Dawn
25th February 1969
Mujib accorded warm welcome in Lahore
(From Our Staff Correspondent)
LAHORE, Feb 24: The Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was accorded a rousing reception on his arrival from Dacca on his way to Rawalpindi, by thousands of admirers who thronged the runway behind the control tower forcing the plane to stop about a furlong ahead of the tarmac.
Soon after the plane had touched the ground, a big crowd broke off the railings and rushed to the runway with the result that the plane could not taxi down to the parking bay. Amidst wild scenes of rejoicings and beating of drums they swarmed around the plane and jam packed the runway. The runway was literally mobbed by the crowd and about 100 persons occupied it blocking the exit of the leaders.
Mr. Mujibur Rahman had to wait quite a few minutes to alight from the plane as the gangway continued to be packed with people. Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Gen Azam and Mr. Mahboob Murshed then went up the gangway and embraced Mr. Mujibur Rahman who garlanded them.
All efforts by workers to enable Mr. Mujibur Rahman to get down failed as the people refused to leave the leader. Air Marshal Asghar Khan also tried his best to bring Mr. Mujib down the gangway but had to abandon his efforts. The gangway carrying Mr. Mujib and others was then moved to the exit lounge where he got down. The lounge was also mobbed by the crowd and Mr. Mujib who found himself at the mercy of the crowd almost fainted. Among others who were subjected to the stampede were Begum Akhtar Suliaman, who was rescued by the workers.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was taken in a motorcade procession to malik Ghulam Jilani’s residence in Gulberg. Those who accompanied Sheikh Mujibur Rahman included Mr. Tajuddin, Mr. Mizanur Rahman, and Mr. Abdul Malik Okeel, Begum Akhtar Sulaiman and Mr. Zahoor Ahmad Chaudhry.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯