Morning News
7th September 1958
ATA CABINET TO QUIT IF DEMAND
FOR RS. 15 CRORES NOT CONCEDED
Mujib’s Broadside Against Centre
By A Staff Reporter
The East Pakistan Awami League general secretary, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said in Dacca yesterday that Awami League might direct the AL coalition cabinet to resign if the people of this province did not get “sufficient” help from the Centre. He said that if the demand of East Pakistan for Rs. 15 crores were not conceded by the Centre, “we have no right to continue in office. We cannot play with the life of the people.” Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, talking to this reporter in the stuffy room of the Awami League office last night appeared very moved when he described the “appalling” misery of the people who were faced with “grave” economic crisis. “I feel East Pakistan is worse than a colony,” he said. It the “Central administrators” persisted in this attitude, he said, the people of this province would have to think what course of action to take. “When we have accepted the principle of party, we have also to see that it was observed in all respects,” he added.
STEP-MOTHERLY TREATMENT
Referring to the “indifferent” attitude of the Centre towards this province, he pointed out that out of 710 million dollars received by the Pakistan Government from the US as aid only 115 million dollars were sandboxed for East Pakistan. “This step-motherly” treatment has completely shattered our economy.’
REFUGEES NEGLECTED
He also mentioned the said plight of the refugees of East Pakistan and said that they were totally neglected by the Central authorities. The people of this province were also paying the refugee tax but only a negligible amount of that money was spent on the rehabilitation of the refugees here. “May I ask the Central administrators if the refugees of West Pakistan were the only refugees?” he asked. He said that the problems of the refugees could have been solved long ago, if only the refugee taxes paid by the people of East Pakistan were spent in this province. He however, said that the refugees had “misunderstood” him and sdded that his fight with the Central Government for financial aid meant a fight for every East Pakistani. When East Pakistan would get the money the refugees of this part of the country would naturally be benefitted by it, he added. Replying to a question, the Awami general secretary said that the party had authorised its chief, Mr. H. S. Suhrawardy, to decide the question of Awami League joining the Central Cabinet.
When his attention was drawn to a report that last-minute hitch in the swearing in of the Awami League nominees had arisen on the question of the inclusion of Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad in the Central Cabinet, the Awami Sheikh declined to make any comment. He, however, said that no other party had any right to oppose or support any nominee of the Awami League. “We cannot be diciated on this point”, he added.
NO MAJOR RESHUFFLE
When a question was put to him on the possibility of any “major” reshuffle in the Provincial Cabinet, the Awami general secretary replied in the negative. He said there was no “talk” about Mr Ataur Rahman Khan joining the Centre. He said that the Provincial Cabinet would be further expanded “before and after” the ensuing session of the East Pakistan Assembly.”