PAKISTAN RELIEF CAMPAIGN REACHES CAMPUS
BY JOE SEGURA
Dr. Azizur Rahman Mallick and Dr. Ashabul Haq, in their efforts to garner American financial support for the International Rescue Committee to assist East Pakistan refugees in India, brought their international campaign for funds and understanding of the Pakistan civil war to the campus Thursday afternoon.
Both Mallick and Haq were sharply critical in their remarks about President Richard Nixon Administration’s handling of the military foreign aid to West Paksitan which they viewed as helping a dictator. They stated that it would be difficult for their fellow countrymen approximately 75 million, to understand the official U. S. rule during this period.
But in referring to the general financial support by citizens for the nutritional and medical relief and pressures by politicians in Washington for a change of policy, Mallick stated, “The United States government does not reflect the wishes of its people.”
Both visitors were on the other hand pleased with the defeat of the foreign aid bill in the Senate last Friday for it marked an end of the military aid going to West Pakistan. Some of the senators who voted against the foreign aid measure were reportedly particularly displeased with funds being spent on arms.
Skinned skeletons, bloated stomachs, stares of despair. These are the scenes of East Pakistan refugees who have poured into India which is ill-equipped to handle the crisis in dealing with this now overflowing and suffering population.
The first flood of refugees poured into India following the outburst of civil war in late March, when West Pakistan decided to crush East Pakistan’s drive for Bangladesh, an independent Bengali State. Between one and two million refugees have poured into Indira Gandhi’s India which may soon spell economic and political disaster for her country.
পৃষ্ঠা: ২১৯
From the outset, Paksitan’s history’ beginning in 1947, tensions arose between West and East which is separated by over 1200 miles of Indian territory. Dr. Alexander Lipski, CSLB history professor, explains, “All political, military and economic power was concentrated in the West. While East Pakistan was responsible for 70 percent of all foreign exchange earnings 60 percent of the earnings went to West Pakistan.
“When Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (now imprisoned) made it clear that he would insist on autonomy for East Pakistan, the West Pakistani leaders realized that this would mean the end of the exploitation of East Pakistan. This they were unwilling to tolerate. They consequently decided to annul the results of the (December, 1970) election by brutal force.”
Both Mallick and Haq voiced their government’s determination to compromise only when independence is guaranteed. Lipski commenting on their stand stated, “How long can you hold down 75 million people ?”
Prior to the Pakishtan civil war, Mallick was ViceChancellor of Chittagong University and he has participated actively in developing the educational system of his country and has also been a delegate to UNESCO conferences. Haq is a practicing physician and is presently Chairman of the Bangladesh Red Cross.
Both during their remarks continued to stress the importance of sending the funds to the International Rescue Committee to avoid having any funds channeled into other Pakistan agencies. This would assure, they noted, that the funds would assist the refugees.
The Forty-Niner
Volume 23 Number 23
California College, Long Beach
Friday, November 5, 1971
Reference:
আমার জীবন কথা ও বাংলাদেশের মুক্তি সংগ্রাম – এ. আর .মল্লিক পরিশিষ্ট