Credibility gap between Yahya and Tikkha
AUG. 8 President Yahya Khan has had to cannel his much publicised August 10 visit to Dacca due to intensified commando activities in and around the city.
A person who was in Dacca on Thursday said that there had been talk in Dacca that Lt. Gen. Tikkha Khan was not in the good books of President Yahya who had been trying to replace him for some time. The President sent one of his trusted men, Gen. Ajahar Khan, Governor of the North-West frontier Province to Dacca in the last week of July.
He returned after staying at Dacca for three days, Lt.-Gen. Tikka Khan is not willing to give up power. He is reported to have a group in Islamabad to back him.
Another trusted man of President Yahya. Lt-Gen. Pirjada who was earlier tipped to be the military Administrator, is still at Dacca Cantonment.
The reason behind the bitter relations between the Pakistani President and his agent in Bangladesh is stated to be the latters repeated reports that East Bengal has returned to normalcy. On the basis to these reports the President allowed foreign journalists to visit Bangladesh. The journalists disclosed facts unpalatable to Pindi.
In Dacca commandos are so active that the failure of power supply and tele-communication has become a daily incident. Before the Army can repait the line at one point, the commandos damage it at another.
A considerable number of solders are now in hospital injured with “kooch” (fishing instrument) “daos” and other domestic weapons. Welt-to
do people with their families are leaving towns and cities Dacca, which had a population of 1,50,0000 before the Army crackdown has now hardly 400,000 including troops and non-Bengalis. Women between the age group of 15 and 30 have practically left the city. Yet atrocities in various forms are still being committed by the troops.
The position of revenue collection is said to be bleak. The Army Administration is now collecting tares in advances from big business houses to raise funds.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 19.8.1971