Morning News
14th July 1956
Mujibur Rahman Urges Import of More Rice
Karachi, July 13 (APP) : Mr. Mujibur Rahman MP and General Secretary of the East Pakistan Awami League, said here yesterday that eight lakh tons of food grains must be delivered in East Pakistan within the next two months otherwise the conditions in the province would worsen.
Mr. Rahman who is here to consult Mr. Suhrawardy about the food position in East Pakistan stressed that the situation should be dealt with on an “emergency level”. He said the total food deficit from January to December 1956 would be to the tune of ten lakh tons. Out of this, according to the Government about two lakh tons of food grains had been delivered. But the situation could not be tided over unless another eight lakh tons were provided to the province.
Mr. Rahman suggested that 30 percent people should be given free rationed food while 50 percent should be enabled to purchase food at the rate of Rs. 8/- to 15/- per maund. He pointed out that the purchasing power of the people had greatly diminished and prices ranged from Rs. 40/- to Rs. 60/- per maund. He claimed that about 75 percent people in East Pakistan rural areas were going without food for two days or more consecutively. Mr. Rahman predicted that the month of August and September would be worse if steps were not taken now to supply food and improve distribution.
Floating Jetties
He said floating jetties should be built in Chalna and Chittagong and if necessary Bharat should be approached to allow transshipment of imported food stuff from Calcutta port to northern parts of East Pakistan direct. In this way Chalna port would cater to the needs of western and Chittagong to the eastern district, while North Bengal could get supplies through Calcutta. Mr. Rahman said that there were cases of starvation in the province. One man in Gopalganj hanged himself when he found that he was unable to provide food to his children. He also added that three food wagons were looted in Bhairab Bazar recently and Government arrested 84 persons. Mr. Rahman is due to leave for Dacca on July 16.