Morning News
22nd December 1956
Mujib’s Rejoinder to Tamizuddin
East Pakistan Commerce and Industries Minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also the Secretary Provincial Awami League held out a challenge last night to Maulavi Tamizuddin Khan, East Pakistan Muslim League President to contest personally any byelection on any issue, reports APP.
In a rejoinder to the League President’s recent statement on the results of the by-elections, alleging unfairness in the elections, Sheikh Mujibur emphatically denied any added the by-elections were held under strict orderliness and there was no evidence of any case of ‘corruption or intimidation of Muslim League workers. The Awami League Secretary said that the Muslim League held the reigns of power for nine years and “ruined the country by their “misrule and nepotism” and added that Muslim Leaguers, were again out “to exploit the people for their own benefit and advantage.”
He cautioned the people of the province to be on the alert about their “new maneuverings and intrigues” to mislead the masses struggling to maintain the democratic institutions and moral values. Mr. Mujibur Rahman recalled that during last general elections.” the Muslim League Government arrested over 1 (200 workers of opposition parties and the use of the Safety Act was made to the maximum for political purposes.” As against this, he said, the people enjoyed complete freedom of speech during the by-elections and there was no Safety Act hanging over their heads. Nor was a single worker of any political party arrested. In fact no fairer election would have been possible, he asserted. He added, “It is to justify their second consecutive defeat at the hands of the people that these allegations have been concocted. In fact, taking undue advantage of our toleration and the freedom given by the present Government, the Muslim League resorted to every conceivable device to rouse the communal passions of the people and launched a highly mischievous campaign of personal attacks against the Awami League and its leaders.” “The people of East Pakistan are politically conscious and they will not allow Muslim Leaguers to come to forefront politically in the province” the General Secretary concluded.