Protests at BanglaDesh London mission
By Our Diplomatic Staff
The opening of a BanglaDesh “High Commission” in London Yesterday I Quickly to diplomatic protests. It was announced last night that Britain would not acknowledge the mission.
Mr Godber. Minister of State at the Foreign Office, said that Britain deprecated “unwarranted use of titles and descriptions implying diplomatic functions of any kind.”
He made the comment during an hour’s discussion with Mr Salman Ali, Pakistan High Commissioner, who called at the Foreign Office to complain about the mission.
Mr. Godber assured Mr. Ali that since Britain recognised the Government of Pakistan the mission could not have any standing.
Special envoy
The offices were opened in a house at Notting Hill Gate by special convoy. Mr Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, 50 to coordinate activities of Bengalis in Europe and America as well as an estimated 100,000 in Britain.
“This building will be the center of the world movement for liberation of our country,” he said.
“Although there has not yet been any official recognition of our cause. God willing the day is not far off when many governments of the world will come forward and accept the reality and recognise the People’s Republic of Bangladesh’.
Mr. Abdul Fateh, 45, who left his post as Pakistan Ambassador to Iraq and flew to London, will work at the mission with four former members of the Pakistan High Commission in London who have also defected.
Mr. Salman Ali protested to the Foreign Office that the mission was describing itself as the Bangladesh High Commission.
It was understood that Mr.Justice Chowdhury was being referred to as the High Commissioner with Mr. Fateh as Deputy High Commissioner.
Supporters of the Bangladesh movement have been operating for months from centers in London. Britain has been pressing President Yahya Khan to improve the situation in East Pakistan but the Foreign Office could not have been expected to back a breakaway mission.
Reference: The Daily Telegraph : 28 August 1971