খাদ্য সমস্যা নিয়ে বঙ্গবন্ধুর ভাষণ
১৫ অক্টোবর ১৯৫৬
ঢাকা
The National Assembly of Pakistan met in the East Pakistan Assembly
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Mr. Speaker, Sir. I had no intention to speak today on the food problem because I am habituated to see the crocodile tears of my friends sitting opposite. My friend, Mr Ramizuddin, a new member of this House, has criticised personally the Chief of the Awami League and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. It was not fit on the part of Mr. Ramizuddin whose character is well known to every body in East Pakistan to criticise Mr. Suhrawardy.
(Mr. Ramizuddin Ahmed: He was responsible for all these.)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: You have done blackmarketing in your own constituency. I know it; everybody else knows it. Sir, we know the character of these people. Sir, coming to the point, the Awami League Party had given some practical suggestions to the then Government of East Pakistan to solve the problem but they were not at all considered by that Ministry. Only a month before the present Minister of East Pakistan had come into power and the people have seen and know it how this Government is tackling with the food situation. Sir, our party from the very beginning of the food crisis had been drawing the attention of both the Central and provincial Governments at that time to the acute food situation in the Province, but they remained lethargic and did not take it seriously. Perhaps you will remember, Sir, because you happen to be speaker of the House since quite along time, we moved an adjournment motion on food in Karachi in the month of September, 1955. wherein we had drawn the attention of the Central Government to this serious situation. Mr. Suhrawardy, Maulana Bhashani and hundreds of other political workers of our party shouted that the food position in East Pakistan was very very serious but unfortunately the then Central Government and the provincial Government never informed the House or the country or to the people that the situation was worse. Sir, last time when you came here, after you had visited your constituency in Barisal Districts you issued a statement on the unsatisfactory distribution of rice in that area and when you went to see the then Chief Minister in that connection, he threatened you and asked you “Why did you issue the statement” and you were asked to immediately leave the Province. sir, you being the Speaker of the House, were a non-party man you came to see the condition yourself and you issued a statement that the food situation was very serious. Sir, is it not a fact that you were asked to go back from Dacca? You cannot deny the fact. Is it not a fact that in the month of September and October, 1955, and even from the very beginning, in Karachi, many times we drew the attention of the House and the then Central Government that food situation was going to be worse day by day but they always denied it, they also contradicted your statement that the people were dying of hunger and starvation in spite of the fact that there were 33 lakhs maunds of rice in the godowns. They distributed the rice without any programme. Without any planning as to how to sell, who will sell in what area they will sell. One of the Ministers declared: “We will give so much rice that it will be
flooded” and they flooded so much that the people have died. The then Government of East Pakistan gave order to the District and sub-Divitional Magistrates that M.L.A.s will recommend. But recommendation is one thing and taking permit is another thing. I can give this assurance to the House that within five or ten days a list will be prepared which will show the names of the persons who sold rice in blackmarket and how they earned their money and such people shall be punished by this Government. An investigation is going on in the matter as to who has taken so much of rice and where has he sold it.
Mr. Ramizuddin Ahmed: We welcome it.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: You will welcome it because you have taken permit. But there are people who are very much frightened to hear this and they are so much frightened that they might leave the country for ever and ever.
(At this stage Mr. Ramizuddin Ahmad stood up and was seen by Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker: Please do not interrupt.)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: He is very much adamant. Then, Sir, I asked the then Central Government how much deficit will be this year, some said that there was the deficit of one lakh tons some said there was the deficit of 3 lakh tons. But they did not understand how many tons we required for East Pakistan. People had no purchasing power. You will agree with me that even during normal times the month of October is considered to be the worst month as far as the food situation is concerned but still they did not take notice of this and remained a silent spectator. My friend, Mr Sattar, said that “O, you have agitated this hungry mass”. My friend tried to bring some people from Jinzira to Dacca for the purpose of demonstration when the Assembly was sitting here. He asked the people to come to Dacca and demonstrate before the Assembly but he failed in his attempt because the people are quite satisfied with our efforts. Our Prime Minister and Central Government has sent telegrams to all over the world, even to India, Burma, Thailand, Italy and even to China to send us foodgrains and the Central Government has received offers from many countries. But, Sir, you know the capacity of our Chittagong and Chalna Ports. You know the shipping arrangement of our country, we cannot bring food all at once from all these Places on account of non-availbility of shipping space. We are going to hoard at least 5 lakhs tons of foodgrains in Government godowns very shortly. We have tried all sources to procure foodgrains and we have succeeded to a very large extent and the situation is in hand. The then Chief Minister of East Bengal said that let somebody die. But why did he not die, Why did he ask the people to die?
Sir, you are aware that when Mr. Abdul Latif Biswas was Minister-in charge of the Food Department he declared on the floor of the House that the food situation was under control. The then Foreign Minister once thought that Government would be able to solve the food problem in East Bengal. He declared that it would be managed by the Central government and the Provincial Government. But, Sir, you remember that when we came to power 15 days before I found that the people were starving. I can challenge that not a single worker of the Awami League asked any people to make a march to Dacca or to make any hunger march to the city. They came of their own initiative in a starving condition in search of food and they came in thousands, what did we do? They were given milk by the Government and with the help of the Police food was distributed to the poor masses. What happened during the hunger marches? Instead of food they received lathi charge and bullets and several persons were killed. Such a thing never took place any-where in the world. No Government in any country could impose such cruelties on hungry people except the United Front Government here and the Government at the Centre at that time. The hungry people who sought food were killed mercilessly in the Dacca areas. We have come to power only a few days ago. We have told the world that we have brought the food situation under control. We are asking all other Governments to help us. As soon as we came to power we had conferences at the Government House and then we went to Karachi and held Cabinet meetings and arranged permits for people to bring rice from Karachi. But your Permits failed to bring rice from Karachi. I know many things about the Central Hotel affairs. I know the jainamaz and Koran affair. Somebody have taken these as bribes. I am however investigating into this matter. It is most disgraceful that people will take the jainamaz and the Holy Koran as bribes. Time will come when you will see what happen to these people. They minimized the food situation in their own interest. These M. L. A. S were anxious to keep their party intact and issued permits to their followers. When we came to power we found that rice was selling at Rs. to Rs.8 per maund. There was a downward tendency again in the month of October. The Chief Minister and the Food Minister ordered that they could keep a single stock in the godown. One crore of rupees as agricultural loan was given. All that is possible should be done. We cannot allow our people to die for food. What is the position now? Free distribution of food is going on in Dacca and in the suburban areas. In Kamalapur and Fakirapul areas 2 maunds of rice is distributed everyday, we are collecting money from the public and the workers. They are cooking food and distributing food to the people. We have also started gruel kitchens. Altogether 22 gruel kitchens have been working and we have introduced rations in some areas, and increased ration is being given. History will show what we have done in this matter. When our friends speak about the condition of the masses I feel as if I am drawing my sword from the sheath. I shall not say anything more now. The Food Minister will reply.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: On a point of order, Sir. he is misinformed. He is speaking of Dacca city but he does not know that in almost every district gruel kitchens have been started ….
(Mr. Speaker: Do you think that we should go into the details of all these things in the discussion of the food problem? I Know the points are relevant but not the details. You should only touch the point. I think the House is impatient.
Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmed: It is the Knowledge of soil science.)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: It is a problem which we understand more than you do. However, we will consider your case.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), p. 318-323, Dhaka, Agami Prakashani
বঙ্গবন্ধুর ভাষণসমগ্র ১৯৪৮-১৯৭৫, ফারজানা ইয়াসমিন, ড রাজিবুল বারী, সংগ্রামের নোটবুক