan.”
Appealing to the Central Government, the Minister said that the attention of the Bharati Government should be drawn to problems being faced by the Pakistani citizens working in Bharat as day labourers. He asked the authorities for immediate arrangements of “F” category visas to those workers.