INDIAN EXPRESS, NEW DELHI, MARCH 31, 1971
SOVEREIGN GOVT. IN BANGLADESH
Calcutta, March 30, (UNI). The Government under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the Sovereign Legal Government of Bangladesh and is entitled to recognition from all democratic countries of the world. Major Zia the provisional Commander-in-Chief of the liberation army declared this morning.
In a broadcast over the Free Bangla Radio on behalf of the Sheikh, Maj-Zia said, “The new democratic Government is committed to a policy of non- alignment in international relations. It will seek friendship with all nations and strive for international peace.
Maj-Zia began the broadcast with these words : “I, Major Zia, provisional Commander-in-Chief of the Bangla liberation army, hereby proclaim on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the independence of Bangladesh. “I also declare that we have already formed a sovereign legal Government under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which pledges to function as per law and the constitution. We, therefore, appeal to all democratic and peace loving countries of the world to recognize the democratic Government of Bangladesh”.