পূর্ব বাংলায় মিলিটারি একাডেমীর দাবীতে বঙ্গবন্ধু
২ সেপ্টেম্বর ১৯৫৮
করাচী
The constituent assembly of Pakistan:
Shaikh Mujibur Rahman (East Pakistan: Muslim): Sir, my friends have discussed many points, But I want to draw the attention of the Central Government to the position of East Pakistan and how East Pakistan is neglected. May I ask my hon’ble friends sitting on this side of the House and my friends from the Muslim League and the Opposition that, is it not possible always without help of the local people to fight in times of war. Unfortunately, Sir, so many years have passed and East Pakistan cannot produce even a bullet or a rifle.The East Pakistanis are not given any opportunity to enter into thee Military Forces. My hon’ble Friends have already told what has happened on the Sylhet border. The Indian Army has used all sorts of weapons.
But our border police have fought with the help of the local people. These brave local people have stood by the border police to fight against the Indian Army. You can well understand the morale of the people of East Pakistan. Now what has the Government done for all these eleven years? Nothing. They are sitting like calm spectators. You know, Sir, that in East Pakistan there are rivers and jungles. The Bengalis can swim and cross the river in boats. I can assure you that they will grow to be very good fighters, if war takes place in that region. It is for this reason that the Bengalis should get an opportunity to join the Army. On the other day, a gentlemen said that we will defend East Pakistan from Lahore. It is really very unfortunate. We have no objection if they capture Delhi. We will be proud of the Army. But at the same time, if they capture Delhi at the cost of East Pakistan what will be the position of East Pakistan. Our mothers and sisters will be butchered and slaughtered and our houses will be reduced ashes. Therefore, Sir, East Pakistan should be fully prepared to meet the threat of war. It is really unfortunate that eleven years have passed and they have not started a single Military Academy in East Pakistan. They say: East Pakistan are not fit for the Army. They are not tall enough. They are not very strong. But I may tell you, my friends, that modern warfare does not depend on one’s physical power. It depends on one’s and not on one’s body. Sometimes back I heard some people saying in Karachi –
Tum chawal khata hai tum kiya larega. But people should not forget that people of Japan, China, Indonesia and Burma have fought against the mighty American and British Armies. You know some of the difficulties of Bengal. They were never given an opportunity by the Britishers to go to the Army, because they felt, that if the Bengalis got into the Army they would fight the British imperialism. The same policy is being pursued in this country of ours. But we must remember that, if there is war, and India cuts communications between West Pakistan and East Pakistan, we will be quite helpless. We who cannot even produce a rifle or a bullet, will be faced with a very grave situation. We do not want anything from you. Give us military training. Give us arms and ammunition and then you will see for yourself how the East Pakistanis will fight. Do not question the loyalty of the people of East Pakistan? They are as loyal Pakistanis as any one else. But we must bear in mind that if any body attacks East Pakistan you cannot save us from here. You cannot send your armies by planes because India will not allow you to do that. What would then be the position of East Pakistan? It will be most unfortunate. We must remember that West Pakistan have to live together and should have an equal share in the administer of the country. Don’t play with us any more in the way you have been playing so far. I do not want to disclose certain things here and so I would request the Prime Minister and the Leader of our party that there should be a closed door meeting where we cannot discuss all such important matters. Why East Pakistan has been neglected so far? Why do you not give a chance to East Pakistan to join the Army? Why do you not open Military Schools and a Military Academy there. Why do you not establish rifle and gun factories in East Pakistan. we can discuss these things and such other things in that meeting, because I cannot speak my mind here.
In the end I would repeat once again that it was very unfortunate that the Defence Minister did not go to East Pakistan to see things for himself.
Reference:
Iqbal, S. (1997) Sheikh Mujib in Parliament (1955-58), Dhaka, Agami Prakashani
বঙ্গবন্ধুর ভাষণসমগ্র ১৯৪৮-১৯৭৫, সংগ্রামের নোটবুক