Pakistan Observer
17th February 1969
NAP meeting for Sheikh’s release
By A Staff Correspondent
A public meeting organised by the National Awami Party (pro- Peking) at Paltan Maidan on Sunday afternoon demanded immediate release of all political prisoners including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the withdrawal of “conspiracy’ case. The meeting also pledged its full support to the 11-point demand of the students and gave support to the hartal call on Monday by the students. All party committee of Action in protest against the killing of Sergean Zahurul Huq.
At about 3:45 p.m. the scheduled meeting of the National Awami Party began at the Paltan Maidan. No sooner had the meeting started, people raised slogans demanding release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, withdrawal of “conspiracy” case.
Mr. Mashiur Rahman in the meeting discussed the political situation in the country and urged the people to carry of the movement till the 11-point demands were fulfilled.
Mr. Mian Arif Iftekhar a NAP leader from Lahore in his address in the meeting declared that the people of both the wings of Pakistan who are now united in the movement against the present regime will continue their struggle.
Mr. Abdul Huq, General Secretary of the East Pakistan Krishak Shamity in his speech in the meeting said that President Ayub has withdrawn the DPR but started rearresting the released prisoners under the Security Act of Pakistan.
Mr. Nurul Huda Kader Bux, Mr. Mujibur Rahman Choudhury and spoke in the meeting which was presided over by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani.
Maulana Bhashani in his presidential speech in the meeting called upon the people to carry on the mass movement its favour of the 11-point demands as he believed that the fulfilment of those demands will bring back political, social and economic liberty of the “twelve crore oppressed people of Pakistan.”
At one stage of his speech the news of the firing on the funeral procession before the house of a Provincial Minister reached the meeting and the people immediately left the meeting for the place of occurrence.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯