Pre-dawn explosions shake Dacca
DACCA, JUNE 22 – Pre-dawn explosions in Dacca yesterday revived a bomb scare as reports of renewed fighting filtered in from the Bangladesh border, reports. A.P.
The blasts shook the eastern part of the city at about 4 a.m. local time (2.30 am IST) shortly after the arrival of the first foreign newsmen since the military regime lifted its ban against them on Saturday claiming law and order was under control here.
No report of damage or casualties was available. Pakistani sources said the explosions were the first since Friday night in continuation of a series starting about a month after the army cracked down on March 25 on Sheik Mujibur Rahman and his Awami League.
Informed medical sources said the Army Hospital in Dacca Cantonment was receiving 15 to 20 seriously wounded soldiers as a result of border combat between the Pakistani Army and the guerillas.
Informed sources said the Army is maintaining at least two similar hospitals in Jessore and Bogra and by “extrapolation” figured the daily casualty list at about 50 but no official confirmation was available.
According to unconfirmed reports fighting also erupted in the Tangail district, about 80 km north of Dacca in an area once the home of the leader, Maulana Abdul Hamid Bashani.
Rifle-toting policemen from West Pakistan halted and searched cars at roadblocks in mid-Dacca following the bomb attacks.
Labourers chopped down huge trees providing cover in front of Dacca’s Intercontinental Hotel where two weeks ago a bomb thrower tossed explosives destroying a car.
PTI adds : ‘The West Pakistani Army patrols have become alarmed at the increasing guerilla activities of liberation forces in Various sectors of Bangladesh.
According to an official of the Mukti Fouj command, Pakistani soldiers were moving these days with utmost caution as they were scared of being ambushed by the freedom fighters at any moment.
They sometimes move in disguise as civilians with a view to avoiding detection by the freedom fighters. When the army uses motor boats for ferrying troops and supplies, they arrange guards on both banks of the rivers and canals to minimize the chances of guerilla attacks. The Pakistan Government has also admitted news of methodical extermination of its stooges by Bangladesh guerillas.
A report published in the Purbadesh late last month, quoted official sources saying that Mr. Abdul Majid, a Muslim League leader was killed by “armed miscreants” in Dacca. Mr. Majid had unsuccessfully contested the Narsingdi National Assembly constituency on a Muslim League ticket during the last election. Mr. Abdus Sattar, former Chairman of a union council and a stooge of the martial law administration was similarly shot dead at Bagerhat in Khulna district.
A military official in Dacca admitted yesterday that guerilla activity by the freedom fighters in East Bengal was continuing outside the city, reports Voice of America quoting a dispatch from its correspondent, Mr. Leonard.
The liberation forces shelled an army truck near Meherpur last week-end resulting in the death or injury of about two dozen army personnel.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 23.06.1971