Pakistan Observer
19th February 1969
Sheikh will not go unless case is withdrawn
By A Staff Correspondent
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday refused to fly to Rawalpindi to joint the roundtable conference called by President Ayub Khan unless he was a “free man” and the alleged conspiracy case was withdrawn.
Efforts were made on Tuesday early morning to take him to Rawalpindi for the talks scheduled to begin today (Wednesday).
From whatever little information could be gathered on Tuesday it appears that a high police official went to the Dacca Cantonment military custody and asked Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to go to Rawalpindi. But no release order was handed over to him nor was he told clearly whether he was a “free man”. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman consequently refused to go to Rawalpindi under such circumstances. He wants to attend the conference only as a free man and after the withdrawal of the case State versus Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others.
Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, General Secretary of the East Pakistan Awami League (Six-Point) met Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at least twice on Tuesday before flying to Rawalpindi in the afternoon. Speaking to newsmen at Tejgaon Airport Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed said that he was going to attend the Central DAC meeting to talk to the DAC members. He further added “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been nominated as the representative to the round table conference on behalf of the Awami League by the Central DAC and President Ayub has accepted the same. He will be attending the round table conference as soon as he is released from the case pending before the special tribunal.
Asked if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had nominated any person to attend the round table conference Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed said, “As far as our stand is concerned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would attend the round table conference only if the alleged conspiracy case is withdrawn and he is released. He then added uptil now Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the lone and solitary representative of the Awami League (Six-Point) to the talks. Clarifying he said that if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman joined the conference then he might nominate one more member from the party to the talks.
The final comment of Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed on Awami League’s participation in the talks was “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has to be there if Awami League (Six-Point) is to participate in the round table conference.”
Asked if he was carrying any message from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Rawalpindi Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed said that he was carrying a brief with him but that was nothing special and it was only meant to clarify different points that might come up at Rawalpindi. The people in Pindi know the contents of the brief,” he added.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯