1971 Bangladesh Newsletter A Chronicle of Bangladesh Movement In North America

1971 Bangladesh Newsletter

Bangladesh Newsletter

A Chronicle of Bangladesh Movement In North America

Preface

The Bangladesh Newsletters contained in this volume were published in the United States during 1971 and ’72, roughly coinciding with our war of national liberation and the months immediately following the birth of Bangladesh. As elsewhere in the world, the news of the Pakistani military crackdown in Dhaka on the night of March 26, 1971, had an electrifying effect on all Bengalis who lived in the US and Canada at the time. Almost instantaneously, we were propelled into a frenzy of spontaneous activities, either individually or collectively, to condemn Pakistani atrocities and demonstrate our support for an independent Bangladesh. But as the worldwide revulsion against Pakistani brutalities gradually moved away from headline news and our assessment of the ground realities, both at home and abroad, improved, we began to realize that our struggle would be neither short nor easy. It would require the sustained efforts of all of us, including our friends and supporters everywhere, for a considerable period of time, before Bangladesh would be free. We also realized that our spontaneous and youthful actions would have to be channeled into more focused strategic planning with an effective mechanism for implementation and coordination. A basic requirement towards that end, we recognized, would be the establishment of our own news medium through which we could share information, ideas, thoughts, and strategies. The idea of the Bangladesh Newsletter was thus born.

Almost thirty years have passed since the first Bangladesh Newsletter was published on May 17, 1971, less than two months after the Pakistani crackdown. And yet it seems only the other day. Our anger and dismay at the extent and nature of Pakistani brutalities, our excitement, and our enthusiasm for an independent Bangladesh, combined with our dedication and commitment to the cause of our motherland, found expression in various forms. Some of these are reflected in this newsletter world-famous. They are thus of significant historical value.

One could write volumes on the response of the Bengali community in North America to the cause of Bangladesh, but not, perhaps, in the context of the present publication. Others have already recounted their memories on those momentous days and hopefully, more will follow. [ See A.M.A. Muhit  American Response to Bangladesh Liberation War and Muhammad Yunus: Banker to the Poor ]. However, in setting the background of the publication of the Newsletters, some recounting of the exciting moments of 1971-72 will be inevitable. But I will do so only briefly here and confine myself primarily to issues and events related directly or indirectly to the publication of the Newsletter. The advantage in doing so will be that I shall be able to rely primarily on the information contained in the Newsletters themselves rather than having to search my memory which has rusted over the years.

Two pieces of background information will be pertinent, to begin with. One to set the context of the decision to publish the Newsletter and the other to relate the circumstances that led to my acquaintance with Muhammad Yunus (later to become well known all over the world as Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank) and our eventual collaboration in the publication of the Newsletter. It should be made clear, however, at the outset that it was Yunus who was the chief editor of the Newsletter, after the first one or perhaps two issues and maybe a few issues in between. The main credit for the quality and content of the Newsletter as well as the regularity of its publication must, therefore, go to him. Without his ideas, dedication, and hard work, as well as his editorial and other skills
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(including as a cartoonist), it would not have perhaps sustained for so long, or even if it did, it would not be of the same quality. There were of course many others who helped Yunus in the process. Yunus has mentioned some of them in his Foreword and I shall do the same a little later. I believe the Newsletter played a crucial role in advancing the cause of Bangladesh in North America, and I hope that the present compilation will inspire future historians to assess the role of this and other newsletters published all over the world during our struggle for national liberation. I will simply highlight here some salient points relating to our publication. In doing so, however, some personal reflections are bound to creep in for which I beg the indulgence of the readers.

Let me begin with my acquaintance with Yunus, as he was undoubtedly the key person behind the publication of the Newsletters. This will also shed important light on the unique qualities of this remarkable son of Bangladesh and his crucial contributions to the nation’s war of liberation. If Yunus later became world-famous world the founder of the Grameen Bank and the progenitor of the microcredit system worldwide, we, who came to know and work with him during 1971, had already a glimpse of his immense potential.

Like the rest of the world, we were aware in the United States of the ominous developments taking place in East Pakistan since early March 1971. We kept our eyes and ears tuned to the media and had established a good network for sharing information with each other. However, the news of the military crackdown in Dhaka on the fateful night of 26 March began to reach us only in bits and pieces worlds. It took a day or two before we came to know the enormity and barbarity of the Pakistani action. It was perhaps early in the morning of 27 or 28 March (I am not sure about the exact date now) that Mr. S.A. Karim, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN in New York, called me over the phone to tell me about the horrendous killings in Dhaka. He had read some dispatches filed by foreign journalists who were finally able to leave Dhaka a couple of days after the crackdown. We immediately decided to meet in New York and from there go straight to Washington DC to discuss our response with others, including senior Bengali officials of the Pakistan Embassy there.

At that time I was both a student and a teacher at the University of Chicago. My wife, Supriya, who taught at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis then, had come to visit me in Chicago the previous evening, together with our young daughter, Sona. But after theworlthe -world-famous telephone call that night, I didn’t think twice to leave them on their own and be on my way, before dawn, to Chicago’s O’Hare airport. By late morning I was in JFK, New York, from where Mr. Karim picked me up and drove straight to Washington DC.

I had known Mr. S.A. Karim since his marriage to Dona, a distant cousin. But I was not aware of the qualities of the head and heart of this soft-spoken and reclusive gem of a gentleman. From the talks I had with him in the car, I was so impressed by his sentiments for Bangladesh and the arguments he made for its independence that I became his fan immediately. I was extremely heartened to find that such a senior Pakistani diplomat had no doubts whatsoever as to where his allegiance lay when the chips were down. Our collaboration continued throughout the months of struggle and those that followed the creation of Bangladesh.

I was equally heartened by the patriotic fervor of a large number of other Bengalis I met in Washington DC that afternoon at the residence of Mr. Enayet Karim, the Deputy Ambassador of Pakistan to the US at the time. These included all the Bengali officials and staff of the Pakistani Embassy. [For more details see Muhit and Yunus referred to above.] Among the large number of people who were already, there was Yunus. I barely knew him then fthanrom my University days in Dhaka. He was sitting on the floor of the living room with drawing papers strewn all over, busy writing posters for a demonstration the next day in the city. Many others were busy milling around or discussing events back home, worried
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about the fate of families and friends. Others kept arriving spontaneously from all over the US, some driving long distances for many hours. As the gathering enlarged, we sat down to discuss our response to the situation back home and in particular our program for the next day. For reasons stated earlier, I do not intend to go into details here about those discussions or the emotions and drama which suffered the occasion. What is important for our purposes here is that a decision was taken at the meeting for a demonstration the next day of Bengalis from all over the US to express our anger and revulsion against the Pakistani atrocities and voice our support for an independent Bangladesh. The places chosen for this purpose were the White House, the State Department, the World Bank, and Capitol Hill.

It was by a quirk of circumstances that I found myself entrusted by the meeting with an onerous responsibility. It was to obtain the permits, which under the law had to be applied for in an individual’s name, from the various police authorities in Washington DC, for the demonstrations the next day. This was simply because my name happened to be Bari and another Bari (it was Fazlul Bari, I think), who had earlier made the applications in his name but was for a good reason unable to lend his name anymore. The meeting felt that it would be wise to let me impersonate that Bari since I at least shared his last name. Thus I spent the entire morning the next day, together with my namesake, to obtain the required permits from three police authorities responsible for the different locations of our demonstrations. The process in obtaining the permits and the cooperation we got from all concerned make interesting stories themselves, but these too should wait for recounting some other time.

For our purposes here, the important thing to note is what happened after I arrived at the stairs of the Capitol Hill, our prearranged rendez vous, with the permits in hand. From a distance I could see a large motley crowd, about a hundred or so, gathered at the stairs of the historical building in a rather disorganized manner and Yunus trying to bring some order to them. As soon as he saw me from a distance, I could hear Yunus telling the crowd that their long period of waiting was over, as their ‘leader’ had finally arrived with the required permits for the demonstrations and that he would instruct them on the course of action for the day. By the time I reached the gathering, Yunus ran to me, explaining why he thought the identification of a leader for the occasion was essential. Otherwise, he said, the crowd was becoming rather unruly, drawing the wrath of the police who were already upset over the fact that, apart from being very noisy, they were seen burning small paper flags of Pakistan, in willful disregard of the strict anti-air pollution laws of the city. That was the beginning of my long and fruitul association with Yunus.

Yunus asked me to be firm with the crowd and impress them that I was indeed their leader. But on noticing my trepidation, he assured me that he would stand behind me and prompt the speech and all I had to do was to repeat his words. I have no hesitation to admit now that I simply did that and came out rather well. I stood on the stairs of the historic Capitol Hill and spoke like a ‘leader’ perhaps for the first time in my life. After the speech, the crowd follwed me through the long route to the various places of our demonstration, stopping occasionally for the radio and TV interviews. The escorting police official later told me that he was rather impressed with the discipline of our crowd. The credit for this must go to Yunus organizational skills. An additional piece of information here is that Yunus and I, and perhaps a few others, had to present our case to various interlocutors at the different places of our demonstration. I was impressed by the way Yunus argued our case. I learnt from them to propound and canvas the case of Bangladesh of TV and radio and at various public gathering in the US and Canada during 1971-72.

After the demonstrations were over, Yunus and I, together with a few others, went back to the residence of Mr. Enayet Karim, where were spent the night. We were together in Washington DC for a few more memorable and eventful days. Part of that story Yunus has already related in his memories and in some other writings. [See in particular, Muhammad Yunus : Banker to the Poor : chapter 6]. It was during this period that we came to know each other rather well and decided to work together for the cause
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of Bangladesh.

Upon my return to Chicago, I got in touch with Dr. F.R. Khan, another remarkable Bengali. I had known Dr. Khan by his fame but had not yet the opportunity to get to know him well. Bangladesh created that opportunity. I was most pleasantly surprised to find him an eager fellow warrior for Bangladesh.

Dr. F.R. Khan had been a resident of Chicago for many years. He had already earned international fame for his singular contributions to structural engineering. [ His “bundled tube” concept significantly reduced the use of steel, and thus cost, in the construction of high rise buildings, while maintaining stiffness against wind loads and providing for graceful shapes. He was thus world’s most recognized expert in the field. Among his creations is the famous Hancock Building in Chicago, the tallest structure in the world at that time, with the Sears Towers, at 1454 feet, the tallest building in the world, still in the making. For more on this, see The Builders : Marvels of Engineering, National Geographic Society, 1992, which gave Dr. F.R. Khan a place of honour in the book and in a brief background note on him mentions his Bangladeshi origin.] Dr. Khan was of course busy with his worldwide activities and hardly knew any Bengali resident of the city. But when Bangladesh was in crisis, his inherent Bengaliness rose to the surface and he plunged into the cause of Bangladesh almost instantaneously. Those of us, who regularly met at his place over the entire period of the Bangladesh crisis and well after the birth of Bangladesh, thus had the opportunity to discover his deep love for Bangladesh and its culture. He not only gave us his attention and time but also provided us with generous financial support. His Austria-born wife, Lisl, was a most graceful hostess. His lovely daughter Yasmin, though very young then, was our constant companion. His beautiful apartment on Chicago’s lakeshore became our regular meeting place. All the important visitors from Bangladesh came to his place for important meeting on the future of Bangladesh. Dr. Khan became our undisputed leader in no time, a role he played in a most genial manner throughout. His unwavering commitment to Bangladesh remained till his premature death in 1982.

Being a very prominent citizen of Chicago, Dr. F.R. Khan attracted other prominent Americans, and some fellow Bengali engineers who worked with him, to our cause. One name that stands out most prominently in my mind is that of Stanley Tigerman, an architect and engineer who had worked in Dhaka as a consultant for the construction of our Parliament Building. He provided us with office and other facilities in the initial days of our movement. With the help and support of these and other friends, a group was soon formed involving almost all the Bengalis and their friends in Chicago. We called it the Chicago Chapter of the Bangladesh League of America (BLA), previously known as the Pakistan League of America, with its headquarters in New York. It was as a chapter of the BLA that we brought out the first Bangladesh Newsletter on May 17, 1971. I had the honour to edit it. Among other things, it explained the objective and purpose of the Newsletter. (See Issue No. 1)

As our activities grew and fund raising for Bangladesh became an important focus, we had to seek legal advice to make sure that we complied with the Federal and States laws. On basis of advice thus obtained, we decided to set up and register the Bangladesh Defense League (BDL) and the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Association (BEWA) immediately. Dr. F.R. Khan became the President and myself the General Secretary for both. Readers will find more on the formation of these two bodies in the second issue of the Newsletter. (See Issue No. 2 dated May 1971)

BDL and BEWA soon became two most active organizations of Bengalis in North America. The former provided organizational and informational support to the Bangladesh movement through its cooperation with other Bengali Associations and through it’s own chapters all over North America. The latter was instrumental in raising fund for the cause of Bangladesh to be used both in the US and at home. Readers will find a rich trove of information in the Newsletters on the important role the Fund played, for
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example, in meeting the initial expenses of the Bangladesh Missions in New York and Washington DC, and the establishment of the Bangladesh Information Center in the latter city. (See page 4 of Issue No. 3). They will, however have to read in between lines to learn about the enormous sacrifices that almost every Bengali who lived in North America made at the time, including many who gave more than half of their monthly incomes or meager scholarships, to support the cause of their motherland.

It was upon receiving the first issue of the Bangladesh Newsletter that Yunus decided to move to Chicago from his base in Nashville, Tennessee. He immediately took over the responsibility of the Newsletter and assumed other organizational responsibilities for the movement. He gave up his job in Tennessee to be able to do so. I remember that he came with only an attache case containing a couple of shirts and trousers and perhaps a lungi, all made of Bangladeshi handloom. [His love for khadi is thus not new.] I think it was from the second or third issue onwards that he took over the editorial responsibility of the Newsletter from me. He maintained this position till he left home for Bangladesh in early 1972. As mentioned earlier, there were others of course to help him. I edited some issues whenever he was out of town. Together we also coordinated the activities of the various chapters and, through the Newsletters, fed them with information and idea to implement. The Newsletters bear testimony to many of these activities.

I had a small single room apartment in Chicago where Yunus and I stayed together, off and on, for the next few months, except for our frequent trips out of town on Bangladesh-related activities. The apartment served as our office cum residence. Sometimes others too came to stay there to make it a full house indeed. Among those I recall were my brother-in-law, Gora, Dr. Mohiuddin Alamgir (till recently with IFAD), and Muzammel Haque (presently with the Grameen Bank). We also had the use of another apartment, belonging to another Bengali, Mr. Aynul Huq. We used his address as the registered office of BDL. Mr. Huq has passed away some years ago but his family, I am told, is still in the States. The birth of Bangladesh owes a great deal to this self-effacing and most caring family. I still recall vividly the large numbers of volunteers at the Huq apartment, collating and stapling the newsletters every time we brought them from the press. Mrs Huq never tired of providing us with snacks and meals all the time while her husband and young son, Badal, helped us with the work. I wish I could recall here the names of endless number of friends from Bangladesh, India, U.S. and other nationalities, including a few from Pakistan, who helped us in the publication and/or dissemination of the Newsletter.

Yunus returned to Nashville sometimes in August. Since then the Newsletter was published from there. This will be evident from the change of address of the editorial office in subsequent issues. My direct involvement in the publication of the Newsletter ended with the departure of the editorial office from Chicago to Nashivlle.

As I recall those days, there are so many memories, which flood back to mind, particularly about those who helped us with hundreds of chores in connection with the publication of the newsletters. There were so many volunteers to help us in the printing, collating, stapling and mailing of the newsletters. There were those who helped in the typing of the newsletters when it was being published from Chicago. Yunus first wife, Vera, was among them. To feed our news hungry readers with hot news from the battlefield, we arranged for field dispatches through our own contact persons in India. One of them was my friend Mr. Azizul Wahab. We got chapter news from all over North America on a regular basis. There were those who drove long distances almost every weekend for hundreds of miles to attend our meetings in Chicago and to help with the Newsletter. The most outstanding among them was Dr. J.K. Bhattacharjee of Oxford, Ohio. Zillur Rahman Khan, brother of Dr. F.R. Khan, also came regularly from Wisconsin. There were many Bengalis from West Bengal who helped regularly, particularly in the cultural field. Dr. Pabitra Sarkar and his wife Maitreyi were among them. [Dr. Sarkar is an important official of the West Bengal Government now.] The students and staff of the South Asia Center of the University of Chicago also helped in so many wasys. Most prominent among them were Drs. Edward Dimock, Ronald Inden,
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Ralph Nicholas, Nick Masica, Clinton Seely, Judith Aronson and many others whose names escape me presently. Most of them were scholars on Bengal and spoke Bengali quite fluently. The newsletters mention a few of their activities on behalf of Bangladesh. Another person I would like to remember most respectfully is our American friend in Chicago, whose name has escaped me altogether, who had allowed us the use of his garage press to print our newsletters. We reprinted many booklets and important newspaper aticles from there for distribution throughout North America. All of them are mentioned in the newsletters. Many other names of persons who helped in one way or another, figure in some of the issues of the Newsletter. I would like to remember their contributions to our cause most gratefully. It may be difficult to believe today that we had some Pakistani friends too who helped us immensely in our efforts to drum up public support to our cause in the United States. Most prominent among them were the legendary Iqbal Ahmed, who passed away in Pakistan recently, and his brother Feroze Ahmed. Another gentleman, Aly Ercelawn, whom Yunus mentions in his Foreword, came from Nashville to help us in Chicago with the Newsletter for a short while. He then continued his collaboration with Yunus after his returned to Nashville. As a nation we owe a great deal fo gratitude to all these friends of Bangladesh from different nationalities.

Before concluding, I would like to share a few personal reflexion and experiences with the readers on those tumultuous days of 1971. But here too I shall confine myself to those connected mainly with the Newsletter. One of them relates to the design of the (news) letterhead. It came to my mind late one night in April when I suddenly woke up from sleep in my Chicago apartment. The previous day I had bought a lettering stencil to help prepare the letterhead. [How I wish we had computer those days! Life would have been so much easier!] I must have been thinking about a design ever since we decided to publish a newsletter and suddenly the idea came to me, may be in my sleep. I got up from bed, took out a book which contained a map of Bangladesh, copied the map with a tracing paper on a clean paper and then rubbed the lettering on it. Thus the (News) letterhead was born. It may sound a very small thing now but I must say I was very excited about my achievement at that time. I am pleased that the design lasted till the end and continue to adorn the Newsletters in this volume. I also rememebr how pleasantly surprised I was to see Yunus first cartoon in the Newsletter. (See Issue No. 8) Subsequently he drew many other cartoons for later issues. (See Issues Nos. 12-14) Readers will discover that Yunus would have excelled as a cartoonist too if he had seriously chosen that profession.

As I read the Newsletters today and remember those glorious days of 1971, one thing that strikes me most particularly is the unity and the unswerving cooperation that characterized the relationship between all of us, individuals and groups, who worked for the cause of Bangladesh in North America. Alas, if only we could display only a portion of that unity in our national life today! Apart from the BDL, there were many other Bengali associations working for the same cause and cooperating with each other, almost without any hitch. The large number of reports on group activities contained in the Newsletters testifies to that. I also remember with a sense of pride that many of those who contributed so generously with their time and fund were students who depended primarily on stipends and scholarships and many others who had only meager incomes. And yet in many cases they sent in almost half of their monthly incomes to BEWA every month. Equally moving were the fellow feeling and the willingness to help those in need. There are reports in the Newsletters on the manner in which scholarships were arranged for those in need; particularly those who could not or did not wish to renew their Pakistani government approved scholarships and others who later came to the US without any financial support.

If I were a young student again, I would perhaps do a content analysis of the Newsletters. I would cull the information from them under various categories, on the means and ways the Bengali community in North America tried to advance the cause of Bangladesh. The categories could include advocacy, propaganda, lobbying, the use of media, strategies for obtaining public and congressional support, fundraising, cultural activities, helping compatriots in need, helping with war efforts, helping set up
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official missions, and more generally in keeping the spirit of liberation alive. I hope by reading these Newsletters someone will feel inspired to do so.

If we should dedicate this volume to any one person, it should be to the memory of Dr. F.R. Khan. In his untimely death Bangladesh has not only lost one of its most illustrious sons but also one who did so much for the cause of Bangladesh and who would have certainly contributed much more to the nation of he had lived a little longer.

Finally, I am happy that the spirit of national pride and commitment which served as the driving force for all our activities in 1971 in being kept alive and carried forward by the Liberation War Museum through its relentless efforts in the country. It is only fitting that this volume of Bangladesh Newsletters should be published by the Museum in commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of our war of national liberation. I would like to conclude by expressing my profound admiration and deep gratitude for Akku Choudhury and all his collaborating colleagues in the Museum, for their monumental achievements in this regard so far and for the interest they have shown in publishing this volume.

March 2001 Shamsul Bari

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BANGLADESH NEWSLETTER

No. 1 May 17, 1971

This week the war of national liberation of Bangladesh enters into its seventh week. During the last six weeks the Bengalis living abroad have done a great deal to express their horror at the inhuman brutalities perpetrated by the Pakistan army on the defenceless people of Bangladesh and also to mobilise public opinion in support of their cause and struggle. In the United States the various groups of Bengalis living in different parts of the country have written and approached Senators and Congressmen of their respective states to persuade them, and through them the U.S. government, to terminate all assistance to the military machine of West Pakistan. The effect of all this lobbying can be seen in the recent pronouncement of Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the pending resolutions in front of the Senate. Some good work has also been done both with the press and television. Foreign missions both in Washington and New York have been kept informed about our will and determination to fight.

But we must remember that this is only the beginning of a long protracted struggle for us. For even after the victory over the occupation forces—till the last foreign soldier is rooted out from the soil of Bangladesh—we will be faced with the stupendous task of rebuilding a nation from scratch. The scorched-earth policy of the enemy will destroy every economic base of Bangladesh before if leaves. Needless to say that the task of rebuilding will require tremendous sacrifices from all Bengalis both here and at home. The efforts have to be integrated and co-ordinated. At present we are faced with the dual task of both helping the liberation movemnet and also providing relief to millions rendered homeless by the Pakistan army. We know that different groups of Bengalis have devoted their attention to both of these two tasks but since there is no co-ordination of activities one group doesn’t know what others are doing. The result has been duplication of efforts in many cases. With a view to co-ordinating these activities, we have decided to bring out this newsletter. Our main aim is to pool all information from various groups and disseminate this inforamtion for the benefit of all Bengalis and friends. We desire to have a central fund for all the money raised by different groups so that it can be utilised to the best advantage.

Apart from news from different chapters, we shall pass on news from the central body of The Bangladesh League of America in New York for the benefit of all concerned. We also hope to bring to our readers direct news from the battlefield in Bangladesh.

In order to reach a larger audience we want to have a list of all the Bengalis and others who would want to receive our newsletter. We, therefore, request each of you to supply us with names and addresses which we may not have on our list. Please help us by writing immediately to :

The Bangladesh League of America, Chicago Chapter
5245 South Kenwood Avenue
Chicago. Illinois 60615

RESISTANCE NEWS :

The Pakistan government through its embassy is trying to convince Bengalis this country with a flood of propaganda materials that conditions have returned to normal in Bangladesh, and that the entire independence movement was engineered by a “handful” of India-inspired “miscreants”. All of this is pure nonsense. You will be better off throwing away this rubbish in the wastepaper basket if you can’t stop it
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from coming to you.

The main reason why the newspapers in this country do not carry any resistance news these days is that the Pakistan army has successfull sealed off the only motorable road between Calcutta and the western sector of Bangladesh. It was from this region that foreign newsmen based in Calcutta used to gather news during the first two weeks of the war. However, most of the 1300 mile border between India and Bangladesh is wide open. Indian newsmen and our own men are constantly crossing the border with news about resistance activities all over Bangladesh.

A Bangladesh representative who has just arrived in this country writes : “Sylhet (district) where the forests in the Garden areas provide natural cover is still under control of the Bengal regiment. That a force is still holding out in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. That all over Bangladesh armed Bengalis have withdrawn into rural areas and are harassing army units through guerilla action. This may be expected to increase in frequency and intensity as the resistance acquires more skill at this type of warfare, gets additional supplies and weaponry, of which sizeable quantities have already been capturned from the Pakistan amry and when the monsoons make the logistical problems of the army more insecure. The capability for wagin a prolonged war is there because the political motivation of the people has been guaranteed by the indiscriminate character of the war waged by the army. By destroying villages within the range of their artillery and declaring these areas as ‘free fire zones’ they have made the Pakistan army an object of hatred and a direct threat to the security of 75 million Bengalis who will be willing to resist or aid any resistance to this alien forec”.

Another Bengali who left this country about a month ago writes from Agartala : “Every day hundreds of young men are being trained for guerrilla action. It’s unbelievable how fast they learn. I am happy that I came. Otherwise I would have never known this dedication of the Bengalis, their love for their country and their willingness to die for its freedom and honor”.

CHAPTER NEWS :

In this section of our newsletter we shall print news provided us by the different chapters as well as the national office of the The Bangladesh League of America. We expect that chapter representatives will write to us directly about their activities so that we can pass them on to others. So far as we know apart from the national office in New York chapters of the Bangladesh League have been opened in Boston, Washington, Baltimore, Tennessee, North Carolina, Detroit, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Chicago, Urbana, Bloomington (Indiana), Houston, College Station (Taxas), Berkeley and Los Angeles. There may be other chapters that we do not know of. So please let us know and send us your list of office-bearers. It is very important that we get together.

The National Office in New York informs us that a national convention of the Bangladesh League is being organised. It will be held in New York metropolitan area some time in June. You will be kept informed about the specific dates, etc.

The New York group is also organising a big rally in front of the United Nations on June 12, 1971. If you can come, please inform Mr. K.S. Ahmed, President, The Bangladesh League of America, 2667 Broadway, N.Y.C., N.Y. 10025. Phone (212) 866-7474.

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OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WEST PAKISTANIS :

Almost all of us from Bangladesh had friends from West Pakistan before the military crackdown of March 25. It is important that under the changed circumstances of redefine our relationship with them. It is certainly not true that all West Pakistanis are our enemies. There are many of them who support our cause. (See the April-May ’71 issue of the Pakistan Forum edited by Mr. Feroze Ahmed, 1900 South Charles Street, Greenville, N.C. 27834.)

We must remember that our struggle for freedom may be a long one. We will need as many allies as possible. We can speed up our freedom not only by winning victories on the battlefields of Bangladesh but also in West Pakistan. Our West Pakistani friends can help us win that battle.

We feel that the reason why the majority of the West Pakistanis do not yet support our cause is that are either uninformed or are being misled by false propaganda showered upon them by the Pakistan Embassy. It is our responsibility to inform them about the events that led to the present crisis. We are sure once they know of our version of events they will revise their stands. We suggest that you lend them your copy of the Tajuddin Statement which contains a good background about the crisis. If you don’t have a copy let us know. We will provide you with another paper by Dr. Rehman Sobhan entitled Bangladesh : Situation and Options, at a nominal cost.

JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIPS :

We are currently exploring the possibility of obtaining jobs and scholarships for Bengalis from Bangladesh who do not wish to return home for the present. If your scholarship has expired or has been terminated by the Pakistan government or you are in need of a job, please write to The Secretary, Chicago Chapter. The following details should accompany all inquiries : type to visa held, academic qualifications, job experience, type of job or scholarship desired. Also let us know if you have any visa problems. We may be able to offer some suggestions.

MAILING LIST :

We must have a list of all the Bengalis living in this country in order to maximize our strengths. So please send the names and addresses of all the Bengalis you know to our Chicago address.

We also want to have a list of all friends and sympathisers of Bangladesh. If you think that someone should be on our mailing list, please let us know.

FUNDS :

The national liberation movement on Bangladesh is urgently in need of funds, especially foreign exchange. In order to meet these needs the League has established two funds, a Bangladesh Relief Fund and a General Fund. Contributions to the former will be used only for relief purposes. Money contributed to the latter will be used for covering the operating expenses of the League, for lobbying, and so on.

RELIEF :

Large amounts of money are needed for immediate relief. As of this date, more than 2,000,000 people
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have left Bangladesh for India and people continue to leave at the rate of about 50,000 per day. The government of India and other groups are doing their best to cope with the situation. But they cannot do everything. The refugees in India are your relatives and countrymen. They need your help.

Conditions in Bangladesh itself are very bad, and there is every reason to believe they will get worse before they get better. Tens of thousands are homeless. The threat of famine and epidemic looms large over the next months. And the military regime of Pakistan has made it clear that it intends to do nothing now or later to relieve the suffering of the Bengalis. To the contrary, the army is making every attempt to destroy the economic base of Bangladesh and is prepared to starve the people of Bangladesh into submission. We in America must be ready to provide as much aid as we can, both now and over the many months that lie ahead. You can help. Contribute yourself and get your friends to contribute to :

Bangladesh Relief Fund
5245 South Kenwood Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60615

OPERATING EXPESES :

The League has undertaken a wide variety of activities as dictated by the present critical circumstances in Bangladesh. The difficulty is that all of these activities cost money. In order to raise the money to cover these costs on a regular basis, we are asking those Bengalis who have jobs to pledge whatever per cent of their income they can afford to the League and make payments of this money to the League on a monthly basis. Please fill out the form below and return it to the Chicago Chapter :

I,…………………………………………… , $ ……………………….every month as a contribution to the Bangladesh League of America. I understand that my conrtibution will be placed in the General Fund of the League and is not, therefore, tax deductible.

Signed ………………………………………………………
Date …………………………………………………………
Address …………………………………………………….
Telephone …………………………………………………

(Needless to say, all financial information enclosed will be held in strictest confidence by the Treasurer of the Chicago Chapter. Send your cheques to the Bangladesh League of America, 5245 South Kenwood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60615. You will receive receipts for any contribution you make. The Bangladesh government through its emissary informs us that arrangements are being made to make your contributions redeemable at a later time. So please hold on to your receipts.)

Issued by the
BANGLADESH LEAGUE OF AMERICA
Chicago Chapter
5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, Ill. 60615

11
No. 2 May 25, 1971

Death continues to stalk over the land of Bangladesh. Everyday hundreds and thousands are still being killed by the Pakistani army as part of its policy of forcing the Bengalis into submission. Houses and property are being destroyed at random and already more than 3 million (see May 22, New York Times) people of Bangladesh have sought refuge in neighboring India ; more than 50,000 continue to pour in everyday. And yet the conscience of the world’s governments seems unperturbed. They are still concerned about maintaining the status quo. The recent agreement between the United States and the British government to shore up the crumbling Pakistani economy, under certain conditions, is a case in point. (see New York Times, May 20) The agreement calls for greater justice for the Bengalis but within the framework of Pakistan; the present reality is overlooked completely.

The reality is that Pakistan is dead and lies buried under the neaps of Bengali corpses. The sooner this is accepted by all concerned, the better. To dream of any return to Pakistan as it existed before March 25, 1971, is absurd. The blood of a million Bengalis killed by the Pakistani army since that date connot go in vain. The remaining 74 million Bengalis owe it to their slain brothers to sacrifice the last drop of their own blood, if need be, to safeguard the sanctity, sovereignty and freedom of Bangladesh. And they are ready for that supreme sacrifice. Let no man doubt the resolve of the Bengalis.

It is true that the Bengali resistance forces have suffered great reverses in the initial stages of the struggle for national liberation. They have lost city after city to the Pakistani army. But this doesn’t mean that the resistance has been crushed. The authority of the army extends only up to the range of its guns in the cities. Beyond that the whole of the Bangladesh countryside is unpacified and under control of the liberation forces. These forces have regrouped and trained for guerrilla action during the last month and a half. They are now engaged in constand harassment of the Pakistani army. The cost of the enemy’s operation has been high, both in financial terms and in terms of army casualties.

The world powers and the aid-giving nations can, of course, sustain the Pakistani military operations by providing aid to the West Pakistan regime. This can only prolong the genocide that is now being carried on with ruthless efficiency. The scorched-earth policy of this barbaric force may further cripple the economy and lay waste the whole of Bangladesh. However, the West Pakistanis cannot rule the Bengalis again, no matter how much they reinforce their isolated enclaves of power. The army will remain as islands in a hostile sea with not a friendly face to turn to. Already more than 80% of the Bengali civil servants have joined the fighting alongside the liberation forces-thereby crippling the administration. The Bengali police and military forces have joined the struggle on masse.

Awareness of this reality dictates only one course of action for any government that cares for human lives and suffering. The Pakistani military should be forced to withdraw from the soil of Bangladesh. If the world is really interested in saving large numbers of innocent human lives, if democracy and freedom still mean anything to the world, then Bangladesh must be helped and helped now.

To the world at large, then, Bangladesh makes its appeal. Chinese guns, America ammunition, Britain and Soviet equipment are being used in this act of genocide. Today the selfish interests of the great powers inhibits them from taking sides with freedom and justice. If these powers were to simply indicate that their own tools could not be used to commit genocide, that no further aid would be forthcoming to Pakistan till their army withdraws from the soil of Bangladesh—where the people so overwhelmingly rejected West Pakistani domination in the last general election and where the flood of Bengali blood has drowned all hopes of reconciliation—then, that military machine of repression would grind to a standstill.
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Till them we must stand alone and appeal over the heads of governments to the people of the world and ask them to tell their governments that the status quo is itself ephenormal. The future they seek in this region lies only with the people and not with their oppressores.

To the democratic peoples, the socialists and all people of humane impulse in West Pakistan, we appeal to them to exert their influence, whatever little they have, to see that the holocaust does not continue. Our quarrel was never with them; they must now being together for a shared humanity and see to it that sanity prevails amongst their rulers. To them we say that a just society in West Pakistan can never be built from the blood and bones of the peasants, workers, students and intellectuals of Bangladesh. We will rise from the ashes of destruction to rebuild a new order; but because of their connivance, they will forever be held under the jack boots which tried to crush us.

As for ourselves we pledge that we shall not repeat the experience of 1947 when all the enthusiasm generated by the struggle for Pakistan was dissipated in building a society of privileges and greed. We have had the rare opportunity of a second birth. Let us build with and for the people.

ANNOUNCEMENTS :

1) Since the beginning of the crisis in Bangladesh the Bengalis living in this country have felt the necessity of having a central organisation to co-ordinate the activities of different groups. Accordingly, legal advice was sought from a law firm in Chicago and under their advice a new organisation.The Bangladesh Defense League, was incorporated in Illinois as a non-profit, tax-free organisation, though contributions to this organisation will not be tax-exempt.

At a meeting held in Chicago on Sunday May 23 a Board of Directors for the BDL was formed including one member from each of the groups represented at the meeting. The Board of Directors will be the decision-making body of the League and co-ordinate all of its activities such as fund-raising and lobbying. So far the Board of Directors includes one member each from the Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas groups which sent representatives to the May 23 meeting. By the time this newsletter reaches you we hope all of the other groups in this country working for the cause of Bangladesh will also be represented on the Board.

2) Another new organisation, The Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal, has also been incorporated in Illinois for the sole purpose of raising relief funds for the war-affected and displaced people of Bangladesh. Contributions to the Appeal are tax-exempt, which means that people will be able to deduct the amounts they contribute to the Appeal from their annual income tax. Like the BDL, the BEWA will also be managed by a Board of Directors including representatives of all the Bangladesh groups in this country. The Chairman of the Board is Dr. F.R. Khan, noted structural engineer, of Chicago.

The BEWA will soon launch a nation-wide appeal for funds. Further information together with receipt books will be mailed to the secretaries of the local groups.

3) The Bengalis in this country are dispersed throughout most of the United States. Many of you who will receive this newsletter may have formed groups that we do not yet know about. The next meeting of the Board of the BDL will be held in Chicago on June 6. If you wish to be represented at this meeting please send the name of your representative to the Secretary of the BDL, 5245 South Kenwood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60615.

4) Justice Abu Sayeed Choudhury, the Vice-Chancellor of Dacca University and the Bangladesh
13
representatives to the U.N. is due to arrive in New York on Monday May 24. During his stay in this country he will meet with U.N. and U.S. officials.

OPERATINE EXPENSES :

The League has undertaken a wide variety of activities as dictated by the present critical circumstances in Bangladesh. The difficulty is that all of these activities cost money. In order to raise the money to cover these costs on a regular basis, we are asking those Bengalis who have jobs to pledge whatever per cent of their income they can afford to the League and make payments of this money to the League on a monthly basis. Please fill out the form below and return it to the Chicago Chapter :

I,…………………………………………… , pledge $ ……………………….every month as a contribution to Bangladesh Defense League. I understand that my conrtibution is not tax deductible.

Signed ………………………………………………………
Date …………………………………………………………
Address …………………………………………………….
Telephone …………………………………………………

(Needless to say, all financial information enclosed will be held in strictest confidence by the Treasurer of the Chicago Chapter. Send your cheques to the Bangladesh Defense League, 5245 South Kenwood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60615. You will receive receipts for any contribution you make. The Bangladesh government through its emissary informs us that arrangements are being made to make your contributions redeemable at a later time. So please hold on to your receipts.)

Issued by the
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
Chicago Chapter
5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, Ill. 60615

RESISTANCE NEWS :

STATESMAN, May 9, 1971

Liberation Forces Launch Fresh Offensive

Bangladesh liberation forces have opened a fresh offensive against strategic Pakistan Army positions in the western region of East Bengal, says PTI.
Reports from across the border today said the Mukti Fouj was engaged in neavy fighting with Pakistani Army units and volumns in the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Kustia and Jessore sectors.
At Saidpur, in Rangpur sector, the Liberation Forces drew the Pakistanis out in a head-on battle and indicated heavy casualties. In Kustia, the Mukti Fouj successfully ambushed a Pakistani volumn on the move.the 
In the Rajshahi town, guerrilla groups were active in Charghat and Sharda, while in Jessore sector, there was exchange of fire between ther Mukti Fouj and a Pakistani unit in the Benapole area bordering West Bengal.
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In the Eastern sector, while fighting continues near Akhanna, Fierce commando attacks by the Liberation Forces at the strategic Rajapur village between Quasba and Akhaura forced the Pak Army to beat a retreat on Friday leaving the hamlet in the control of the Mukti Fouj.
The Mukti Fouj captured some arms and machine gun bullets left behind by the fleeing Pak Troops.

PAK TROOPS AMBASHED

A Cooch Behar massage received on Saturday said that guerrilla units of the Mukti Fouj ambushed the rampaging Pakistani Army men on Friday night at Moghalhat and Kurigram in Rangpur district killing at least 33 of them.
Tnose killed included a captain named Rizvi who was conducting the acts of depredations at Moghalhat railway stations.
Earlier the Pakistani Army men had arrived at Moghalhat by train from the important railway township of Lalmonirhat in Rangpur and were dumping looted goods in the train to be despatched to Lalmonirhat.
Giving details of the attack on the Pakistani Army at Moghalhat the report said the Mukti Fouj men who had been watching the Pak Army’s depredations for the last few days waited for the opportune moment till Friday night when its guerrilla commandos suddenly started firing from light machine guns and burled grenades on the Pakistani Army killing 26 Taken by surprise the Pakistani troops fled from the station immediately, leaving behind the bodies of the men killed.
The Mukti Fouj captured one Manwar Ali, a Frontier Scout of the Pakistani Army, who sustained severe wounds during the guerrilla attack at Kurigram.
At Moghalhat also the Mukti Fouj killed two notorious spies and captured one Mahammed Mandal, stated to be connected with the intelligence branch of the Pakistani Army.

London Times May 14, 1971

Bangla desh

Alan Hart of Panorama in just back from Bangla Desh—having flown out with the first Oxfam consignment of British aid from Brize Norton of Friday. His short visit sufficed to convince him that there is a danger of a refugee problem of Middle Eastern intractability; that the Bangla Desh forces have regrouped on Indian territory; and that they are now launching the first stages of their guerrilla warfare with hit and run raids over the border.

Hart also came under heavy machine-gun fire from the Pakistan army while accompanying Bangla Desh forces on an excursion into east Pakistan. He had to run for his life.

Hart says there are two million refugees in India already, and that relief organizers fear the numbers may even treble in the next few weeks. “They are pouring in by the thousands every day. Where
we were, at Hakimpur, north of Calcutta, 37,000 had come to at just one crossing point the previous day. The relief people are already worned that it will be beyond them to cope”.

A major of the Bangla Desh regular army (the former East Pakistan Rifles) told Hart that he had 1,200 men at fire bases established along his 100-mile sector. Hart was shown armanents, including anti-tank guns, which the Bangla Desh raiders had captured, and saw civilian guerrillas being trained close to the improvised refugee camps.
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He was impressed by the “terrific spirit” of the Bangla Desh army. Refugees told him that the Pakistan army on occupying each village, rounded up the population, singled out 10 or 20 of the younger men, and shot them. One soldier in Bangla Desh uniform. Hart found, was an 11-year-old boy from Jessore : the major said the boy had seen his mother-father, and brother bayoneted to death, and had escaped to seek out the Bangla Desh army and to get himself a gun.

BANGLADESH LEADER SAYS…
15,000 Pak Soldiers Killed Since March 25

At least 15,000 West Pakistani Army men were killed and 30,000 injured in the fight with the Liberation Army of Bangladesh since March 25, according to an important leader of Bangladesh reports PTI.

The leader, who left Dacca in the last week of April and preferred to remain anonymous, told reporters in an interview somewhere in Bangladesh that all the hospitals in the province were taken over by the military authorities for nursing the injured Army personnel. In West Pakistan also, most of the hospitals were full with injured soldiers.

He said the Army authorities had tried to coax a handful of people at Dacca to do work at gunpoint, but failed. Even the Chief Justice of Dacca High Court Mr. B.A. Siddiqui, he said, was compelled at gunpoint to administer the oath of office to a military officer who was being passed as Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan, the leader said.

U.S. adds : The martial Law authorities have prepared a list of 30,000 Bengalis fo Dacca and other main cities of East Bengal to kill them one by one. According to a Government officer and young business man who arrived in Agartala recently from Bangladesh the list includes those whom the Army authorities consider pro-Indian of staunch Awami League followers. They said the Pakistani soldiers “come at night and take the listed persons away to some unkown place”.

Addressing the India-Bangladesh Friendship Association in New Delhi on Sunday, Mr. A. K. M. Ayub, a Dacca University student, said that Mr. G.C. Deb, Head of the Department of Philosophy in the Dacca University was shot dead for not divulging to the West Pakistan Army the whereabouts of Hindu students studying there.

TIMES OF INDIA, May 9, 1971
Fauj’s hit-run tactic pays

By KIRIT BHAUMIK
“The Times of India” News Service

AGARTALA, May 8. College students and even schoolboys, who are fighting with the lieberation forces,
are doing a neat job of harassing and killing the West Pakistani troops in the various towns of Bangla Desh.

Though equipped with only small arms, the guerillas have achieved commendable results in their attacks on towns like Akhaura, Ramgarh, Debogram, Subhapur and Madhavpur in the past fews days.

The troops are finding it increasingly difficult to hold on to the towns in the face of hit-and-run attacks by guerrilla bands. Despite their superior fire power, the West Pakistani troops have suffered more casualties than the freedom-fighters in the past few days.
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Elsewhere, Mukti Fouj men are putting up a heroic resistance despite serious handicaps.

CALL TO YOUTH :

The former Union Minister for Petroleum and Chemicals, Dr. Triguna Sen, who toured the border areas of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura, has meanwhile appealed to young men and women of the country to help the suffering people of Bangla Desh by at least contriouting the bare necessities of life.

“We may take time to give further thought to the question of granting recognition to Bangla Desh and we may have difficulties in giving arms and ammunition to the freedom-fighters, but nothing should deter us from providing them with daily necessities on humanitarian grounds”.

Dr. Sen has appealed for pants, shirts, vests, lungis, socks, shoes, raincoats, water bottles, saucers, material soap, first-aid boxes, blankets and pullovers.

“If the youth of our country cherish the ideal of freedom and democracy, here is an opportunity to live up to that ideal”.

No. 3 June 10, 1971

BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL TO WEST PAKISTANS

In a message to former West Pakistani there Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed said :

Before God we tried to preserve this nation of Pakistan in spite of the oppression, neglect and servitude inflicted on us by your rulers these 23 years. But your leaders could neither tolerate the idea of sharing power with us nor would they let go of us sufficiently to let us control our own destinies. As a result today you the people of West Pakistan are silent spectators to the genocide being committed on the people of Bangladesh by your rulers. By their acts of mass murder in Bangladesh the name of Pakistan will rank with the Mongols, the huns and the Nazis in the history books. On your conscience you will carry till eternity the curse of our murdered wives, our dishonoured sisters, our slaughtered children. But more destructive to you, you will carry the curse of this army of butchers with you for years to come. By God’s grace and our unconquerable spirit every last man of this army of occupation will either be driven out or destroyed by the people of Bangladesh. Out of the ashes a new Bangladesh will rise committed to peace, democracy and social justice resting on secure foundation of creed, language, culture and race and held together by the shared experience of a struggle which must take its place in the epic struggles of our time.

But you will be condemned to live under the bayonets of the Punjabi army. Sindhi, Pathan, Baluch and even the common man of the Punjab will one day have to rise against these killers who must now hold down by military force your just aspirations. Bangladesh was your last hope for democracy in Pakistan. In trying to suppress us you may have for years to come bound yourselves to military dictatorship.

In your interests as much as for the sake of humanity you must therefore rise in protest against this unjust
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war being waged by your army on the people of Bangladesh. Americans have protested in their million against their government for their intervention in Vietnam. The British and French liberal opinion protested against the colonial wars waged by their governments. Now you the people of West Pakistan must voice your horror and oppose by all means at your command this attempt by your army to hold down the people of Bangladesh by force and commit genocide in the name of integration.

WORLD BANK-IMF MISSION TO BANGLADESH

The struggle against the Pakistani invaders has reached a critical stage now. Pakistan is nearly bankrupt and will not be in a position to wage war in Bangladesh unless she gets aid by July. The Aid-to-Pakistan Consortium is to meet in Paris on June 21. A fact-finding mission from the World Bank and IMF is right now in occupied Bangladesh. This mission will stay in occupied Bangladesh untill June 10 and then move on to Islamabad before going to Paris. This mission’s finding will be very important to us because if they report conditions are normal then aid will flow to Pakistan. Of course we know the situation is not normal but what the mission sees will depend on the members perceptiveness and the extent to which the Pakistan army allow them freedom of movement. The Bank-IMF mission has 13 members and is led by Mr. P. Cargill, head of the South Asia Division in the World Bank. We hope the mission will see and report the truth. Report of the true situation may halt aid to Pakistan and create conditions in which she cannot prosecute an expensive war.

FOOD RELIEF

Rice prices have shot up alarmingly and in many places it is being sold at Rs 80 per maund. In some places this has led to the looting of the godowns of the hoarders. It is reported that people in the cyclone affected areas are now near starvation. Using the plea of food aid the Pakistan military is going to obtain 30 ships and an unspecified number of trucks from U.S. AID. We don’t understand how the U.S. government is going to ensure that these vessels and vehicles will be used for relief purposes only after knowing fully well that all the 50 speedboats given by U.S. AID for cyclone relief are being used by the Pakistan Army. A photo in DAWN showed General Niazi of the Pakistan Army inspecting one of these “relief” boats before their attack on Gopalganj.

And even if some of these vehicles are used for food distribution, we cannot see how the government will fairly distribute food aid to the villages unless the Thana officers and union council pay allegiance to the Pakistan Army. Food aid can be used to obtain their submission. In view of the recent attacks on Bhola, Hatiya and Sandwip by the Pak Army we think food aid vessels and vehicles and the system of distribution will all be used against the interests of Bangladesh. Ask your American friends to write to their senators and congressmen immediately.

NEWS FROM INSIDE BANGLADESH

From our sources in Bangladesh we have received the following news :

(a) General Osmani, C-in-C Bangladesh Mukti Fouj, has announced that after re-training in guerrilla warfare 10,000 freedom fighters have been sent to fight the invaders. More guerrilla-trained Mukti Fouj will be put into action soon.

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(b) In Jessore sector, freedom figheters ambushed some army gunboats in Padma River, 40 miles from Dacca, and damaged a road-bridge.

(c) In Comilla sector, they destroyed rail and road bridges, obstructed army movements by road and successfully attacked and army column proceeding to Feni killing 200 Pakistani troops.

(d) In Kasba sector, there was heavy fighting between the army and freedom fighters.

(e) Attempts by the army to recapture the vital Teliapara road junction in Sylhet District were foiled after heavy fighting.

(f) A railway bridge was blown up in Dinajpur District and a large section of railway track was made unserviceable.

(g) In Chittagong sector, a railway bridge and a road bridge between Laksham and Feni was demolished. The Elliotganj bridge has also been blown up.

(h) In Rangpur sector, a column of Pakistan troops was ambushed near Kalughat and a large quantity of arms and ammunition was seized by the resistance forces.

(i) A railway bridge was blown up in Kushtia sector by the Mukti Fouj.

(j) An army depot near Barisal was reported raided by the resistance forces.

(k) Near Khulna, the water channel clearance operation by the Pakistani Army was thwarted by freedom fighters when they sank the barges again.

(l) Railway and steamer services throughout Bangladesh were paralyzed by the activities of freedom fighters and refusal of employees to return to work despite appeals and threats by the army.

(m) Hatiya, Bhola and Sandwip were invaded by the Pakistan Army after May 12. They devastated many villages and withdrew from Hatiya and Sandwip due to the heavy rains. However, they are entrenched in Bhola. Their presence in the cyclone affected area makes food relief a mockery.

(n) Chittagong North and South Sadar subdivisions are bing devastated by the invaders. A graphic description can be read in the London Times of May 18 (Hazelhurst’s report).

(o) Six time-bombs exploded in various buildings (UBL, State Bank, Secretariat etc.) in Dacca. With these bombs were notes warning against colloboration. It is reported that two prominent collaborators have been killed in Sylhet.

(p) Reports coming in on May 25 indicate that the following percentage of pre-invasion population remains in the towns : Mymensingh 10%, Chandpur 20%, Comilla 30%.

(q) Dhamrai has been looted. Temples and statues are being destroyed. It is feared that Dacca and Varendra Museums will be looted or destroyed. Already a vast amount of loot is being transferred from Bangladesh to the Punjab. Now they want to destroy our cultural artifacts. You may ask your university bodies to request UNESCO To insure that museums, temples, mosques, churches
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etc. are not destroyed.

(r) There have been several instances of the Pak Army requesting factory workers to return to work and then shooting them. Definite evidence of such massacres has been obtained from Gopalganj Sugar Mill, Rajshahi; Khulna Newsprint Mill and Bata Shoe Factory, Tongi.

(s) All Thana Development Centers are empty and no work is going on at Thana or village level.

CONDITIONS FOR A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT

In a broadcast over the Free Bangladesh Radio, on June 6, 1971, the acting President of Bangladesh, Syed Nazrul Islam has outlined four conditions for a political settlement to the war in Bangladesh. The conditions are :

1) unconditional release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other members-elect of the National Assembly who have been arrested ;

2) withdrawal of West Pakistan troops ;

3) recognition of the sovereign Republic of Bangladesh, and

4) compensation for losses suffered during the two and a half months of conflict.

VISAS AND SCHOLARSHIP

So far we have received five letters from stranded scholars in this country for assistance in visa and scholarship problems. We have taken up these cases with the proper authorities. We hope that soon the persons involved will hear from them directly. Once again let us repeat that if your scholarship has expired or has been terminated by the Pakistan Government or you have visa problems, please let us know.

SCHOLARS APPEAL TO NIXON

American, Canadian and other scholars specializing in the language, literature, history, economy and life of Bangladesh and West Bengal held their annual conference at the University of Minnesota on May 29-30, 1971. Two sessions of the conference were devoted primarily to the discussion of the current events in Bangladesh. In a statement sent to President Nixon, Secretary of State and the members of the Senate and the House, participating American scholars appealed to stop all military and economic aid to the Government of Pakistan. Following is the full text of the statement.

As scholars of Bengal, we share a deep distress at the continuing attempt by the Government of Pakistan to kill and terrorize large numbers of Bengali people and to destroy their society. Having examined the extensive evidence available to us relating the events that have occurred in East Bengal since March 25, 1971, we can only conclude that it is the policy of the Government of Pakistan to elininate Bengali culture and society as we presently know it. We are aware of the full seriousness of this charge and do not make it lightly. Yet we feel that we, as students of Bengali culture and society outside of Bengal, have a special
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responsibility both to the people whose life and work we have studied and to our academic colleagues in East Bengal. As citizens of the country which has largely equipped the Pakistani army, we cannot remain silent while that army kills the people to whom we are so deeply indebted. We therefore ask the U.S. government to use all proper means available to it to bring an end to the killing in East Bengal. We are concerned at recent reports, for example, that of the Christian Science Monitor of May 26, 1971, that “the U.S. now is reported ready to participate in a standby loan of roughly $100 million to be given by the consortium this summer”. We believe that the U.S. should not give further assistance of any kind to the Government of Pakistan untill it ceases the use of military force in East Bengal. Moreover, we urge that all possible assistance be provided to the enormous and over-increasing number of Benglis who have been forced by the Pakistani army to leave their homes.

A similar statement has been issued by the non-American scholars expressing their concern and appealing to the United Nations for immediate action.

JOIN BANGLADESH RALLY IN NEW YORK

A mass rally in support of Bangladesh will be held in New York on Saturday, June 12, 1971, under the joint sponsorship of Bangladesh League of America, American Friends of Bangladesh and the Joint Committee of Indian Associations. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury (Vice-Chancellor, Dacca University and member, Human Rights Commission of the United Nations), Iqbal Ahmed (West Pakistani scholar), Jayprakash Narayan (Indian Sarvoday leader), Ruth Gage-Colby (peace leader) and several UIS. Congressmen and leading citizens will address the rally.

Participants in the rally will assemble at 12 :00 noon at Columbus Circle, 59th Street and 8th Ave, New York City and March along Central Park south to 5th Ave. A demonstration will be staged in front of the Pakistan Consulate. Speakers will address the gathering at the Hammerskjold Plaza (First Ave and 47th St.).

ORGANISATION NEWS

A meeting of the Bangladesh Defense League was held in Chicago on June 6, 1971, to consitder the ways and means of coordinating the activities of different groups around the United States and Cananda. Representatives from Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin were present in this meeting. Bangladesh groups working in nine south-western states already organised themselves into a zonal unit and sent a representative on their behalf to participate in the meeting.

Legal Counsellor of the BDL explained the legal framework of the organisation and clarified various legal points for the benefit of the participants. BDL accountant presented the appropriate procedure for collecting funds and channeling them to the central fund. Other organisational matters were discussed in detail and arrangements for closer cooperation to achieve continuity and maximum effciency in the efforts of the individual units were agreed upon.

A Board of Directors, under whose guidence the cooperation of activities will be undertaken, was formed with one representative from each group. This will later be enlarged to include representation from all other groups not yet represented.

Mr. Mahmud Ali, former Vice-Consul of the Pakistan Consulate in New York, who severed his
21
relations with the Governement of Pakistan and declared allegiance to the Bangladesh Government, also attended the meeting and presented a report. The meeting approved the budget of the Bangladesh Mission in New York and the amount was released from the BDL fund.

The meeting also allocated funds to immediately establish a Missin in Washington, D.C.

The meeting approved a guidline for all member of the BDL to the effect that each member will contribute a minimum of ten percent of his take-home salary to the BDL untill the invaders of Bangladesh are driven out. Bangladesh Government is in urgent need of large sums of foreign exchange. All members and sympathisers are urged to donate maximum possible amount.

It was further decided that a research unit under the title ‘Bangladesh Research Center’ be established as a subsidiary of the BDL. The Research Center will be responsible for bringing out timely books, articles, papers, brochures, to advance the cause of Bangladesh and counter the false and malicious propaganda of the Pakistan Government and its embassies around the world. Bangladesh Research Center will welcome materials for publication and distribution. Please send us your suggstions.

The President of the BDL will visit the West Coast and contract the Bangladesh groups to exchange ideas with them with view to coordinating their efforts with other group.

A nation-wide campaign for donation to the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal is being worked upon. A brochure to accompany the fund raising appeal is under preparation.

EVIDENCE OF TERROR ATTACK ON DACCA

Here are some extracts from messeges exchanged between control, the headquarters of General Tikka Khan, the military governor, and army units using numerical call signs, on the night of March 25. The transcript is now in the hands of the government of Bangladesh, and copies are to be sent to the Secretary of the U.N. and all heads of government. We are quoting from London Times of June 2, 1971,

Control : Well done. What do you think would be the approximate number of casualties at the University?
88 : Wait. Approx. 300. Over.
Control : Well done. Three hundred killed? Anybody wounded or captured? Sitrep (situation report). Over.
88 : I believe only in one thing—300 killed. Over.
Control : Yes, I agree with you. That’s much easier. Nothing asked nothing done. You don’t have to explain anything. Once again well done. Once again I would like to give you shabash to the boys.
77 : Latest from 88—that he is making progress. But there are so many buildings that he has to reduce each one in turn. He has so far suffered no casualties but there is firing against him. He is using everything he has ot. Over.
Control : Tell him that his big brothers (artillery support) will also be coming shortly, I hope. So those can be utilised for knocking down the buildings. Now on the other side I think Liaquat and Iqabal (student’s dormitory) is now quiet……

Issued by
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
Chicago Chapter
5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, Ill. 60615
22
No. 4 July 1, 1971

“GENOCIDE OF NO SMALL MAGNITUDE COMMITTED”—U.S. Congressman Gallagher

Congressman Cornelius Gallagher, Chairman, Asian and Pacific Affairs Sub-Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in Calcutta on June 4 that he was “now convinced that terrorism, barbarities and genocide of no small magnitude have been committed in East Bengal”.

Mr. Gallagher was addressing members of the Calcutta Press Club immediately after his return from a tour of some refugee camps in the border areas.

Congressman Gallagher said : “When I came here I came with an open mind. But after meeting some of the evacuees, I am now convinced that terrorism, barbarities and genocide of no small magnitude have been committed in East Bengal”.

“Reports of the Pakistani army’s atrocities in East Bengal are not all exaggerated”, he added.

He said : “From what I have heard from a cross section of the evacuees, I came to the conclusion that the people have been terrorized in East Bengal. Two things have become clear to me—firstly, there was a deliberate attempt to destroy and wipe out the intellectuals such as doctors, students, professors and writers ; secondly, communal feelings have been aroused to squeeze out the Hindu population”.

Referring to an unending stream of evacuees, Mr. Gallagher said that 5 million people had so far come away to India from East Bengal. Each Congressional district in the United States consisted of 500,000 people and If the exodus of such magnitude stated coming to his constituency (New Jersey), it would create innumerable problems as experienced now by India, he said.

Mr. Gallagher said that on his return home, he would try to mobilize public opinion in favor of offering immediate relief to the evacuees. It was incumbent on the part of the world community to come to the aid of these poor and unfortunate people of East Bengal, he said.

“As a partner of the World Consortium, I think the United States will play a prominent role to see that the situation improves and people return home”, he said.

Replying to a question, he said that the people whom he had met at the camp sites were willing to go back but they found it impossible until some sort of a “political accommodation” was reached and atmosphere created for their going back. “I think economic pressure by the world community on Pakistan would go a long way in improving the situation”, he said.

Asked what he thought about a permanent solution of the problem, Mr. Gallagher said, “Obviously, it requires political accomodation by the leaders of that country. Until recently, it was an internal affair of Pakistan. But when 5 million people are driven out of the country, it becomes an international problem which the world community should take nate of. I think sanity will return there and compassion would play an important role”.

Replying to a question of the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mr. Gallagher said : “In may opinion, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be called in for discussions for a political settlement. I think most of the evacuees will return to East Bengal if a call is made by him”.

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Editorial

BANGLADESH COUNTS ON YOU

Three months have passed since brutal army operation began in Bangladesh. During this time hundreds of thousands of defence less Bengalis have sacrificed their lives at the altar of freedom and justice. A conservative estimate puts the number of those killed by the Pakistan Army close to half a million. Six million people have been forced to leave their homes for the safety and protection on the other side of the border. A hundred thousand more continue to pour into India everyday with tales of army brutalities, rape, torture, arson and killing. Thousands fall dead on the way from fatigue and exhoustion. And several more thousands have died from cholera and other diseases and continue to die everyday in the over-crowded comps in India. An exodus of this magnitude is probably unprecedented in human history. Within its own limitations, the government and the people of India have done a super-human job in taking care of these helpless millions of refugees. We owe a deep sense of gratitude to them for coming to our aid at the time of our greatest need.

Within Bangladesh Bengalis are sacrifining their lives to ensure that we can live as a free and proud people for all times to come. The tales of their courage and determination are being documented everyday in the press.

But what are we doing for our motherland at the time of her greatest need? We, who are living in the comfort and luxury of Western life, far removed from the scene of death, disease and destruction, may ask ourselves : Have we given our utmost for the sake of our country? Individually and collectively we must put every bit of pressure on the officials of this country to stop all aid to Pakistan, and take all possible measures to create a strong public opinion in this country against any aid to Pakistan.

Secondly, Bangladesh is badly in need of foreign currency. A dollar goes a long way to help cause. Let us pledge that from every pay-check we will keep only an amount to cover bare necessities and the rest will go to help Bangladesh. Can we afford to do otherwise?

YOUNG FLOCK TO JOIN MUKTI FOUJ

East Bengal Border, June 14 (Reuter)

Sixteen young men, most of them students, crowded into a small, bare room to sign up for the Bangladesh Mukti Fouj. Behind a small, wooden table, sat a man in his early theories, and former history lecturer at an East Bengal college. He is now running a recruiting center for guerrillas to fight in East Bengal.

He declined to give his name and asked that the location of the recruiting office, ostensibly an office to register refugees crossing into West Bengal from East Bengal, should not be reveoled.

As each of the waiting youths stepped forward to the table, the recruiting officer interrogated him as to his name, age, what organisations he had belonged to in East Bengal, his political affiliations, his home and why he wanted to join the underground army.

“Most of the people who come here for recruitment are students and youngsters, although the age group ranges from 18 to 35”, the Bangladesh officer said in an interview yesterday.

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“This is a preliminary recruiting center. From here we send them to transit camps (known as youth camps to conform to Indian law), and from those camps to the main army camps where they will be trained somewhere in Bangladesh—it is a military secret where these camps are located.

“All the training camps are in Bangladesh. We are recruiting those who have crossed the border, but we also have about 200 recruiting centers in Bangladesh itself”, the former lecturer said. There were probably about 100 such centers in West Bengal.

Since this particular center was set up six weeks ago, he had processed between 20 and 30 people a day. “The students are very eager to join and to fight for the liberation of Bangladesh and achieve their rights there”, he said.

A number of people who came to join were personally known to him and he screened them carefully. They were further screened and their political ideas were tested at the transit camp before they moved on for training.

As each young man stepped in front of his desk, he warned them that once they had joined the Mukti Fouj they could not leave. If they tried to defeat, they would be shot.

The interviews were conducted in a bare, concreate, second-storey room with a wooden door and iron bars on the two windows.

At the official’s side sat a young man dressed in a dark blue shirt with a cap pulled jauntily over one eye, who copied down answers into an exercise book.

One of the people being recruited was a commerce student, aged 21, who had crossed the border specially to join because there were no equivalent centers in his area across the border.

Asked if he expected the guerrilla movement to succeed, one recruit said : ‘Yes, why not? No liberation movement in the world, according to my knowledge, has failed.

BOMB BLASTS WELCOME WORLD BANK TEAM TO “NORMAL DACCA”

Officials of the international aid consortium narrowly escaped death in Dacca on June 10 from the bombs thrown by the freedom fighters.

Thd incident occurred in from of the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Dacca. One American and two British officials were thrown, one of which exploded in the car. Bomb fragments were said to have caused some minor injuries, and the car was demolished.

A mission of the II-nation consortium is in Pakistan to study prospects of peace and political stability as one of the prerequisites to full-scale resumption of aid to this country. The consortium, which included the United States, is headed by the World Bank.

New York Times correspondent Malcolm W. Browne in a dispatch from Islamabad writes :

Foreigners concerned with the situation report that terrorist resistance to martial-law authority in East Bengal has increased markedly in recent weeks. They say that members of Government “peace committees” have been assassinated and that officials cooperating with the military regime there have
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been assassinated and that officials cooperating with the military regime there have been receiving threatening letters on official stationery overprinted with the words “Bangladesh”.

Some foreigners report, the dispatch continues, that installers of irrigation wells. rural agricultural teams and other local technicians on whom the administration of aid to East Bengal is dependent are too frightened to leave the main towns to work in the countryside.

COORDINATION BODY FOR WEST COAST BANGLADESH GROUPS

With the beginning of the liberation war in Bangladesh it became necessary to find ways for coordinating and channeling the spontaneous patriotic responses of all the Bengalis. In order to arrive at some specific lines of approach for effective coordination and communication, a meeting was held on May 22, 1971 at San Francisco attended by the representatives of Los Angeles, Berkeley, Stanford and San Francisco Bengali residents. The following dicisions were taken in the meeting :

1. The main co-ordinating body will be stationed at Los Angeles and will communicate with the other units of the West Coast at Berkeley, San Francisco, Stanford, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Denver (Colorado) and Tuscon (Arizona). It will also look forward to setting up co-ordination with more units in Hawaii, Dallas, and Pitteburg (Kansas).

2. Active communication with New York, Washington, Chicago and Michigan bodies will be maintained by the main co-ordinating body, and it will also convey the instructions received from the Bangladesh government to all other units of the West Coast.

3. All units with exchange information of interest amongst themselves and will pass on the news to all local members.

4. A remittance of 5% of the total collections will be made by all the West Coast units to the Los Angeles body in order to cover the overhead expenses of publicity and other co-ordinating expenses.

5. Generally each unit will keep up the publicity compaign to expose the brutalities and the atrocities of the Pakistan army committed in our land, and promote our legitimate claims of Bangladesh to complete independence amongst the American public in general and the representative Americans in particular.

6. Statement of all collections of funds will submitted to Los Angeles.

7. A master list of all residents and sympathisers will be prepared and the co-ordinators of each unit will send names and addresses of all such persons to the co-ordinators in Los Angeles.

PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting will be held on Thursday, June 24 at 8 :00 P.M. at Fridays Meeting House, Fourth and Aroh Streets, Philadelphia, Pan The purpose of the meeting is to establish an organization the FRIENDS OF EAST BENGAL in order to 1) inform the American public of the events in East Bengal, 2) to Support relief work and 3) to appeal for an embargo on further aid to West Pakistan until it ends its reign of terror in East Bengal. The meeting is being organized by Prof. Charles Kahn (Univ. of Penn), Rev Richard L. Keach (Central Baptist Church, Wayne) and others. All are requested to attend.

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BANGLADESH RALLY IN NEW YORK

A large rally in support of the Bangladesh was held in New York on June 12, 1971. The rally was attend by about 2000 persons representing Bangladesh communities and friends of Bangladesh from various places of the United States and Canada. It was a reflection of the fremendous concern of the Bangladesh citizens living abroad for the cause of the struggling millions in Bangla Desh.

Raising various slogans the participants expressed the determination to make any sacrifice necessary for the success of the Bangladesh Liberation war. They also appealed to the American people to come out in support of the legitimate demand for the freedom of the 75 million people of the Bangladesh.

The rally was organised by the Bangladesh League of America in co-operation with the American Friends of Bangladesh and the Joint Committee of the India Associations. It was addressed among others by Mr. Iqbal Ahmed (a West Pakistani Scholar) and Mr. Jaiprakash Narayan (Indian Sarvoday Leader).

NEWS FROM INSIDE BANGLADESH

The commandos of the Mukti Fouj dealt a crushing blow to a company of Pakistani troops and battered the electricity and railway network in a series of attacks in Dinajpur district.

A platoon of commandos fought a pitched battle with a company of Pakistani troops armed with mortars, LMG’s and rocket launcers opposite the Samajhia area. Although outnumbered, the freedom fighters fought back gallantly and killed more than 20 Pakistani soldiers.

Mukti Fouj commandos also struck at a number of Pakistan Army positions in the Sylhet, Comilla and Noakhali sectors of Bangladesh.

Four soldiers were killed when guerrillas blew up an Army jeep and a truck near a bridge in the Jessore sector. More than 12 troops were killed at Jhingargacha in a surprise attack by the liberation forces.

Freedom fighters are planting mines on a number of rods and bridges with a view to dislocating supplies to Pakistani troops. Train services between Kushtia and Chuadanga were disrupted as the railway track had been sabotaged.

In Comilla sector, the commando activity has compelled the military authority to re-impose curfew in the town of Kasba.

In Barisal, a steamer which was being used by the troops for movement from Barisal to Dacca was surprised by the freedom fighters who inflicted a number of casualties.

In Sylhet sector, Mukti Fouj guerrillas ambushed a Pakistan army convoy. About 100 army men were killed and four trucks destroyed. They have also secured control of Jaflong township about 20 kilometers from the Bangladesh border.

In Tamabil sector where the liberation forces are in control of the Tamabil checkpost, the Pakistan army have lost nearly 100 men.

Signs of terror and alertness have become pronounced among the Army authorities in Dacca after the quick spread of guerrilla activities in the urban and semi-urban areas recently. Army authorities are now
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making “war preparations” around the Dacca city. Heavy artillery and a good number of powerful anti-aircraft guns have been placed on both sides of the 31/2 mile road from Dacca Airport to Kalyanpur bus stand.

Issued by
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, Ill. 60615

THE FACE OF TRUTH

Pakistani’s military rulers tried its best to suppress all the facts about the situation in Bangladesh but somehow the truth has always found its way out. Sometimes it has found its way out through its own instruments of propaganda.

The latest in the series is a horrifying tale of the military brutality unleashed on the innocent people of Bangladesh. This story has been documented by Anthony Mascarenhas in The Sunday Times (London : June 13, 1971). Mr. Mascarenhas was one of the eight West Pakistani journalists who were flown into Bangladesh by the military junta of West Pakistan during the end of March in order to write “eye-witness” reports as to how fast situation in Bangladesh is returning to normal. All of these journalists did exactly what they were expected to do and Mascarenhas himself came out with report of the so-called “Bengalis atrocities” against non-Bengalies before March 25 which was published in The Sunday Times of London on May 2, 1971.

However, Mascarenhas could not live with a bad conscience for not telling the truth to the world. He wanted for an opportunity and as soon as he got it he came out of the country with his family, leaving his job and property behind him.

His story, which was carried in the Sunday London Times, presents a graphic description of the systematic repression of the Bengalis in Bangladesh by the West Pakistani Army. He was accompanying a military unit as it went around the countrysied trying to do a “good job” of destroying life and property of the helpless villagers.

PAKISTANI BLACK-LIST FOR BENGALIS

A list of approximately 3000 names typed in 63 sheets of foolscape size paper are available with various branches of the occupation army in Bangladesh. Purpose? It’s anybody’s guess. This list is continually referred to by the State Bank of Pakistan and all major branches of the commercial banks in conducting their daily business.

A top-ranking Bengali official who just excaped from his death-trap in occupied Bangladesh gave the details of this black-list. The list, which is headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, includes politicians, professor, lawyers, businessmen, government officials, journalists and students.

The same source described the modus operandi of the army brutalities in recent days. Fatuallah and
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Siddhirganj have become two sites for daily mass execution in recent days. People collected from all around are assembled at night at these two points, tied togather and then thrown into the river. With a bomb-blast in a cinema hall or in a business district the army quickly rounds up a big catch for their nocturnal operation at Fatullah and Siddhirganj.

This highly-placed official also reports that at least four Bengali pilots who flew the PIA Boeing 707 planes have been killed. Captain Sikandar is one of them. All other Bengali pilots have been grounded. (Pakistan Air Force grounded all its Bengali officers since the invasion of Bangladesh began.) PIA has dismissd about 1500 Bengalis from its offices and another 250 from flight kitchens.

REPORTED STATEMENT BY PRINCE SADRUDDIN :

Prince Sadruddin, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is reported to have stated in a press interview in Calcutta that the situation in East Bengal is “optimistic” and that he “did not see why the refugees should not be able to return home in time.” This has created dismay and anger in the Bengali community all over the world.

It may be pointed out that Prince Sadruddin is also a religious leader of the Ismaili community. As such he cannot be expected to be completely impartial in view of the fact that his speaking the truth may adversely affect the Ismaili community in occupied Bangladesh. It is important that this fact in brought to the attention of the UN. We urge our readers to write to the Secretary General of the UN and other UN officials, including the representatives of the big powers at the UN pointing out that some impartial person be chosen to head the UN operation on Bengali refugees.

PAKISTAN ‘GUILTY OF GENOCIDE’

The president and military leaders of Pakistan are accused of having broken the genocide convention of the United Nations—and therefore, by implication, of being liable to trial—in a motion tabled in the House of Commons last week by 120 Labour MP’s.

They include six Privy Councillors, the chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Ian Mikardo, and three other members of Labour’s national executive—Mr. Frank Allaun, Mr. Tom Bradley, and Mr. Tom Driberg.

The principal sponsor of the motion is Mr. John Stonehouse, formerly Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, who described the motion as “the greatest frontal attack on the head of a Commonwealth Government ever made”.

Mr. Stonehouse visited West Bengal in April, and went up to the East Bengal frontier. Although signatories for the motion were sought only from Labour members, Mr. Stonehouse said that some Tories were sympathetic. (The Liberals have already made clear their abhorrence of events in East Bengal.)

The motion reads : “This House believes that the wide-spread murder of civilians and the atrocities on a massive scale by the Pakistan army in East Bengal, contrary to the U.N. convention on genocide signed by Pakistan itself, confirms that the military Government of Pakistan has forfeited all rights to rule in East Bengal, following its wanton refusal to accept the democratic will of the people expressed in the election of Decmber, 1970.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

A symposium on Bangladesh will be held at the University of Windsor, Canada, on July 7, 1971 at 7 :00 P.M. The topic for the symposium is THE CASE FOR BANGLADESH. Speakers will include Prof. Ron Inden, Department of History, University of Chicago, Prof. Ralph Nicholas, Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University, Prof. Peter Bertocci, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Oakland University, Michigan, Azizul Hug Khondkar, BDL director from Detroit. The place of the meeting is The Room, Assumption College, 400 Huron Line, Windsor, Canand. Everybody is cordially invited to attend.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Defense League will be held in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 3, 1971 (Saturday) at 1:30 P.M. All members of the BDL and sympathisers are welcome to attend this meeting. If you decide to come please contact BDL, 408 Virginia Terrace, Madison, Wisconsin (Phone 608-233-0253).

The Bangladesh Information Center has been set up in Washington headed by Mr. Abdur Razzaque Khan. This office will co-ordinate all lobbying activities in Washington, D.C. Please contact Mr. Khan (703-931-2997) if you need any guidence for lobbying.

MARCH AND RALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO

The American League for Bangladesh, Stanford chapter, in conjunction with several other organizations and other League chapters in the San Francisco Bay Area held a march and a rally on Wednesday, June 2, to support the struggle of the people of Bangladesh.

The activity started with a rally in front of the U.S. Federal Building in San Francisco. While several speakers discussed the tragedy of Bangladesh, a black coffin symbolizing this tragedy was placed on the steps of the Federal Building. People with black armbands and carrying posters condemning the genocide and the U.S. role in this tragedy stood around the coffin in silent protest. The speakers included Professor Kleindorfer of the University of California at Berkeley, Mrs. Judith Carnoy of the Pacific Studies Center, Palo Alto, Mr. Mark Schneider of the Socialist Worker’s Party and Dr. Rafiqur Rahman of the American League for Bangladesh. The speakers also pointed out that the United States government still maintains extensive military and economic involvement with West Pakistan and has refused to take a stand against the political repression and blatant massacre of the East Bengalis.

At the end of the rally a large group of protestors, with black armbands, marched to the Pakistani Consulate, a distance of about two and one-half miles. A majority of the participants in the march were Americans. Leaflets describing the purpose of this march were distributed among the pedestrians, shop owners, and residents of the area along the route of the march. During the march, three persons dressed in the native costume of the Bengali peasants carried the coffin on their shoulders. Thye also wore simulated “bloody bandages” on their foreheads to dramatize the plight of the Benagli victims of the Pakistani massacre. Slogans such as “Joi Bangla” and “Victory to Bangladesh” were frequently shouted during the march.

On reaching the Pakistani Consulate, the protestors held a short rally in front of the consulate building, where Dr. Rafiqur Rahman read a protest note.

BANGALDESH LEAGUE CONVENTION
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National convention of the Bangladesh League of America will be held in New York on June 26, 1971. Representatives from all Bangladesh organizations have been requested to attend this meeting.

For Bangladesh literatures, buttons and bumper stickers please write to Bangladesh Defense League, Chicago.

Issued by
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, Ill. 60615

No. 5 July 15, 1971

SPECIAL NOTE :

Our readers will notice that this issue of our newsletter has been runoff in a mimeo machine instead of the usual photo-offset process used in the previous four issues. We are forced to use the present method in order to save both time and money. We are at present short of manpower since most of our members have left town for summer jobs and our chief editor has also left town in order to co-ordinate the more important activity of lobbying in the U.S. Senate and the House in Washington D.C. He will, however, be back in Chicago when the Senate goes into recess this August. In his absence the appearence and the quality of our newsletter is bound to suffer. But we hope our readers will appreciate our difficulties.

The mimeo process is also cheaper for reproduction. It costs us only a fraction of the photo-offset process. The money that we thus save can be utilised for more important purposes. In this context let us remind our readers that we need more money in order to be more effective in our diploamtic lobbying. The BDL is now financing almost entirely the expenses of the Bangladesh Mission in New York and the Bangladesh Inforamtion Center in Washington D.C. We are also spending a great deal of money on publication and distribution of materials. With our meagre balance we can continue to support these activities for another month or so. So please help us support these important activities on a continuing basis. Recently the Bangladesh government has sent us some materials for reproduction and wide distribution in this country. It’s a big project and we need money badly. Please help generously. Remember ours may be a long struggle and we have to sustain this struggle with all kinds of help. But victory is ours. It’s only a matter of time and sacrifice.

MUKTI FOUJ COMMANDOS KNOCK OUT POWER PLANTS

Bengali insurgents have knocked out the electrical power stations in Dacca, authoritative foreign sources report. These sources, who received the inforamtion from contacts in Dacca, said Dacca had been blacked
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out since Saturday (July 3) night.

Several foreign newmen are in East Bengal, but no news of the attack has come out of Dacca. The other sources speculated that report were being blocked by the authorities or the cable office had been shut by the power failure.

Another major town, Comilla, has been without power for over a week, its power plant reportedly also knocked out by insurgents. Comilla, a key rail and road junction about 50 miles east of Dacca and close to the Indian border, has been a focus of increasing guerrilla activity against the Pakistani Army.

The crippiling of the Dacca power plant is the most dramatic act ascribed to the insurgents since the army seized control of the city in late March after killing several thousand civilians.

Although the loss of electricity will cause considerable disruption in Dacca, it will not bring the havoc that would be caused in a Western capital. The airport—used mostly for bringing troops in from West Pakistan, has an auxiliary power supply. This is also true of the major hospitals, including the military hospital, which has been handling army casualties from all parts of East Bengal.

Factories in the Dacca area will be the hardest hit, but since the upheaval in March, the factories have been operating at a fraction of capacity because most of the workers have fled either to the country-side or to India.

The insurgents, known as the Mukti Fouj or Liberation Army, had vowed to step up activity as thier response to President Yahya Khan’s speech to the nation last Monday night.

The speech, heralded by the Government as a plan for returning Pakistan to civilian rule, instead said that martial law would continue even after a civilian government was established. President Yahya, a general who is the martial law ruler of Pakistan, also said that a committee of expects named by him—not the National Assemble as originally promised—would draft a new constitution. He said that the Awami League, tha East Pakistani party that won a national majority in last December’s election, was still, and forever, banned.

(New York Times, July 6, 1971)

REUTER CORRESPONDENT REPORTS FROM DACCA

Dacca, June 23—Foreign diplomatic sources said here last night that between 50 to 60 seriously wounded Pakistani soldiers are being brought to the Army hospital in Dacca everyday. Travellers from other towns spoke of continuing Bengali resistance in East Bengal.

But Pakistani military sources here insist that the 12-week old undeclared civil was is at an end except for some intrusions in the Feni area.

I arrived in Dacca last night with three other British correspondents—the first to be allowed to return unescorted since the expulsion of 35 reporters after the Army crack-down on March 25.

Dacca is believed to be the safest town in East Bengal despite eight bombing incidents which marked the visit here of Prince Sadruddin Agha Khan, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, a week ago. A man was injured when two grenades were hurled outside the intercontinental Hotel.
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But efforts by the Martial Law authorities to bring the situation back to normal still encounter Bengali resistance. Civil servants receive “warnings” by post and to underline the threats shrouds have been delivered. These warnings have sometimes been posted in Government of Pakistan envelopes.

Foreigners say few Bengali police survived the massive mutinies at the end of March and Biharis have been recruited to replace them. Some 5,000 West Pakistani police have also been sent in. Dacca’s police chief, himself a Bengali, was retired and them vanished in April.

Since March, it has been deoreed that all number plates of cars must be in English—apparently reflecting the inability of many policemen and troops to read Bengali in which all vehicles were previously numbered.

Three-quarters of the shops along the road from the Dacca airport were closed. In the bazaar area along Nawabpur road, through the crowds and rickshaw, the habitual Bengali animation was lacking. The university campus was deserted.

Ond foreign traveller to the Rajshahi border reported total destruction along 20 miles of the Aricha-Pabna Road with three-quarters of the shops in Pabna wrecked. In Rajshahi, four-fifths of the bazaar was destroyed and no schools were open, he said. Explosions rocked the town last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Foreigners here agree that East Bengal has grain supplies for two months. But as stocks were halved in the three months ending on May 31, this figure is less impressive than it appears unless new shipments can be unloaded and moved inland at normal speed, they said.

The U.S.A. has given a million dollars to charter foreign coasters to meet the country’s urgent need for vessels to speed up the distribution of supplies.

The distribution network has been semi-paralyzed by armed action, sabotage and the disapperance of skilled manpower and vehicles.

The Americans are insisting that coaster be manned by nationals of a third country. U.S. sources do not conceal their irritation that 50 large fibre-glass assaultcrat given to streamline relief efforts after the November tidal wave disaster in the Ganges delta have found their way into Army hands.

500 PAK SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF FENI

About 500 Pakistnai soldiers were killed and 200 injured in a fortnight-long battle in the northern sector of Feni sub-division—the biggest ever fought by the Mukti Fouj since March 25.

Major Khalid Musharraf, a Mukti Fouj commander in the eastern sector, said in an interview that 50 guerrillas were injured during the fierce fighting which started on June 4. Six soldiers and an officer of the Mukti Fouj were killed.

Major Musharraf said the liberation forces had strengthened their positions by laying mines, and wire obstacles throughout the area. On June 4, the Bashikpur bridge on Pathannagar Road was completely blown off by mines. After three days the enemy troops started to advance from Feni towards Bandua and tried to cross the Belonia river. But the Mukti Fouj guerrillas opened fire on them from mortars and machine guns. About 60 Pakistani troops were either killed or injured and the rest had to restart.
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On June 8 the Pakistani soldiers crossed the river, passed Kalirhat and Gotia Nullah and were about 300 yards away from the Mukti Fouj defense line when the Bangladesh forces engaged them with mortars and small arms. About 200 Pakistani troops were killed in the heavy fighting for 24 hours and the rest were forced to return to Kalirhat.

On June 17 the Pakistan Army tried to advance through Pathannagar Road but was repulsed by the liberation forces.

Next day a number of Pakistani helicopters landed troops behind Mukti Fouj defence and the Pakistani troops engaged the Bangladesh forces both at the front and the rear. Heavy fighting went on till the small hours of the next day the enemy suffered enormous casualties. Three Mukti Fouj men lost their lives and about 18 sustained bullet injuries. The freedom fighters thereafter beat a strategic retreat under the cover of mortar fire.

Major Musharraf said, “My boys really fought a great fight but the lack of proper communication handicapped our defence. Moreover, we were holding too wide a front without having much depth. Though the use of helicopters achieved for the enemy some partial success, we could have taken those copter-borne troops as prisoners if we had more men in reserve”.

WHAT’S AHEAD FOR WEST PAKISTAN ECONOMY

West Pakistanis are beginning to feel the pince, now that it is becoming evident that the high cost of pacification operations in East Pakistan will have to be borne mainly by them.

Many factories that used to export a large part of their output in East Pakistan or relied on imported raw materials are working at 30 to 50 per cent capacity. Especially hit are textile mills which have laid off as much as half their normal labour force. Certain well-established firms have terminated employment of executives also. Strikes and other forms of protest against arbitrary dismissals are forbidden under martial law.

The price of cooking fat has risen by 20 per cent, beef 25 per cent, kerosene by 10 per cent and textiles by 12 per cent sinec the crisis started in March. Imported goods naturally have registered far higher rises in prices. The price of imported medicine, for instance, has gone up by almost 100 per cent. The increase in the price of petrol has led to higher transportation charges. Thus inflation is making life difficult for poor as well as the middle classes.

Demonetization of 100 and 500 rupees should help to curb inflation, since it is claimed that excess liquidity has been reduced by 900 million rupees ($198 million) due to non-surrender of notes. But this is not going to make any difference. If anything, inflation is going to get worse. Deficit financing during the current year, it has been announced, would put $326 million worth of fresh currency notes into circulation instead of $126 million budgeted earlier. Security pringting press is one concern which presumably will have to work extra shifts this year.

Taxes are going to be increased enormously under the new budget. Since there has been a drastic decline in revenue in East Pakistan, the burden of fresh taxation will be mainly on West Pakistanis. The longer the West Pakistani troops stay in East Pakistan, the more resources will have to be drained out of West Pakistan to maintain them there.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO STOP U.S. AID TO PAKISTAN?
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As many of you know, Senator Saxbe of Ohio and Senator Church of Idaho have introduced an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, regarding aid to Pakistan. It reads as follows :

Sec.—All military and economic assistance, and all sales of military equipment and weapons, whether for cash, credit, or any other means, to Pakistan, authorized or appropriated pursuant to this or any other Act, and all licenses for military sales, shall be immediately suspended and no commitments or expenditures, including the provision of debt relief shall be undertaken or made, until distribution of food and other relief measures, supervised by international agencies, takes place on a regular basis throughout East Pakistan and the majority of refugees in India are repatriated to East Pakistan; provided, however, that these provisions shall not prohibit expenditures of previously appropriated funds pursuant to binding written agreements between the Government of Pakistan and the Agency for International Development in force on or prior to June 8, 1971.

The proposed legislation not only requires the support of as many Senators as possible, but also pressure to bring it to the floor of Congress in the near future.

A list of Senators who have agreed to co-sponsor the Saxbe-Church amendment #S-1657 is given below. Even before this measure comes to a vote an indication of strong bipartisan support will have impact on the Department of State and The White House. So please write personally and ask your American friends to write to their particular Senators to support the S.C. amendment. This is very important. Act immediately before the Senate goes into recess in August. Get more letters written to those Senators who have not yet committed themselves, i.e. who are not mentioned in the list below.

Considetable support has been generated for the similar Gallagher Amendment in the House. The amendment should come up before the House Foreign Affairs Committee within next two or three weeks. If the amendment is accepted by the committee as a part of the Foreign Aid Bill then it should stand a good chance of being accepted by the full House. So write to Congressmen as well and ask your American friends to write.

The following Senators agreed to be Co-Sponsors of Saxbe-Church Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 :

Case R N. J. Mondale D Minn.
Bayh D Ind. Bennett R Utah
Pastore D R. I. Hughes D Iowa
Hart D Mich Hartke D Ind.
Pell D R. I. Muskie D Me.
Cranston D Calif. Bellman R Okla.
Metcalf D Mont. Humphrey D Minn.
McGovern D S. D. Boggs R Del.
Tunney D Calif. Magnuson D Wash.
Eagleton D Mo. Williams D N. J.
Scott R Pa. (Minority Leader)
Moss D Utah Gurney R Fla.
Stevenson D Ill. Roth R Del.
Brooke R Mass.

If you can personally come to lobby during the next 3 weeks and need any information and guidance
35
contact :

Mr. Abdur Razzak Khan 703-931-2997
or
Dr. William B. Greenough III
Dr. & Mrs. Jon E. Rohde
1203 Poplar Hill Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21210

ACTIONS SUGGESTED

1. Generate as many calls, letters and telegrams to Senators and Representatives from all possible states. Ask that they co-sponsor the Church-Saxbe amendment # S-1657 and similar legislation in the House (Gallagher amendment). Urge them to make public statements and query the Department of State and the Pentagon.

2. Talk to your local civic groups and inform them of the magnitude of the disaster in Bengal and how we are presently involved.

3. Follow all possible newspapers for information daily. Have someone in your area keep a briefing file.

4. Support your local Bangladesh group. Indicate to them the value of pressure on Washington.

5. Send your best informed people to assist directly in the large job of informing Congressmen.

A LETTER FROM A BENGALI ACADEMICIAN
(written to a U.S. professor)
June 18, 1971

Thank you very much for your kind and sympathetic letter. I left Calcutta just after receiving your letter. Along with Dr. Mallick, Vice-Chancellor, Chittagong University and some teachers from the Calcutta University I am on a tour of Northern Indian Universities to see what can be done about the academics from Bangladesh who have come over to India.

We have confirmed news of killings of Dr. G.C. Dev (Head of the Department, Philosophy), Mr. Maniruzzaman (Head of the Department, Statistics), Dr. J. Guhathakurta (Reader, English), Dr. Fuzhur Rahman and Dr. Innas Ali (Head of the Department, Physics) sustained bullet injuries, but survived. Possibly some more teachers were killed on the Dacca University campus, but their names have not been ascertained. The first reports from Rajshahi confirmed the killings of Prof. Habibur Rahman (Head of the Department, Mathematics) and Prof. Samaddar (Sanskrit). Of late there are reports that more have been killed in May. No teacher of Chittagong University has been killed. The army came to inquire of some of the teachers including the Vice Chancellor and myself, after we had left.

I am asking the Calcutta University Bangladesh Sahayak Samiti to send you a list of our university teachers who are in India. We have about 90 of them. Besides there are 900 college teachers and 1500 school teachers. We are desperately in need of help for them. Any assistance that you can send the above-mentioned Samiti or to our Bangladesh Sikshak Samiti at Darbhanga Building, College Street, Calcutta-12, will be of great help.
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AMERICAN PEACE ORGANIZATION SUPPORT BANGLADESH

In the annual convention of the Peoples Coalition for Peace Justice (PCPJ) held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 25-27, resolutions were adopted supporting the liberation of Bangladesh. Peoples Coalition is an umbrella organizations in this country. More than 800 delegates attended the conference.

Dr. Iqbal Ahmed, a West Pakistani scholar, was invited to address the plenary session of the conference to appraise the situation in Bangladesh. Dr. Ahmed appealed to the delegates to organize a strong resistance to the U.S. policy of aiding the military junta of West Pakistan and stop the beginning of another Vietnam type U.S. involvement in Sounth-East Asia.

An all-day Teach-in on Bangladesh organized by Bangladesh Defense League attracted the attention of the conference. Local news-media covered the teach-in detail. Various affilliated organizations of the PCPJ seperately and the conference collectively discussed the Bangladesh issue and adopted action programs.

The following suggestions were sent out by the PCPJ to all its members from its Washington D.C. office :

WHAT CAN WE DO IN THREE WEEKS (MAX.) TO STOP AMERICAN FROM PERPETRATING THE WORST HUMAN DISASTER IN MODERN HISTORY?
SUPPORT PCPJ NATIONAL ACTIONS

The People’s Coalition has just planned three national demonstrations : New York, Washington and San Francisco. If you are in these areas, find out the demonstration details from PCPJ organizations and work on recruitment, media education, etc. (Also ask about the special May Day Tribe actions.)

STIMULATE AND SUPPORT LOCAL ACTIONS ELSEWHERE

Call your local groups and find out what they are doing about East Pakistan Now (in a month it will be too late). Volunteer to get them moving.

LOCAL TARGETS

Demonstrations at any Air Force, Army or Dept. of Defense supply agency or contract administration, protesting the Pentagon’s continuing defiance of the Congressional ban on Pakistan arms shipments (See N.Y. Times, June 22 and 25).

LOBBYING

Get churches, etc. to write congressmen to support Gallagher Amend. to H.R. 8961 the Saxbe-Church amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act (Senate), banning all aid to Pakistan.
Also wire the State Dept. (protesting keeping in East Pakistan)—Nixon, and the Senate Foreign Affairs Comm., etc.
Call the following for information and literature, as well as local peace groups :
National : PCPJ Office—(202) 737-6800 ;
Bangladesh League (Washington) (703) 931-2997 ; New York (Bangladesh) (212) 685-4530 ; Chicago (B.D.) (312) 288-0728 ; San Francisco (B.D.) (415) 325-5796 ; Philadelphia (215) 747-4747.
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PROTESTS SET OVER ARMS TO PAKISTAN

A coalition of peace organizations announced plans for demonstrations in three cities to protest American arms shipments to Pakistan.

Sidney lens, a co-ordinator for the Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice, told a press conference in christ the King Church, 25 W. Jackson, that U.S. military aid is propping up a vicious military dictatorship” in Pakistan.

Lens said the Peoples Coalition plans to demonstrate at federal buildings in New York, Washington and San Francisco.

David Burak, a spokesman for the Mayday Tribe, an organization affiliated with the coalition, said his group plans “disruptive demonstrations of a non-violent sort to halt the loading of armaments onto ships in New York”.

He would not specify what the actions would be.

(Sun-Times, July 1, 1971 Chicago)

WISCONSIN PEACE GROUPS DEMONSTRATE

A coalition of Wisconsin peace groups called Wisconsin Alliance in association with the American Servicemen’s Union (ASU) organized a demonstration on July 3 at the Pakistan Student’s convention held at Madison. Demonstrators carried placards and stood silent vigil during the plenary session of the conference. The Alliance and the ASU earlier in a press conference announced their plan to stage a demonstration at the airport when the Pakistan Ambassador arrived. But the demonstration could not take place as the Ambassador cancelled his scheduled appearance in the convention at the last moment. The Alliance and the ASU sponsored a Teach-in on Bangladesh where Bangladesh literature were distributed. Dr. Iqbal Ahmed and Mr. Muzammel Huq addressed the well-attended teach-in and answered questions on Bangladesh. A number of TV and Radio programs on Bangladesh were organized by the sponsors on this occasion.

BDL BOARD MEETING

A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Defense League was held in Madison on July 3. Activities and programs of the league were revived in this meeting. BDL has urged all the Bangladesh groups in the U.S.A. and Canada to contact their local peace organizations and co-ordinate their activities with them. Address and telephone number of the nearest peace organization can be obtained from Mr. Brad Little, 1029 Vermont Ave. N.W., Washington D.C. (Phone : (202) 737-8600)

FRIENDS OF EAST BENGAL

On Tuesday, June 24th, at the Friday’s Meeting Hall, at 4th and Arch Streets, a group of citizens concerned about recent events in Pakistan, formed The friends of East Bengal, a non-profit organization open to all who wish to join. The following resolution of purpose was passed :
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1) To help relieve the immense suffering imposed by military action against the people of East Bengal, since March 25, 1971.

2) To further the freedom and political self-determination of the people of East Bengal.

3) To exert influence on the United States government to direct its policies to these goals.

Persons interested in joining or learning more about The Friends of East Bengal my contact :

The Friends of East Bengal
c/o Charles Kahn
305 Logan Hall
University of Pennsylevania
Phila., Penna. 19104
594-8563
GR2-3969

COLUMBIA STUDENTS FOR BANGLADESH

A group of Columbia University students deeply concerned about the outrageous situation in East Bengal presented a petition bearing nearly four hundred signatures of students and professors to the United Nations. The petition urges certain specific measures designed to stop the bloodbath in Bangladesh. Signers include two Nobel Laureates.

PUBLIC MEETING IN CANADA

At a public meeting at International House, University of British Columbia on June 16, to hear Jaya Prakash Narayan of the Gandhi Peace Foundation speak on the situation in Bangladesh the following resolation was approved.

“We call upon the President of Pakistan to cease terrorizing the people in whose name he governs and to re-open nagotiation with the surviving elected members of the National Assembly so that democratic and responsible government can be restored to East Pakistan”.

Forwarded by Professor Barrie M. Morrison of the Department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia, to Professor Ralph W. Nicholas, Asian Studies Center, Michigan State University, on June 16, 1971.

BANGLADESH ASSOCIATION OF QUEBEC

Naiyyum Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Association of Quebec reports :

“Padma” carrying U.S. arms and ammunition arrived in Montreal port to load Canadian made Sabre Jet parts for Pakistan Air Force. The timely action of the Montreal Press resulted in putting an embergo on the Canadian arms shipments.

We are keeping a close watch on this North America-Pakistan conspiracy and trying to unveil it to the
39
Canadian people by working with local press and sympathetic Canadians.

Demonstrations against the arrival of Padma were supported and joined by several labour groups including the Confederation of National Trade Unions.

REPORT FROM MICHIGAN

From Michigan Mr. Muzammel Huq reports :

On the 29th of June I went to Grand Rapid to attend the convention of “Another Mother For Peace” to distribute information materials and give a talk about the situation in Bangladesh.

We have started a fund raising drive at the Michigan State University. An appeal signed by Prof. Ralph Nicholas (Professor of Anthropology), Prof. Bill Ross (Chairman, South-East Asian Studies Department) and Prof. Richard Niekoff has been distributed among the four thousand faculty members of the M.S.U.

At M.S.U. students from Bangladesh in association with the Friends of Bangladesh have started a bucket dinner to collect funds. 300 tickets for the dinner have been sold in the first week. The dinner will be followed by a discussion on Bangladesh. Dr. Jamza Alvi from West Pakistan will speak to the audience to support the cause of Bangladesh.

(Please do write us about the activities of your group. Your programs may give ideas for new plans for other groups : Bangladesh Newsletter)

BANGLADESH ASSN. OF DELAWARE VALLEY

Bengalis living in and around Philadelphia have formed an organization in order to co-ordinate their activities in furthering the cause of Bangladesh. This organization will make available to interested individuals informative materials from the Western press. For more details contact the Association at 49 Marboro Lane, Willingboro, N.J. 08046.

BANGLADESH LEAGUE CONVENTION

The annual convention of the Bangladesh League of America was held in New York on June 26, 1971. Apart from the New York group, chapters of the Bangladesh League represented in the convention were Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Tennessee and N. Carolina. Observers from the Bangladesh Defense Leauge, Bangladesh Association of Delaware Valley and the Bangladesh Association of Ohio were also present. The day-long activities of the convention included reports from the chapters and other Bangladesh organizations. Convention was concluded with the formation of a coordinating committee to coordinate the activities of different groups working for the liberation of Bangladesh and the election of the executive committee of the League.

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE LINKS UP WITH WEST COAST GROUPS

Dr. F.R. Khan, President of the Bangladesh Defense League attended a meeting of the Bay Area Bangladesh groups and sympathiz held in San Francisco on June 25, 1971. Representatives from the Los
40
Angeles group were also present in the meeting. Dr. Khan explained the organizational structure of the BDL and the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal and gave a report on the programs and activities of these organizations. He emphasized the need for better coordination among all Bangladesh groups throughout the United States and Canada.

The meeting resolved that a part or all of the funds raised by the Bay Area organization will be channelled through the BDL and the BEWA. It was agreed that one representative of the group will be nominated to serve as member of the Boards of Directors of the BDL and the BEWA.

A second coordinating meeting with the president of the BDL is scheduled to be held in San Francisco on July 18, 1971.

FROM BANGLADESH MISSION, NEW YORK

Mr. A.H. Mahmud Ali of the Bangladesh Mission in N.Y. has supplied us with the following information :

1) The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimiantion and Protection of Minorities—an organ of the United Nations—is meeting in N.Y. from the 2nd of August, 1971. This Sub-Commission is an expert body and therefore is an appropriate U.N. organ to consider and look into the human rights aspects of the situation in East Bengal. Anybody who has some information, may address a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a copy to the Bangladesh Mission, 10 East 39 Street, Room 1002A, New York, N.Y. 10016.

Those who have left East Bengal after the 25th of March, 1971, can testify before non-governmental organizations such as The International League for the Rights of Man which are in consultative status with the U.N. so that their testimony can be presented to the Sub-Commission.

Letters received from refugees in India or from East Bengal would be useful.

Those interested in testifying, may kindly write to the Bangladesh Mission.

2) The U.S. Presidential Committee on Foreign Scholarships in meeting in early September next. This Committee decides on the grant of funds to educational institutions in foreign countries.

Those who have left East Bengal after March 25, 1971, may testify before this Committee. Those interested may write to the Bangladesh Mission.

ATTENTION :

1) We remind those of our readers who already pledged a monthly donation to the Bangladesh Fund to send in their donation for the moth of July.

2) If you have not signed the pledge coupon already please do signe it now.

3) Ask your American friends to write to their representatives to stop military and economic aid to Pakistan. Generate local pressure on the senators and congressmen.

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4) During the past three months we have received many letters from our readers. It has not always been possible to answer them promptly. With our limited manpower we are trying hard to keep up with our mail but we need your indulgence.

I, ………………………………………………………………………… , pledge ……………………………………….

$ 5.00 $ 10.00 $ 25.00 $ 50.00 $ 100.00 Other
Specify

every month as a contribution to the Bangladesh Defense League.

Signed ………………………………………………………

Address …………………………………………………….

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, Ill. 60615

No. 6 August 5, 1971

EDITOR’S NOTE

We are sorry for the slight delay in the publication of this issue of our Newsletter. Both of our editors were out of town and our chief editor is still in Washington, D.C. helping lobbying efforts at the Capitol Hill. We hope our readers will appreciate ouf difficulities.

There is a good chance that by the time this newsletter reaches you, the house of Representatives of the United States Congress will be considering the Gallagher Amendment and acting upon it. At least it is on the agenda for floor action on Tuesday August 3, 1971. Our Washington lobbyists feel encouraged by the responses from the majority of Congressmen and their aides they have contacted. We are very much hopeful that the amendment will pass the House.

The similar Saxbe-Church Amendment in the Senate will come up for floor action some time in September when the Senate reassembles after summer recess. There is a stronger bipartisan feeling in the Senate in favor of the Amendment. (Both the Gallagher Amendment and the Saxbe-Church Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 will stop economic and military assistance to the Pakistan military regime till a political solution is found in East Bengal.) Already 32 Senatoirs have co-sponsored the amendment. But it is important that we get more support. So please keep up the drive to have more letters
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sent to all the Senators during the month of August. Make your American friends write to their own Senators. And if for some reason the House fails to act on the Gallagher Amendment before the summer recess, letters and cables to all the Congressmen should also continue to flow in.

We are fighting for a just cause. Never has a people been so wronged as we have been at the hands of Pakistan. It is, therefore, comparatively easy for us to win support to our cause. Just let more and more people know about the facts and they will support us. Let us work a bit harder in August. If we can stop the U.S. government from aiding the tottering government of Pakistan, the battle in Bangladesh will be half won. The Mukti-Bahini (Liberation Army) will do the rest for us. Joy Bangla!

HOW THE PAKISTAN QUESTION STANDS IN CONGRESS

On July 15, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 17 to 6 in favor of the Gallagher Amendment (HR # 9160) to withhold military and economic assistance from Pakistan until East Pakistani refugees have been returned to their homes and “reasonable stability” has been achieved in the country. We are hopeful that the entire House will follow the Committee’s recommendations. For Congress to authorize the Administration’s request of $131.8 million in economic and military aid for the fiscal year 1972 is to strengthen the control of the military regime and to deny help to the Bengalis who are being in the Senate, the feeling against American economic and military assistance to the Pakistan Army is stronger than in the House. There are at present 32 co-sponsors to the Saxbe-Church Amendment (S #1657) to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. They are as follows :

Allott, Colorado; Beall, Maryland; Bayh, Indiana; Bellmon, Oklahoma; Bennett, Utah; Beggs, Delware; Brooke, Masschusetts; Case, New Jersey; Church, Ioaho; Cranston, California; Eagleton, Maine; Gurney, Florida; Hart, Michigan; Hartke, Inidiana; Hatfield, Oregon; Hughes, lowa; Humphrey, Minnesota; Moss, Utah; Muskie, Maine; Pastore, Rhode Island; Pell, Rhode Island; Proxmire, Wisconsin; Randolph, West Virginia; Ribiooff, Connecticut; Roth, Delaware; Saxbe, Ohio; Scott, Pennsylvania; Stevens, Alaska; Stevenson, Illinois; Tunney, California.

PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY. THESE MEASURES ARE PRESENTLY BEING CONSIDERED IN CONGRESS.

How you can help :

IN THE HOUSE (in case the House fails to take action this week)

Your letter or postcard asking for your Representative’s support for the Gallagher Amendment (HR # 9160) to the Foreign Assistance Act is crucial in order to assure its passage when it reaches the House floor. Each mailing is recorded on a tally which circulates weekly to every Congressmen. In addition a thoughtful answer, so we are enclosing a sample format letter which you may wish to send.

Suggested postcard format :

SUPPORT THE GALLAGHER AMENDMENT (HR # 9160) TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. STOP ECONOMIC AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE PAKISTAN MILITARY REGIME. SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS IN EAST PAKISTAN.

IN THE SENATE
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A mailing to your Senators asking for support of the Saxbe-Church Amendment (S # 1657) is also important. Certain members of the Foreign Relations Committee need additional pressure, even though they may not be from your state :

Sparkman, Alabama Aiken, Vermont
Mansfield, Montana Scott, Pennsylvania
Symington, Missouri Pearson, Kansas
McGee, Wyoming Spong, Virginia

Suggested postcard format :

SUPPORT THE SAXBE-CHURCH AMENDMENT (S # 1657) TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961. STOP ECONOMIC AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE PAKISTAN MILITARY REGIME. SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS IN EAST PAKISTAN.

ECONOMIC COUNSELLOR AT THE PAKISTAN EMBASSY RESIGNS :

Mr. A.M.A. Muhit a senior officer of the Civil Service of Pakistan and the Economic Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington has formally resigned his post and severed all connections with the Government of Pakistan. In a letter to the President of Pakistan dated July 21, Mr. Muhit gave reasons for his resignation together with a total indictment of the Yahya regime. In his letter, Mr. Muhit questioned the legitimacy of the Yahya government, assailed it for its colonial ambition, savagery, and utter lack of humanitarian concern.

It may be recalled that Mr. Muhit was awarded a Tamgha (title) for his meritous services to the Government of Pakistan. His last home post was Joint Secretary, Natural Resources Division, Government of Pakistan.

We congratulate Mr. Muhit for his bold decision.

BANGLADESH MISSION STAFF IN CALCUTTA REFUSE TO RETURN :

The officers and the employees of the now defunct Deputy High Commission in Calcutta who had defected to the Bangladesh Government and now work for the Bangladesh Mission in India situated in Calcutta, refused to be repatriated to Pakistan.

The refusal to be repatriated was conveyed to the Swiss representative Dr. Bonard when he interviewed them separately in Calcutta on July 18. Dr. Bonard was acting as an intermediary between the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

After the interview with Dr. Bonard, an employee who refused to be repatriated observed : “This gives lie to the Pakistani propaganda that we aer being forcibly held at the Mission in Calcutta since April 18 last when the former Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Hossain Ali proclaimed his allegiance to the Bangladesh government”.

DECISION HAILED :
Mujibnagar, July 18 :
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Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed tonight extended his “warmest congratulation” to Bangladesh Mission Chief in Calcutta, Mr. Hossain Ali, his officers and members of staff on the “patriotism, dedication and steadfast determination” which they had demonstrated in the service of Bangladesh.

In a letter to Mr. Hossain Ali, Mr. Ahmed recalled “with admiration that as early as April 18 you declared your allegiance to the government of Bangladesh, and raised the green, gold and crimson flag on the Mission premises. You thus joined your 75 million compatriots in the struggle against Pakistani aggressore and began functioning as our diplomatic envoy in India.

“The Cabinet wishes to put on record our appreciation of the selfless loyalty with which you and your colleagues are serving the motherland”.

THE POLITICAL SCENE IN PAKISTAN : a) YAHYA HUNTS FOR PRIME MINISTER :

After three attempts, President Yahya Khan of Pakistan is still unable to find politicians to whom he can “transfer power”. Since the brutal suppression of the Awami League which won a clear majority in the last national elections in Pakistan, Yahya has been trying hard to form a Vichy government preferably with a Bengali at the head in order to placate world public opinion which has been outraged by his war of genocide against the Bengalis. First he turned to Mr. Nurul Amin, the former chief minister of East Bengal. But Mr. Amin refused.

Next Yahya turned to Begum Akhtar Suleiman, daughter of former prime minister of Pakistan, the late H.S. Suhrawardy. Begum Akhtar had earlier claimed to have the support of 110 MNAs from the Awami League but only five attended the meeting she had summoned to consolidate her “leadership”. So that failed too.

Yahya’s latest move to encourage the three Muslim League parties to merge has started a squabble for leadership. While the Convention Muslim League of former President Ayub Khan and the Council Muslim League of Punjabi landlord Mian Mumtaz Daulatana have merged, Quaiyum Muslim League is still jockeying for position in the power arrangement. Quaiyum’s reaction to the merger of the other two Muslim Leagues was a more sarcastic wish for a “long union and fortility”.

b) WHITER BHUTTO?

The main victim in West Pakistan of the Pakistan Army’s genocidal war in Bangladesh seems to be the chairman of the People’s Party of Pakistan, Mr. Bhutto, the man whose refusal to accept the majority of the Awami League is largely responsible for the turn of events since the beginning of March. With the Awami League declared illegal, the People’s Party (with only 88 seats and, according to his logic, should, therefore, be allowed to form a civilian government. But the military rulers of Pakistan see it otherwise. In order to whittle away Bhutto’s “majority” they are trying to form a pro-military coalition of minor parties (as reported above) whose candidates will then be thrown into the “East Pakistan” bye-elections caused by the ban on Awami Leauge. After all Bhutto’s party is only a regional party and the President has said that one condition in the new Constitution he is framing will be that regional parties operating in only one wing will not be allowed.

Thus Bhutto is now a victim of his own sophistry. He did not want to accept a constitution framed by the majority Awami League on the grounds that the Awami League was based only in the east wing. This same argument is now being used against him by the military as his party’s strength is limited only in the west.
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In view of all this, Bhutto’s recent slogan “Power or Prison by November” is of immense significance. On the face of it, he is so hopelessly outgunned that the second part of his slogan seems more likely to come true. But he is not likely to give up without a fight. The armour he may use against the military is already being forged. There are indications that the fast-determianting economic situation caused by the loss of the captive market of Bangladesh will cause many more industrial labourers to be laid off in West Pakistan. An industrial unrest bound to flare up in the fall can be of tremendous advantage to Bhutto. How the military will react then is not difficult to imagine. Maybe it is now the turn of the West Pakistan masses to repay in kind for the crimes against humanity perpetrated by their army on the unarmed innocent masses of Bangladesh.

NEWSBITS :

1) Commonwealth moves to get India and Pakistan to accept Arnold Smith, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, as a mediator on problems now bedeviling their relationship have failed. Pakistan turned against the mediation offer, first, because the Commonwealth Secretariat in London is associated in Pakistan official thinking as being British and secondly, because Mr. Arnold Smith is a Canadian. Canada is in bad odor in Pakistan because of a critical remark made by its Foreign Minister, Mr. Mitchell Sharp.

2) A Tass report states that the Soviet Government newspaper “Izvestia” recently included a condolence message from the Acting President of Bangladesh on the sad death of three cosmonauts in the Soviet Union in its list of messages received from Heads of States of different countries of the world. Diplomatice sources interpret this as a tacit recognition of the Bangladesh government.

3) The Bengali guerrillas have kept up the pressure against Pakistan army in Bangladesh. They have won important victories in the Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Comilla sectors in the recent days. Pressure has been kept up in the Jessore, Kushtia sector as well. Many Pakistan soldiers have been killed in surprise actions. A number of important bridges have been blown up.

The Bengali guerrillas have also made their presence felt in the capital city of Dacca. In simultaneous attacks they have knocked out three most important power stations of Dacca which kept the city out of electricity for about 36 hours. Recently they have been distributing leaflets and putting up signs warning civilians to leave Dacca (and other towns) before the Mukti-Bahini opens a bloody new offensive soon.

NEWS FROM VARIOUS BANGLADESH GROUPS :

Bangladesh Association of the Mid-West

In about a week’s time the Bangladesh Association of Midwest will launch a massive fund drive for relief of the victims of Pakistan Army brutalities in Bangladesh. Our Bloomington (Indiana) group informs us that the drive is aimed at the University community in particular. Already the Chancellor of the University of Indiana at Bloomington, several deans and about five chairman of different departments of the University have issued appeals for the fund drive. Several State Senators have also supported the drive.

Bangladesh Association of Canada :

The President of the BAC (Toronto) has sent un the following information :
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The so-called “Pakistan Solidarity Committee” in Toronto organised a meeting to be addressed by traitor Mahmud Ali of PDP in the Ontario College of Education auditorium on July 18, 1971.

To protest this propaganda tactics of Yahya Khan, the Bangladesh Association of Canada (Toronto) arranged a peaceful demonstration in front of the auditorium. As only “Pakistanis” were invited, we decided to boycott the meeting totally.

The unruly West Pakistanis jumped on the lawful demonstration and attacked us with physical violence without any provocation from our side. When imposed upon us we had to retaliate, and they were forced to retreat. However, at this point the Police arrived and pushed them inside the auditorium.

We wanted to have a peaceful demonstration, and as such we informed the Police about the demonstration beforehand. Whereas the “Solidarity Committee” with its gangaster policy wanted to put us down with violence. Their attempt did not succced, and the demonstration continued as scheduled.

The meeting was a complete failure, it proved to be nothing but a farce to the audience.

Bangladesh Association of Saskatchewan :

The President of the Saskatoon Branch of Bangladesh Association of Saskatchewan, Canada, writes inter alia :

“Here in Saskatoon we have been doing whatever we can. Mostly it has been sending cables, letters etc. to the Canadian Governmental leaders. As you are aware, these have produced results as far as Canada’s reaction to the Bangladesh situation. The most recent one was that of cancellation of all export permits for arms, scheduled for PADMA”.

San Francisco :

The San Francisco group in collaboration with the Stanford India Association organized a program of songs by Joan Baez at the Stanford Frost Amphitheatre on July 24. The program was a great success. More than 12,000 attended the concert with many more waiting outside. In the middle of the program Miss Baez made an announcement that a major portion of the proceeds from the concert will go to aid the refugees from East Bengal. At the concert the Bangladesh group collected about 2500 signatures to a petition which was later sent to all Senators and Congressmen from California. The group has also mounted a massive letter-writing campaign to the Congressmen in support of the Gallagher Amendment. They have also been meeting with many Church heads in San Francisco to solicit help and support.

Los Angeles :

The Los Angeles group informs us that they have contacted the Longshoreman’s Association at Los Angeles and have received assurances from them that they will not load any military goods on any ship destined for Pakistan.

Champaign-Urbana :

The group has arranged for a regular weekly film show of renowned international movies to raise funds
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for Bangladesh. They have already shown “Nayak” by Satyajit Roy on July 23rd. The film show was followed by refreshment in which Bengali food items were sold to raise funds. About $250 were raised. The next picture to be shown will be “Day Shall Dawn” the first Bengali picture produced in East Bengal which won international acclaim at the Moscow Film Festival.

Madison :

The Bangladesh Liberation Committee of Madison has set up a permanent table at the Student Union of the Madison campus of the University of Wisconsin for distribution of literature on Bangladesh. For the last one month the group, composed almost exclusively of Americans, has been distributing literature and selling buttons supplied by the BDL. They have recently written an article for the Capital Times, the largest circulating newspaper in Madison, which was given prominent position in the newspaper. Recently they collected about 1500 signatures on a petition urging that all military and economic aid be stopped to Pakistan till its military withdraws from Bangladesh. The petition was sent to all Congressmen and Senators of Wisconsin.

Philadelphia :

The Friend’s of East Bengal have continued to be alert for any in-coming Pakistani vessel in their area. If and when such vessel appears in the Baltimore harbor this group plans to picket and obstruct loading of any arms and ammunition to Pakistan. They have already gotten assurances from the Longshoremens Union that arms and ammunitions will not be loaded by members of this union. The group has already distributed thousands of leaflets in the neighboring areas to make known their cause.

BDL PRESIDENT VISITS SAN FRANCISCO AND HOUSTON :

The President of the BDL visited San Francisco on July 18 to meet with the representatives of Bangladesh groups on the West Coast. A meeting was hold on that occation with representatives from the Bay area and the Los Angeles group. The meeting named a member from the Bay area to the Board of Directors of the BDL. The Los Angeles group will also select one person to the Board of Directors after their next general meeting.

The BDL President visited Houston, Texas on July 21st and met with the representatives of the South-West zone of Bangladesh Defense League. Among the things the group suggested was efforts should be made to merge all the three newsletters now being published in North America and have only one central Newsletter.
(We welcome the idea. We will get in touch with the other two groups concerned : Editor Bangladesh Newsletter.)

Bangladesh Mission in New York :

Mr. Mahmud Ali, Bangladesh Government representative in New York writes :

“Please send as many letters as possible to the Director, Human Rights Division, United Nations, New York 10017 requesting dispatch of a team to East Bengal to investigate violations of human rights”.

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Bangladesh Mission address is : 10 E. 39th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016. Room 1002A Phone (212) 685-4530.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN EAST BENGAL : 22 GROUPS BID UN ACT ON PAKISTAN :

Twenty-two international organizations, led by the World Federalists and the International Commission of Jurists, on July 20, petitioned the UN to take action against the “gross violations of human rights” that have occurred in East Pakistan.

The 22 non-governmental groups, all linked to the U.N. and having the right to testify in U.N. forms, asked for a hearing before a sub-committee of the U.N. Human Rights Commission that deals with discrimination and the protection of minorities. The sub-committee is scheduled to open its reuglar meeting on Aug. 2.

LETTER FROM A READER :

Following is a letter received from one of our readers. Even though a newsletters of our type has little scope to print individual letters, we think it important to print this letter :

Dear Sir :

I am sure that by this time some of us has road the June-July issue of the PAKISTAN FORUM. From this and its previous issues, specially April-May issue one can see that the Pakistan Forum and its management is supporting the cause of Bengalis of Bangladesh for its liberation. Therefore, I think that all Benaglis of Bangladesh not only should read it but they should also help the management of Pakistan Forum so that non-Bengali Pakistanis can read it.

I, therefore, like to request you to please send a circular to all your local chapters requesting them to appeal to all its members and also appeal to all readers of your periodical “Bangladesh Newsletter” to send $10.00 to Pakistan Forum as one years subscription, though the rate of subscription is $7.00. Because this extra $3.00 will help them send one copy to Non-Bengali Pakistani who don’t believe in Bangladesh. Because of its support of Bangladesh, the Pakistan Forum has lost some of its subscribers.

Address of the Pakistan Forum is : Mr. Feroz Ahmed, General Editor, Pakistan Forum, 1900 South Charles Street, #22-D, Greenville, N.C. 27834.

ATTENTION :

1) The Bangladesh National Anthem on record. The BDL has made arrangements with a recording company in this country to produce a 45 r.p.m. disc record containing the national anthem of Bangladesh : “Amar Sonar Bangla”. Already the preliminary recording has been completed. Two renowned singers from Bangladesh sang the anthem for the recording. The record will be available from the Bangladesh Defense League office. Please place your orders with our office.

2) We have reprinted several thousand copies of a booklet entitled “Why Bangladesh” (46 pages) originally published by the public Relations Department, Government of Bangladesh. We would like to sell this book in order to raise funds and also for publicity. We would like our readers to help. Please let
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us know how many copies you want for yourselves and how many you can sell. We would like to sell it at 50c a piece.

3) Senator Kennedy is expected to make a trip to the refugee camps in India sometime in August. Please write commending Senator Kennedy on his action and ask your friends to write too.

4) The format of the brochure for Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal (BEWA) has gone to the press. As soon as it is ready we will send it to different groups. The brochure may be distributed personally or mailed to prospective donors. We will send a copy of the brochure to each of our readers with our next newsletter.

5) The Bangladesh Information Center in Washington, D.C. has brought out its first newsletter which contains many useful informations about lobbying activities etc. If you haven’t received your copy please send your address to the Bangladesh Information Center, 418 Seward Square, Apt. 4, Washington, D.C. 20003 (Phone : 202-547-3194).

SPECIAL NOTE :

Below is a draft of a letter which could be sent Congressmen and Senators. If your Senators and Congressmen have already indicated support for the Gallagher amendment or the Saxbe-Church amendment, it would be helpful if you would write them brief notes indicating your approval of the position each has taken. Senators or Congressmen with some sort of national constituency (such as Paul McCloskey or Harold Hughes) will undoubtedly take into account the opinions of persons writing to them from other states, particularly on an issue which doesn’t affect the home-town voters very much.

Dear Senator :

Knowing of your interest in international affairs and American foreign policy, we would like to convey to you our concern on the question of U.S. aid to Pakistan. The situation in East Pakistan, far from returning to normal, has deteriorated in the past several months. The report of a World Bank mission to East Pakistan last month confirms, beyond any doubt, the existence of widespread fear, death, and destruction, as well as the disruption of normal activities. Bengalis continue to fear for their lives on a daily basis ; the economic life of the area has been almost totally disrupted ; and the food situation threatens to become desperate.

As long as the American Government continues to support the Pakistan Government with military and economic aid, it is, in effect, supporting the repressive action of the Pakistan army and its persistent brutality toward a civilian population. As you know, eye-witness accounts have revealed that American planes, tanks and armoured personnel carriers have been used in East Pakistan, and four Pakistani ships have carried militray equipment from the United States to Pakistan since the outbreak of difficulties March 25, despite the imposition of a State Department ban on such shipments. On the basis of its fact-finding mission to East Pakistan, the World Bank recommended to the Aid-to-Pakistan Consortium that it temporarily suspend aid to the Government of Pakistan. Ten of the eleven consortium members have agreed to follow this recommendation. Only the United States is continuing its aid program. In the face of this evidence—eye-witness accounts, evaluations done by reporters admitted to East Pakistan, and the World Bank mission’s report—it is inexcusable that the United States continue aid to Pakistan.

Therefore, we urge you to support an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 which is being proposed by Senators Saxbe and Church (Congressmen Gallagher in the House). This amendment calls
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for the suspension of all U.S. aid to the Pakistan Government until there has been peaceful political accommodation in East Pakistan as determinated by international observers. We are convinced that only firm Congressional action will result in the cessation of U.S. involvement in this tragic situation. In no way could American interests or the real interests of Pakistan be served by continuing to assist a regime which savagely suppresses its own people, flaunts the democratic processes demonstrated in the elections of last December, causes a flood of more than seven million refugees to a neighboring states, and threatens the peace, security and development of the entire sub-continent.

Sincerely yours,

WHERE SHALL WE KEEP THE DEAD?

Shamsur Rahman

Where shall we keep the dead?
Where is the perfect cemetery?
This soil here, the mountain there,
Even the blue depth of the ocean—
Everything has turned rotten, insignificant.
So we have buried the dead today
Not under the earth, not on the mountain,
Not even in the depth of the ocean,
But in the heart of each one of us.

Translated from Bengali
by
Farida Majid

LATE NEWS : RESISTANCE

We have just received the following dispatch from our Bangladesh correspondent. He is in close touch with the Mukti Bahini and the Bangladesh Government. We hope, from now onwards, to bring you resistance news directly from the field. The following dispatch was sent on July 29, 1971 :

Dacca Sector : Commandos activities are continuing in and around Dacca. A bomb was thrown at ‘Shanghai’ restaurant by Mukti Bahini guerrillas which killed three Pakistani Army officers who were dining.

Pakistani Collaborator Mahmud Ali’s (Vice President of Pak Democratic Party) house was bombed by our Commandos which killed two of his family members.

Secondary Education Board building was damaged by bomb explosion thrown by Commandos of Mukti Bahini.

Another bomb was thrown by Commandos of Mukti Bahini at a West Pak Police Vehicle at Road 2 Dhanmondi destroying the said vehicle and killing four policemen including one officer.
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On July 22, 1971 a bomb exploded near Kamalapur Railway Station, a place 3.2 kilomiters from the hotel where Tunku Abdur Rahman, Prime Minister of Malaysia, was staying. He came to examine the situation prevailing in Bangladesh.

Rail coimmunication between Dacca and Bhairab Bazzar has been disrupted by Mukti Bahini who blew up a railway bridge between Bhairab Bazzar and Narsingdhi.

A number of key gan pipelines has been blown up by guerillas on July 25 which was totally deprived Dacca of its supply.

Though backed by superior fire powers The Occupation Army of Pakistan was being increasingly defeated everywhere in Bangladesh. Mukti Bahini guerrillas are storming all positions of the Occupation Army inflicting heavy casualties on them. By the nightfall Pak Army confine themselves in their barracks out of fear and never come out before dawn to carry out their brutalities, genocide and other allied activities.

Western Sector : The Mukti Bahini Comamndos blasted their way to Kumarkhali, Kooksha, Chitra and Alamdanga areas of Kushtia district despite deserate attempts of Occupation Army to stop them. A railway bridge at Kumarkhali was destroyed. Four Pakistan soldiers who were guarding the said bridge were also killed. Guerrillas also destroyed the transformer of Meherpur Power House. In Jessore canal bridge over Jessore Narail Road was also demolished.

Rajshahi town was raided on July 21 by guerrillas who captured four Pakitan para-military personnel and two of their “quislings”.

Freedom figheters also attacked an Occupation Army outspost and killed a J.S.O. and twenty soldiers and captured a large number of automatic arms. On July 24 Mukti Bahini guerrillas killed approximately half a dozen soldiers at Terakhada village in Khulna. While in another encounter at Bhadulia area Pakistan troops suffered heavy casualities. Three Pakistan soldiers wee also killed near Mogalhat.

It has been reported that our Liberation Forces have launched heavy attack on Pakistan Army position and liberated Talagaccha Bazzar near Satkhira, Khulna recently.

Sylhet Sector : On July 25 Mukti Bahini guerrillas carried out massive offensive on Pakistan Army positions at Shahbajpur railway station, Sylhet and killed 40 Pakistan soldiers lost 28 men when Mukti Bahini guerrillas attacked Jafflong area, Sylhet.

Comilla Sector : Bangladesh Forces raiding tea garden areas in Comilla Sector. One West Pakistan Captain Bakhari of 53 Field Regiment Artillery was killed by guerrillas in Saldanadi area recently. Pakistan Army officer Captain Khurshid Omar of 3 FF was killed with seven soldiers in another operation near Comilla town.

Chittagong Sector : One Lt. Col. and twenty soldiers were killed by Mukti Bahini guerrillas near Bagen Bazzar, Heyakko in Chittagong Hill Tracts. It is learnt that the said Lt. Col. came to inspect the recently occupied border outpost at Ramgar and on his return journey was ambushed and killed by the Liberation Forces.
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This week Occupation Army suffered :

Soldiers killed 403
Collaborators killed 19
Vehicles destroyed 3 jeeps
2 Army Speedboats
1 Gun boat
Power stations destroyed 5
Bridges destroyed 7
Arms captured by Mukti Bahini 3 L.M.G.
4 S.M.G.
30 lbs. TNT
10 Anti-personnel Mines

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 S. Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615

No. 7 August 20, 1971

EDITOR’S NOTE

Since the publication of our last News letter some important developments have taken place in this country vis a vis the Bangladesh situation.

1) The House has passed the Gallagher amendment to suspend all military and economic assistance to Pakistan. This was possible largely due to the efforts of all the Bangladesh groups in this country and due to many of our American friends. The Bangladesh Information Center co-ordinated the lobbying efforts in the Capital Hill. We congratulate all those who helped in the lobbying and without whose untiring efforts our cause would not have received such wide support in the house.

Our next hurdle is the U.S. Senate. Already there are 32 Senators who have co-sponsored the Saxbe-Church Amendment in the Senate. There are a few other Senators who have not co-sponsored but who have expressed their support to cut all aid to Pakistan. We do not foresee any serious trouble for the amendment when the Senate considers it sometime in late September or early October. However we cannot relent in our efforts till the Senate acts upon it. This will require a large number of volunteers to lobby in the Senate in September and October.

We urge you all to start making arrangements right away to make yourselves available in Washington, D.C. during that time. The need may also arise to lobby in U.N. when the General Assembly meets in October.
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2) Another significant developement is the defection of all the Bengali diplomats and Staff from the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Pakistan Mission at the U.N. on August 4, 1971. We congratulate all those who defected and declared their allegiance to the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. We hope this will generate the long awaited movement which will see all the Bengalis still serving the government of Pakistan to similarly defect and declare allegiance to the Government of Bangladesh.

3) The significance of the defection was enhanced by the almost simultaneous arrival of Mr. Mustfizur Rahman Siddiqui in the U.S. Capital as the Ambassador of the Government of Bangladesh. Mr. M.R. Siddiqui, a member of the National Assembly from Chittagong, arrived in Washington, D.C. on August 6, 1971. He is now in the process of getting acquainted with the various Bengali groups in this country. He has already given a press conference in New York and appeared on various TV programs.

A Bangladesh mission will be opened by him in Washington, D.C. within the next week or two. We welcome Mr. Siddiqui and extend to him our congratulations and whole-hearted support.

APPEAL TO SAVE MUJIB’S LIFE :

Mujibnagar, August 10 :

The Acting President of Bangladesh, Syed Nazrul Islam today warned that any attempt to try and execute Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “will enjoin an obligation unto death on every man, woman and child of Bangladesh to avenge his murder”.

In a statement he said : “In the name of civilization, democracy, humanity, justice and fair play, I urge upon all heads of State of the world and the U.N. Secretary General to intervene and secure the unconditional release of the Sheikh and his family to pave the way towards peace”.

TELEGRAM FROM BANGLADESH MISSION

To
The President
Bangladesh Defense League

Please hold mass rallies and demonstrations immediately to protest against Pakistan military trial of our beloved leader Stop Influence lacal governments and foreign missions for moves to force Yahya Khan to withdraw trial Stop Also represent to International Jurist organisation to intervene.

Bangladesh Mission

SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTIONS FOR BANGLADESH GROUPS

a) As advised in the telegram from the Bangladesh mission in Calcutta (quoted above) we should hold rallies all over the U.S. and Canada to protest the trial of Sheikh Mujib and demand his immediate release. Also ask your friends to write to President Nixon, Mr. U. Thant, Amnesty International (address : Turnagaine Lane, Farringdon St., London EC6, England). Suggested format of telegram : “Pakistan military court holding secret trial for Bengali leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on fictitious charges. We
54
urge you to use your good offices to prevent President Yahya from doing so”.

b) Write to Secretary U. Thant pointing out to him the evil designs behind Pakistan’s acceptance of the U.N. team of observers in occupied Bangladesh. Draw your arguments from Mr. M.R. Siddiqui speech reported elsewhere in this newsletter.

c) U.S. Senators are more amenable to pressures from their own constituence than from anywhere else. If your lacal newspapers carry any favorable editorials or comments, please send a copy to each of your Senators.

d) The Massachusetts Senate has recently passed a resolution similar in effect to the Saxbe-Church Amendment. Try and influence your own State legislatures co-sponsor and pass such resolutions. All such resolutions are sent to President Nixon and may influence his future decisions.

BANGALDESH AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES DETROIT MEETING

Since his arrival in the United States, Mr. M.R. Siddiqui, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States has been travelling around the country on a get-acquainted mission with various Bangladesh groups. He has so far met the Bengali communities in Washington, D.C. New York, Connecticut, Boston and Detroit.

The meeting in Detroit was arranged by the Bangladesh Defense League of Michigan on August 15. The President and the Secretary of the BDL were also present and so were a few members from other midwest areas.

In his address to the group, the Ambassador of Bangladesh congratulated all the Bengali groups in the U.S. for their “wonderful work” in propagating the cause of Bangladesh and for winning sympathy and support of the American public. “What you have achieved”, he said, “has taken us a long way ahead”.

Mr. Siddiqui described the odds under which our valiant soldiers are fighting for the liberation of Bangladesh. “We are fighting a highly-organised, well-equipped army in our land but with indomitable zeal and unflinching faith in the rightness of our cause, our soldiers have dealt many serious blows to the occupation army. With the almost total support of the entire population of Bangladesh, the Mukti Bahini have kept the Pakistan Army always on the run, inflicting heavy casualties on them. And while the occupation army become more battleweary every day, our boys become more tenacious and bold with each victory”. Commenting on the number of young men volunteering to fight for the defence of their homeland, Mr. Siddiqui said, “It is almost impossible to cope with the flood of volunteers everyday. There are people from all walks of life—farmers, laborers, high school and college graduates, professors, professional men, almost every able-bodied man volunteers to fight. We have to turn many away for lack of proper facilities”.

Mr. Siddiqui vehemently criticized the propsed U.N. move to send a team of observers to occupied Bangladesh. Even though it is ostensively designed to co-ordinate and facilitate relief measures in war-torn Bangladesh, in effect, the Ambassador said, it will aid Pakistan efforts to perpetuate its illegal occupation of our land. If the U.N. is really concerned to reach food to the starving people why doesn’t it organise a massive air-drop of food immediately instead of spending most of its funds in setting up an expensive communication system which can be easily exploited by the Pakistan Army to further terrorize and kill more of the hungry millions, he asked. It is significant, he said, that Pakistan has asked for trucks and boats instead of food-stuff even though there is a serious shortage of food. When does the U.N. intend
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to reach the food, he asked, after most of the Bengalis die of starvation? Pakistan’s acceptance of the U.N. offer, Mr. Siddiqui continued, is a trickly deivce by which she expects to rope the unsuspecting donor countries (which had earlier stopped all economic assiatance to Pakistan) into aiding Pakistan in the name of aiding the suffering millions of occupied Bangladesh. Mr. Siddiqui appealed to the whole world to send relief to Bangladesh through International Relief agencies only and not through the proposed U.N. machinery. The means of food distribution should be by air-dropping only and not by trucks and boats “which can be used as carriers of death rather than as carriers of life-giving food-stuff”.

Mr. Siddiqui decried the depiction of the Bangladesh movement as a secessioist movement. “When has a majority seceded from a minority in world history?” he asked. “Yahya is an usurper to the throne of Pakistan and we have conceded to their secession,” he said. “The Awami League government is the only legally constituted government of Bangladesh”.

“Bangladesh is the eighth largest country in the world with a population of about 75 million. The only solution to the present crisis is the recognition of Bangladesh”, Mr. Siddiqui said. He cautioned the world any move from any quarter to reunite Bangladesh with Pakistan will be resisted to the last man. Pakistan can still save itself from total destruction by releasing Sheikh Mujib unconditionally and by negotiating with him a peaceful parting of ways. Otherwise if the insane rulars of Pakistan go ahead with their so-called trial of Sheikh Mujib and execute him then “for one Mujib killed there will be 75 million Mujibs left who will continue to fight till the last Pakistani soldier is either killed or driven out of Bangladesh”.

Commenting further on Mujib’s trial, Mr. Siddiqui said : “Mujib’s only crime was that he won the election last December and received the almost total support of the entire population of Bangladesh”. “Actually”, he said, “it is Yahya who should be tried for his crimes against humanity. The U.S. has tried and convicted Lt. Calley for his slaughter of 120 people at MyLai in Vietnam. Shouldn’t Yahya be tried for his slaughter of a million in Bangladesh?”

BANGLADESH FOREIGN MINISTER ON PAKISTANI MOVE IN UN

Khandaker Mustaque Ahmed, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, commenting on the reported move of the Pakistan Government to make Bangladesh an India-Pakistan issue, said : “Indications are too obvious that Pakistan has geared up activities in and around the United Nations to save herself from certain defeat in the hands of Bangladesh Liberation Forces The move to send U.N. observers on the soil of Bangladesh and trying to make it an Indo-Pak issue in the Security Council are symptoms of Pakistan’s desperation”.

Criticising the role of the U.N. since the West Pakistani invasion of Bangladesh on March 25 the foreign minister said : “The U.N. had the power and machinery to deliver the goods to the suffering humanity, but it did not avail itself of the opportunity. The suffering people of Bangladesh have now overcome their initial setback and are on the verge of success. It is intriguing to see that at this point in history the U.N. is showing strange interest in the people of Bangladesh”.

He warned, “we want to make it very clear that any attempt to side track the Bangladesh Government on Bangladesh issue is fraught with grave danger”.

Referring to the role of Prince Sadruddin the foreign minister commented, “The U.N. High Commissioner for Relief and Rehebilitation has taken a partisan view of the situation. He wants to administer palliative when it requires severe surgery. People of Bangladesh are in no mood to be subjected to the U.N. experimentations. We call upon the U.N. to put off its vain attempt to tackle the refugee problem. Only
56
the Government formed by the duly elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh can take the refugees back to their homes”.

MUKTI BAHINI NEWS

Rangpur-Dinajpur-Rajshahi

Mukti Bahini ambushed a bus carrying 24 Pakistani troops on July 30 on Bhurungamari-Kurigram road killing 21 of the troops. Another ambush took place in Kurigram area in which 4 Pakistan troops were killed. On July 27, Mukti Bahini commandos bombed four houses of Pakistan collaborators in Madarganj area. In an attack on a train carrying Pakistan troops between Lalmanirhat-Moghalhat Mukti Bahini inflicted heavy casualities. Bangladesh guerrillas killed a Jamiat-e-Islam leader in Kasipur and set fire to his house. On July 30, another prominant Jamiat leader was killed in Lahiri area. Mukti Bahini demolished two power pylons feeding power to Dinajpur. Due to this action Dinajpur town was left without electricity. On July 29, Mukti Bahini had an encounter with Pakistan troops in Kaphuli area and killed 9.

Mymensingh-Sylhet-Moulvi Bazar

One Pakistani transport plane has been shot down at Shalutikar airport. The American built C-130 transport plane was shot immediately after take off at about 3:30 P.M. on Sunday (August 1, 1971).

In an ambush 5 enemy troops were killed near Dakin. Mukti Bahini attacked Pakistan outpost at Tengatilla. Pakistan troops fled leaving their equipments and supplies behind.

One power pylon was demolished at Bulagoan between Chittagong and Sylhet. Sylhet-Chhatak railway line has been rendered out of comission by the Bangladesh guerrillas.

Mukti Bahini raided an enemy post at Kamalpur and killed 25 enemy troops.

Liberation Froces attacked Pakistan position at Bahadurabad Ghat with mortars, rockets and grenades. More than 100 Pakistan troops were killed in this attack. A railway engine and an electric generator were destroyed.

In another raid Bangladesh guerrillas destroyed Dewanganj railway station, and police station and damaged the suger mill at Akhra where Pakistan army took position.

Bangladesh commandos raided Mangali Ferry in which the Ferry engine and boat were partially damaged. Mukti Bahini ambushed Pakistan troops in Kanairghat Ferry killing one Pakistan troop and injuring 3.

Dacca-Comilla-Chittagong

In an encounter in Debipur area 10 enemy troops were killed. On July 29, Bangladesh forces ambushed Pakistan positions at Kasba and killed 8 soldiers.

Mukti Bahini commandos have blown up a bridge in Langalband on the Dacca-Chittagong highway.

In a raid an enemy outpost at Jatrabari Mukti Bahini killed 40 enemy troops.
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270 yards of railway track has been blown up and an bridge demolished by the Bangladesh guerrillas at Harimangal. Railway bridge at A janpur has also been blown up.

Between July 10 to July 30, Mukti Bahini carried out a number of guerrilla raids in Chittagong city. They threw grenades on 3 Pakistan army jeeps in which 10 Pakistan troops were killed including 2 officers. They also killed 4 Pakistan troops in front of National Bank of Pakistan. Three collaborators in the town were killed.

Kushtia-Jessore-Khulna

Mukti Bahini engaged Pakistan troops and Razakars in Kutubpur in which eight Pakistan soldiers and two Razakars were killed. On July 28, in a raid on Jingargacha police station 10 policemen wee killed.

BDL PRESIDENT’S TRIP TO WASHINGTON, PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK

Aug. 10—BDL President visited Washington, D.C. met with Dr. H.R. Siddiqui and the Bengali diplomats who recently defected from Pakistan Embassy, discussed with them about matters relating to co-ordination of efforts between the Bengali community in the U.S. and the Bangladesh missions in Washington and New York. Later he visited the Bangladesh Information Center to discuss about continued co-operation between the BDL and the Information Center.

In the evening, BDL President visited Philadelphia and met with the members of the Friends of East Bengal and the Bangladesh Association of Greater Delaware Valley. Measures were discussed to establish direct contact between these two organisations and the Bangladesh Defense League. It was agreed that measures should be taken to co-ordinate all communication between the three organizations. One person was named to the Board oif Directors of the Bangladesh Defense League.

On August 11, BDL President visited New York and attended a meeting of the Bangladesh League of America which was attended and addressed by the Bangladesh Ambassador.

BANGALADESH POSTAGE STAMPS

West of eight postage stamps has been issued by the Bangladesh postal Department. The inauguration of the first-ever Definitives of Bangladesh was honored at a reception at the House of Commons in London on July 26th under the patronage of the Rt. Hon. John Stonehouse M.P., until recently Minister of Posts of the British Government, and Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Bangladesh envoy to the U.K. More than $23,000 dollar’s worth of stamps were sold on the opening day in England.

The stamps are designed by the Bengali artist Biman Mullick who designed Britain’s Gandhi stamp in 1969. They have been printed in England by the Format Security Printers Ltd.

Bangladesh postage stamps are used for internal and external mail. Post offices are operating in the liberated territories of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh mail, bearing Bangladesh Stamps, is accepted by the Government of India for onward transmission. (This is exactly the same realtionship as existed for Napal’s postage stamps from 1881 to 1959, during which time mail from Napal bearing Nepalese stamps were accepted by the Government of India for onward transmission.)

Entire set of Bangladesh stamps are available at a cost of $2.64 from INTER-GOVERNMENTAL
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PHILATELIC CORP., P.O. BOX 259, Cedarhurst, N.Y. 11516. Bangladesh groups are encouraged to use these stamps for fund raising purposes.

NEWS FROM VARIOUS BANGLADESH GROUPS
BANGLADESH ASSOCIATION OF MDWEST, INC.

ON the Move : Dr. Islam is now in Bangladesh. On the way he visited Justice Chowdhury, the steering committee, and other groups and individuals in London. He is expected to be in Bangladesh till the middle of September.

Dr. Banerjee went on a campaign on the Capital Hill to mount support for the Gallagher amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act and saw some of the key Senators and Congressmen.

Dr. Bhattacharjee and Dr. & Mrs. Faroque went on a similar mission on the eve of the voting on the bill and spoke with 45 Congressmen and Senators/Aids.

These members also initiated a campaign in the Senate to “Save Shiekh Mujib’s Life”.

Dr. Bhattacharjee also participated in the meeting of the Friends of East Bengal in Phildelphia and in Columbus.

Dr. Banerjee is back from a trip to Monteal where he spoke to the Bangladesh group regarding U.S. activities. Dr. Banerjee soon will leave for London and Paris.

MAIL BAG : A National telephone campaign was carried out urging various groups and individuals to send telegrams to their Congressmen in support of the Gallagher amendment. More than 200 telegrams were sent to the 24 Ohio Congressmen. A nationalwide telegram campaign to “Save Sheikh Mujib’s Life” has been initiated.

Please send as many telegrams as you can to President Nixon.

Many personal letters and appeals have been sent by individuals and groups to the Senators, Congressmen and The U.N.

FUNDS : Individual members contributed generously for various projects. A massive fund raising campaign is now underway in Bloomington, Indiana. An early fall benefit concert is planned for the Miami University. Please let us know to help you stage a smilar concert in your community. Funds are also being collected oin Behalf of OXFAM. Let us know if you are interested.

EAST LANSING

Bangladesh Defense League, Michigan reports following activities :

Symposium
Signeture campaign (to stop aid) Letters and telegrams to Senators and Congressment by U.S. citizens

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A 40—minute television program on Bangladesh
Benefit dinner
Collection booth and signature drive at the campus
Collection booth at shopping center
Newspaper articles contributed by Dr. Nicholas, Mrs. Marta Nicholas, Dr. Alavi
Radio Programs
Donation Appeal through newspapers
Faculty letters (2,000)
Bangladesh literature distribution in the Congress
Demonstration against U.S. aid at State Capital Steps
Continuing educational programs at churches, service clubs (Rotary etc.) Peace Council, Dorms
Bangladesh buttons and bumper sticker sale

Detroit

Azizul H. Khondker reports :
In the Indian Festival (July 30-August 1) at the Detroit River Front Ethnic Festival ground, a Bangladesh booth was set up. Fifty volunteers from the Committee of the Concerned (Ann Arbor), Bangladesh Defense League (Mich.), and the Bangladesh Association of America (Detroit), worked explaining the situation in Bangladesh, collecting donations and gathering signatures in support of the Gallagher Amendment. Over 13,000 signatures were collected. The entire proceeds from the Indian Festival was sent for refugee relief. The peacefulness of the Bangladesh booth was interrupted occasionally by gangs of West Pakistani “miscreants” who were routed by the police.

On July 7 a symposium was held at the University of Windsor, Ontario in support of Bangladesh. The audience was larger than expected and it was very receptive. Members of the press were also present. The local station CKLW-TV ran a preview of the symposium earlier the same night and on the following day the Windsor Star Weekend Magazine sent its special correspondent Ernest Hill to collect first hand news about the East Bengal refugees. He published his report in a nine page article in the Weekend Magazine of July 31.

OHIO : FRIENDS OF EAST BENGAL

B. Chandrasekaran reports from Ohio :

We are proud to report to you the starting of an organization in Columbus called ‘The Friends of East Bengal’.

About 15 interested persons, mainly students and faculty members of the Ohio State University, got together the 29th of July to discuss our responses to the tragedy in Bangladesh. We had a larger meeting organized as a result of our decisions at this first meeting. The second meeting, which was actually the charter meeting of the Group, had an attendance of more than 60 people, this time representing a larger cross-section of the community and was held on 5 August. We were fortunate in having as our main speaker Dr. J.K. Bhattacharjee of Oxford, Ohio who has been very active for the cause of Bangladesh, and has been in contact with many similar organizations. The meeting was a great success, in the sense most of the attendees have agreed to serve on one committee or another as volunteers.

We have already organized signa-campaigns for petitions to Congressmen and the President to end
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military and economic aid to West Pakistan. As a result of our appeals to the local Unitarian and Catholic churches, over 100 telegrams were sent over the last weekend, urging local Congressmen to vote in support of the Gallagher Amendment. Displays and information booths in many centers in Columbus are planned. We are planning to concentrate on the local church groups in the beginning for collecting funds for refugee relief. Public service spots on television and radio for this purpose are also planned.

At the moment, there are three major committees in operation :

1. relief 2. publicity and information and 3. organization of charity shows, large meetings, etc.

The address of the group is :

Friends of East Bengal
P.O. Box 3035
Columbus, Ohio 43210

Arizona : Friends of East Bengal

Jon Markoulis writes from Arizona :

We have started a “Friends of East Bengal” group in Tempe, Ariz. So far we have called a press conference and held a vigil in front of the Federal Building in Phoenix. The object was to educate the public in this area because the local papers are not carrying the story. The TV coverage we got was not very good. As a group we asked that the U.S. stop aid to West Pakistan and use its troops in Asia to get food and medical supplies to the people in need, in East Bengal. So far we have collected about $100 which we gave to UNICEF.

The peace centers in Tempe and phoenix, The Catholic center for peace and Justice, WILPF and UNICEF make up our group. In September we are going to hold a panel discussion on the situation in East Bengal. The address of the group :
Friends of East Bengal
1414 S. Mcllister
Tempe, Arizona

Milwaukee Aug. 12, 1971

Ron DeNIcoal writes from Milwaukee Peace Action Committee :

The meeting Tuesday nite was relatively a success. Twenty people showed up including several Marquette Indian students from the International student Club.

We split the group into two caucusses, one on relief and the larger on political action and education. Next Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. we will have our second meeting which basically will deal with an internal workshop. This meeting will be most important as its objectives are to educate ourselves to the utmost. I hope you or a BDL representative can attend.

Wednesday we had our press conference in which we made a public statement to the effect that relief and educational efforts on East Pakistan will be centered at the PAC in Milwaukee and asking the community
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for support. There was good covergae on only one TV station, channel 6.

Bangladesh Association of Canada

Toronto

‘Crisis in Bangladesh’ was the theme of a symposium held on August 5, 1971 at 7:30 P.M. in the University of Toronto campus under the auspices of the Bangladesh Association, University of Toronto. The following were the speakers :

1. Mr. Andrew Brewin, Member of Canadian Parliament.
2. Mr. Frederick Nossal, Associate Editor of Toronto Telegram,
3. Mr. Paul Ignatieff, Director of UNICEF, Toronto,
4. Mr. Leslie Smith of Food and Drug Directorate, Department of National Health and Welfare.

Mr. Brewin was one of the three members of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation which, on the invitation of the Governments of India and Pakistan, visited recently the refugee camps in India and also Bangladesh. He reiterated his earlier stand that any political solution in East Bengal must reflect the wishes of the people expressed in the last December election.

Mr. Ignatieff emphasized the need of a massive relief for the refugees in India which he called ‘a crisis inside a crisis’. Mr. Smith gace his eye-witness accounts of the difficult situations the refugees are passing through. A documentary film which Mr. Smith took was also shown.

California :

Joan Baez Benefit Concert

Famous folk singer Joan Baez gave a concert on July 24 at the Stanford University campus for the benefit of the 7 million refugees of Bangladesh. The concert was attended by over 12,000 persons from the San Francisco Bay area. It was organized by Mrs. Ranu Basu and others from the Stanford India Association. The members of the American League for Bangladesh, the peoples Union and the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence helped tremendously in publicizing and staging the concert.

At the concert, members of the American League for Bangladesh and of the Stanford India Student Association distributed over 8,000 leaflets which exposed the U.S. complicity in the genocide in Bangladesh. The leaflet pointed out recent U.S. shipment of arms to the brutal Pakistan Military Junta and the Administration’s declared policy of continuing to do so. Mrs. Joan Baez Harris condemned the Administration’s immoral and shameful policy and asked the 12,000-member audience to sign a petition which urged the U.S. Gvoernment to stop all aid to the repressive regime in Islamabad. Several thousand of the audience signed the petition.

New York : Friends of East Bengal

The Friends of East Bengal (New York) held a mass rally in New York on August 14 in co-operation with the Bangladesh League of America. About 500 people participated in the rally that took place at the U.N. Plaza from mid-day to about 3 P.M. The rally was addressed by Dr. Alamgir of the Bangladesh League,
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Dr. Eqbal Ahmed and Ejaj Ahmed two noted scholars from West Pakistan, and by Mr. S.J. Avery of the Quaker project.

The speeches were follwed by several small workshops on the Bangladesh crisis.

An eighty-page booklet containing a historical summary of the Pak-Bangladesh conflict since 1947 put together by the Friends of East Bengal was distributed at the rally together with many other pamphlets. The address of the Friends of East Bengal (New York) is : 13 E. 17th St., 6th Floor, N.Y., N.Y.
Phone (212) 741-0750

ANNOUNCEMENTS :

1) We are enclosing the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal brochure with this newsletter as a specimen copy. Please let us know how many you want to distribute to prospective donors in your area.

2) Those of you who have requested us for the “Why Bangladesh” booklets, please allow us another week before we can mail them to you.

3) Please send us a report of your group activities for publication in your newsletter. Send us paper clipping too from your local newspapers.

4) We have reprinted a large number of bumber-stickers : “Stop Pakistan Genocide in Bangladesh”. We will supply them to Bangladesh groups at cost.

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615

No. 8 September 10, 1971

Editorial

A CERE-TAKER FOR GOVOR’S HOUSE

Islamabad military junta has announced the appointment of Dr. A.M. Malik, a civilian, as the ‘governor’ of occupied Bangladesh. World at large is aghast with horror at the atrocities being perpetrated by the Pakistan army in Bangladesh. To make their case a little more presentable to the world in general and the United States in particular Islamabad has stage managed a “return to the civilian administration” simply by naming a civilian to occupy the Governor’s House at Dacca. (The Governor’s House was lying vacant
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for a long time anyway. General Tikka Khan, the so-called governo of occupied Bangladesh vacated the house in favor of the safety of military cantonment.)

Islamabad military generals must be congratulating themselves for hitting upon this great propaganda coup. Under general Tikka Khan’s gun, Dr. Malik will obediently play governor for the world consumption and keep the Governor’s House furniture dust-free. Undisturbed by the world attention the general can continue with his meticulous operation of extermination of Bengalis.

If the Pakistani generals seriously think that the world will be impressed by the appointment they must consider the world a place inhabited by a big bouch of imbeciles. General Tikka Khan has been replceed by General Niazi as the Martial Law administrator of occupied Bangladesh. General Niazi has been responsible for field operations in the carnage that began on March 25. This bloodthirsty general has expressed his ardent desire to see the end of Bengali aspiration to gain political power once for all.

U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO YAHYA

Cracks in the “embargo” have been apparent since June 22 when the New York Times reported the departure of Pakistani ships carrying military equipment and ammunition from the U.S. The State Department conceded that military supplies would continue to go to Pakistan since the announced suspension of arms deliveries did not (contrary to the impression given by earlier statements) cover licenses issued before April 6. It estimated then that the value of outstanding supplies in the pipeline was $15 million. It may be possible to reconcile the two figures because of possible undisclosed assistance via the Pentagon’s military Assistance Plan (which is not appropriated under the Foreign Assistance Act). Secret deliveries cannot be discounted in light of the acknowledged goal of leverage over West Pakistan’s policies. Recent events underscore this : the U.S. has secretly delivered 65 warplanes and ferried military supplies in U.S. transports to Jordan in recent weeks. The Senate hearings on Laos have thrown further light on U.S. clandestine military activities.

How much military equipment has been delivered since June is not clear. The Padma and the Kaptai carried ammunitions and equipment worth $2 million. During July and August 6 ships were scheduled to be loaded at ports along the Eastern seaboard. However, about two weeks ago it was reported that $10 million worth of military licenses had expired unused. According to the State Department $3.6 million worth has been shipped since March 25 and $2.6 million worth of materials remain to be shipped.

“Merchants of death” a myth?

One blatent example of covert American military assistance to Yahya Khan was recently exposed…The Pakistan Army has been using 2 leased Boeing 707s from World Airways to transport troops between West Pakistan and Bangladesh. These aircraft are also capable of being used as freight carriersm i.e., heavy military equipment. World Airways does half its business with the Pentagon and is on contract to the U.S. Military Airlift Command. The lease was explicitly authorized by various Federal aviation Agencies and after the U.S. “embargo” was imposed. Mr. Raymond J. Rasenberger, counsel for the World Airways, in a letter to the editor of Washington Post, defends that the lease was renewed prior to the beginning of the “current controversy in Pakistan” and suggests that “government policy has encouraged such leases (aircraft leases to foreign carriers) as a means of bleeding off excess capacity formerly required for U.S. military and civilian transportation, and improving the balance of payments”.

Surplus Military Equipment for Population Control
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As the U.S. phases its manpower out of Vietnam it leaves the Pentagon with surplus military equipment. As was revealed at Congressional Hearings during past years there has been sizable assistance to countries through the disposal of such equipment at considerably reduced prices. The State Department denies knowledge of any arms sales to Pakistan from Vietnam. It acknowledges that there is also other surplus equipment for sale such as bulldozers which could be used for rebuilding or leveling in Bangladesh. It needs reminding that the Padma was reported carrying “excess Defense Department stocks” and that State Department Officials said that they had been informed by the Defense Department that no military equipment had been delivered since March 25. The Sunderbans had sailed on May 8.

Embargoing the Embargo

In the original version of the Gallagher Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act there was a clause authorizing sanctions against other UD aid recipients if they decided to supply U.S. military equipment to Pakistan. This clause was not present in the Amendment when it passed the Foreign Affairs Committee nor when it passed the House. the possibility of undetected military supplies being passed on through other countries therefore remains. While the 1965 embergo was in effect Pakistan purchased 90 American Sabre fighter-bombers from West Germany, benefiting from the West German’s desire to be rid of obsolete NATO equipment. Turkey and Iran are possible suppliers now. Turkey is a NATO member and hence a major recipient of U.S. military assistance. The U.S. is embarking on a joint (with U.K.) military assistance program for Iran which will exceed a billion dollars over the next few years. Relations with Iran are so close that the recent documents of recognition of Communist China were signed in Islamabad by the respective ambassadors to Pakistan.

We suggest that the victory in the House is only the beginning of the matter. The House debate makes clear that the Gallagher Amendment will not affect outstanding aid commitments. What it essentially does is to make the Administration pause before it lifts the embargo on new aid coimmitments. But our people continue to die by American bullets firing from American guns. Spares keep rolling in to keep the Pakistan military machine oiled to rain death on Bangladesh.

House Foreign Affairs Committee has before it H.J. Res765 introduced by Congressmen Morse. This legislation would place a total embargo on all military items going to Pakistan for 365 days unless the President deems it otherwise in national interest. It has 41 co-sponsors. Efforts are necessary to get it to the House floor urgently. It is going to be difficult since Congress will take up President Nixon’s recent Economic proposals first. The immediate thing is to write Dr. Morgan as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee requesting him to bring the Resolution up for discussion in his committee.

The license granted to World Airways by the State Department can be revoked if the aircrafts are used for unauthorized purposes. One specific prohibition is against use in a war zone. Cleraly, the use of the aircrafts to ferry troops is such a violation. The Pakistan Army has replaced World Airways markings by those of PIA, hence making detection difficult. We must prevail upon the State Department to recognize this violation and to revoke the license. The World Airways office (Oakland, California) should also be convinced of the revolting nature of its contracts.

The Foreign Assistance Act has still to clear the Senate. Support for the Saxbe-Church Amendment must not be let up.

CAMPUS FALL OFFENSIVE

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There is a continuing need to keep information flowing to the American public. Universities and colleges are an important outlet for distributing materials and involving Americans in our cause. As the school year starts a system for continuous flow of material’s must be arranged. The initiative must be taken by for gathering a group of dedicated volunteers to help with the distribution.

At the minimum we suggest a weekly desk to distribute materials and at least one week-long daily distribution of materials. One arrangement that immediately suggests itself is : to start with daily distribution for a week through which appeals for volunteers must be made. After that distribution be made once a week for the rest of the semester except for another week of daily distribution. Conditions on a particular campus would dictate optimal timing during the day for distribution of material. One general suggestion is the time when classes break for lunch through dinner. From the experience of some of us another suggestion emerges : if it is possible, leave material on a table where it can be picked up without your continuous presence. Most people are bashful about revealing their unfamiliarity with foreign events and my be embarassed to pick up materials with someone staring at them from across the table. One suggestion that is more important : the collection of relief funds must be at hours separate from the distribution of materials. Again, the reason is that people may be embarassed to pick up materials if they feel they cannot contribute to the relief effort. We are planning to supply materials for distribution. Your own efforts at reproduction of materials will help in the effort. Do keep us informed of your program. We may be of assistance.

BREAK DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS URGES SENATOR KENNEDY

The U.S. should break diplomatic relations with Pakistan unless peaceful political accommodation replaces military repression in East Bengal, said Sen. Edward. M. Kennedy.

Kennedy noted that he was not recommending a break “at this time”, but said Washington should cut its ties with the regime of President Yahya Khan “if we are not assured that terror campaign which still continuing today is halted”.

In an address to the National Press Club, Kennedy called on President Nixon to “make personal representations” to Yahya. He also proposed that the U.S. use its influence in the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization to bring about a modification of official Pakistani policy in East Benagal.

“If no alleviation of these policies is immediately forthcoming, the U.S. should lead the other SEATO nations in seeking to terminate the participation of Pakistan in the organization”, he said.

Kennedy, who returned last week from a week-long tour of Bengali refugee camps in India, termed conditions in the camps “the most appalling tide of human misery in modern times”. Nearly 8 million refugees have poured into India since the Pakistani army cracked down on Bengali dissidents March 25…The refugees are still streaming into India at the rate of 25,000 a day, Kennedy said.

America’s image in India and Pakistan today, Kennedy said, is similar to its image in Southeast Asia over the last decade. “It is the image of an America that supports military repression and fuels military violence”, he said, “crowing about its commitment to selfdetermination, while it services military juntas that suppress change and ignore a people’s aspirations”.

Kennedy drew comparisons between American actions in Indochina and current U.S. policy in Pakistan and India. After sacrificing nearly $100 billion and 45,000 lives to support democracy in Indo-china, he said, “America is being asked by its leadership….to cooperate in a conspiracy against the results of a free
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election” in East Bengal.

He deplored the continuing flow of U.S. military supplies to Pakistan, “apparently under instructions from the highest official in our land”. He added, “they could be halted with a simple stroke of a pen”.

BANGLADESH INTELLECTUALS MEET KENNEDY

Mujibnagar, Aug. 12 : A group of Bangladesh intellectuals from the refugee community met Sen. Kennedy in a delegation consisting of Dr. A.R. Mullick, Amirul Islam, Bar-at-Law, Dr. T. Hossain, Mr. Mustafa Sarwar, Dr. Swadesh Bose and Dr. Ashabul Haq. They apprised the Senator about the situation inside Bangladesh. The delegation expressed serious concern about the security of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family. They discussed with the Senator about the possibility of filing petition in the Human Rights Commission as the trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in camera militray court is in gross violation of universal declaration of Human Rights.

The delegation further stressed the desirability for the relief agencies not to allow any relief material to be distributed under the auspices of the military Government which would merely mean helping the war efforts of Yahya’s Government instead of bringing any relief to the people.

The delegation further expressed their disapproval of U.S. Government sending technical aides to repair bridges and build up communication in the neme of relief team which will directly help Yahya’s military design. The delegation also urged for taking effective measures to stop all aids to Yahya Government and condemned the action of Nixon administration in helping and aiding fascist Government in repressing unarmed civilians and thereby causing endless miseries to human beings.

The delegation also expressed their appreciation for the stand Sen. Kennedy has taken and conveyed their gratitudes to democratic people of America who voiced their opinion in favor of Bangladesh and further appealed for all out efforts to secure release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

BANGLADESH PRESIDENT’S CALL TO WORLD POWERS

Mujbnagar : The Acting President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam urged upon the world to get release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family to pave the way towards peach.

In a statement he said, we feel alarmingly concerned at the reported trail of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by the Army Junta of Islamabad. This gruesome farce in the name of trial is going to be one of the greates tragedies of civilization.

Vindication of animalism and animosity of this nature does call for immediate and prompt imtervention by the United Nations and all the peaceloving powers of the world. We want to clearly convey to all nations of the world that any attempt to try and execute Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will enjoin an obligation unto death on every man, woman and child of Bangladesh to avenge his murder. The situation is bound to escalate and engulf this area of the world into the eruptions of the volcano.

In the name of civilization, democracy, humanity, justice and fair play I urge upon all Heads of States of the world and the U.N. Secretary General to intervene and get unconditional release of the Sheikh and his family to pave the way towards peace.

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LAWYER IN EXILE OFFERS TO DEFEND MUJIB

A member of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s team of legal experts has volunteered to travel to West Pakistan to defend the Bangladesh leader, who is being ‘tried’ for treason by a secret military tribual.

The advocate, Mr. Moudud Ahmed a close confidant of the Sheikh Mujib, announded that he and a group of lawyers who fled to India early this year were prepared to go to West Pakistan if their safety was guaranteed by international assurances.

Mr. Ahmed said that he and other lawyers were perturbed by reports that no impartial observer had so far been allowed to meet Sheikh Mujib and by the Pakistan Government’s announcement that he would be allowed to brief only Pakistani counsel.

“In addition, we have now heard the alarming news that the regime has declared that the Sheikh has refused to brief counsel. The trial is being conducted in such a fashion that it gives the impression that they have already executed our client”.

PREVENT FAMINE IN BANGLADESH

The governments of the Western world were urged to act quickly to prevent further misery in Bangladesh : widespread famine predicted to strike within the next six months.

A two-day meeting at St. Micheal’s College heard Dr. Jon Rohde of Boston predict that 5,00,000 to 10,000,000 people will be affected by the famine. Dr. Rohde, who recently returned from Dacca, said they either will flee to India ro they will die.

The meeting, attended by men and women close to governments in Canada, the U.S, Britain, and India, called for an end to all economic and military aid to Pakistan. It asked all governments to intervene with Pakistan to save the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, imprisoned leader of the East Bengalis.

The meeting, known as the South Asia Conference, was financed by Oxfam of Canada, which is heavily involved in raising money for the refugees. They said the aim was to bring together in a closed meeting people knowledgeable about the situation in India and Pakistan who could then bring pressure to bear on their own governments.

Chairman of the meeting was Hugh Keenleyside, former Canadian ambassador and spokesman at the U.N, and delegates included Ajit Bhattacharya, resident editor in Bombay of the Times of India, and Neil MacDermont, general secretary of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva. Britain was represented by conservative MP Bernard Braine and ex-labor minister Mrs. Judith Hart.

U.S. economist John Kenneth Galbraith, former ambassador to India, could not attend because he is recovering from a minor injury. He was consulted by telephone.

Conference delegates agreed the problems of the refugees and the situation in Bangladesh cannot be considered separately. “In the long view, there can be no solution that does not allow the refugees to return and live in security in their homes”, the final declaration said.

According to estimates at the conference, it will cost $400 million during the next months to care for the refugees now in India. So far, $160 million has been donated or pledged by governments and
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organizations, leaving about $250 million for the Government of India.

This figure does not include the cost of caring for the additional refugees crossing the border every day, nor does it make any allowance for an expected doubling in the refugee flow if famine strikes Bangladesh. The declaration calls the situation “one of the major disasters in man’s history”.

Dr. Rohde said that while it is impossible to predict accurately when a famine will occur, “many of the elements present in many documented famines are present in East Bengal. In previous famines, all the elements were ignored until it was too late. It may be too late now”.

Based on figures gathered by U.S. Government agencies, he predicts that in the 12-month period ending next July, East Bengal will need 2.9 million tons of food but at best it will be possible to send 1.5 million tons. If everyone is reduced to the minimum possible diet of one pound of food a day, 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 people out of the East Bengal population of 72,000,000 will starve unless they flee to India.

Bangladesh delegation to the conference consisted of several members. Their case was summed up by the Bangladesh Ambassador to the U.S. Mr. M.R. Siddiqui : “Pakistan today lies buried under a million dead bodies. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Pakistan together again.

“There is no other solution than an independent Bangladesh”.

No delegates came from Pakistan. Conference organizers said two were invited : one said he was coming and the other that he would try. Neither came.

WEEK-LONG DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WORLD AIRWAYS

Members of the Chicago Friends of East Bengal organized a week-long demonstration beginning on August 24 against World Airways, Inc. Demonstrators gathered everyday outside the Equitable Building in downtown Chicago carrying signs protesting the lease of two Boeing 700s to Pakistan for ferrying troops from West Pakistan to Bangladesh.

PIA, Pakistan’s official flag carrier, has seven of its own Boeing 707s. The two leased from the World Airways have been added to the fleet…PIA is paying the Oakland, Calif., based World Airways 170,000 dollars a month for the two leased planes.

Demonstrators were throwing a large number of paper planes “carrying tanks and troops” to draw the attention of the public to the collaboration of the airline in the massacre that is being perpetrated in Bangladesh. Roadside lectures by the demonstrators were attended by large group of sympathetic listeneres everyday.

To reenact the heaps of dead bodies floating through the rivers in Bangladesh the demonstrators put a number of human body shaped balloons bathed in red dye in the water.

Dick Murray and William Hogan, two organizers of the demonstration, were arrested on Monday (August 30) oin charges of polluting the water.

Demonstration ended on August 31. Chicago newspapers and television gave detailed coverage to the demonstration.

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BENGALI DIPLOMATS DEFECT

Pakistani Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Abul Fatah announced his defection on August 21. In a press conference in London he declared his allegiance to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh and put his services at their disposal. Top Pakistani diplomat in Hong Kong Mr. Mohiuddin has severed his relations with the government of Pakistan and declared allegiance to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.

MUKTI BAHINI NEWS

(We are receiving from our Mujibnagar correspondent detailed reports of the Mukti Bahini activities. We regret our inability to reproduce these reports due to shortage of space. Only a summerized version is presented below. Editor)

Mukti Bahini GHQ, Mujibnagar : Mukti Bahini have intensified their activities in all sectors inflicting heavy casualities on Pakistan troops, Razakars and their collaborators…Engagement and harrassments of Pakistan troops by Mukti Bahini are continuing in all sectors.

August 14 :
Reports received here on Augist 14 from different sectors put the number of Pakistan troops killed in various engagements at 318. A total of 73 enemy troops were wounded. 50 Razakars have been killed and 8 captured. Mukti Bahini also killed 13 Pakistan collaborators, captured 42 arms of various types. They destroyed or damged 5 vehicles used by the enemy troops. They also blew up 5 road bridges, 5 railway bridges, destroyed 5 power pylons and an electric sub-station.

August 15 and 16 :
Reports received here on 15th and 16th August from Different sectors show that Mukti Bahini units killed 146 Pakistan troops including four officers and have wounded 61. They have also killed 70 Razakars and captured 14. Mukti Bahini captured 38 arms of various types. They have destroyed 3 Pakistan vehicles used in carrying troops. 5 road and 4 railway bridges been damaged or destroyed.

Thd freedom fighters have cleared Nabinagar area in Comilla of Pakistan troops and captured a large quantity of ammunition. They have demolished an important railway bridge at Saguni area in Dinajpur district. This has disrupted the railway communication between Dinajpur-Pirganj-Thakurgaon. They also demolished a railway culvert disrupting rail communication between Phulbari and Parbatipur.

Razakars are surrendering to the Liberation forces in large numbers. They all complain of being ill-treated and sitrusted by the Pakistani authorities. They also feel that they are being used as cannon fodder by the Pakistan Army.

August 17 :
Reports of Mukti Bahini activities received here on August 17 show that the liberation army have killed 173 Pakistan troops including one major, one captain and 2 JCO’s. They have wounded 38 enemy soldiers. 51 Razakars and 25 collaborators were also killed by the Mukti Bahini.

August 18 :
According to reports received here today Mukti Bahini have killed 110 and wounded 55 Pakistan troops ; 47 Razakars and 11 collaborators were also killed. Freedom fighters demolished 3 road bridges disrupting communication in the occupied territory.

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Mukti Bahini have intensified their activities around Dacca city. They have completely demolished an important road bridge on Dacca-Narsingdi road resulting in disruption of traffic between Dacca and Narsingdi. It may be mentioned that railway communication has already been paralyzed due to the destruction of several railway bridges by the Bangladesh guerillas on Dacca Narsingdi railway line.

Pubali Jute Mills at Narsingdi has been heavyly damaged. Many other factories around Dacca have been damaged by the liberation forces.

Bangladesh guerrillas killed Syed Masud Mostafa Al-Madani, one of the vice-presidents of the All Pakistan Nizam-e-Islam while he was addressing a group urging support for the Pakistan troops in the outskirt of Dacca city. They have also killed some active Pakistan collaborators in Rupganj, Jinardi and Ghorasal areas.

On the night of August 17-18, Mukti Bahini raided a Pakistan position at Chutipur near Sharsa in Jessore district and killed 11 Pakistan soldiers. They captured some arms and one infantry wireless set from the enemy troops.

Late news :
SHIPS BLOWN UP
Two ships which are used by the Pakistani occupation army to ferry troops and supply from Karachi have been blown up on Chittagong Port by the Bangladesh freedom fighters.

On August 21 a 900 ton coasteal vessel and a large river vessel were sunk near Chandpur.

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

August 14 :
Le Monde Weekly : Correspondent Gerard Viratelle quotes Pakistan Army officers on U.S. transport vessels supplied for relief : “This will help us get to the villages which we have go far been nuable to reach”. World Bank has postponed consideration of the Brahmaputra Delta Development scheme pending satisfactory “settlement of the Bengali problem”. Explaining continued U.S. military deliveries to Pakistan Army : “for American strategists the Islamabad regime represents a vital link in the chain of pro-western countries which, from Greece to S.E. Asia, encircle the Soviet Union”.

Manchester Guardian : Correspondent Martin Wollacott reports that the Pakistan. White Paper fails to present any evidence on the charge of planned armed rebellion for March 26.

Economist : “No military tribunal is likely to overturn the judgement of the President who on March 26 called Sheikh Mujib a traitor. The evidence against him will not be very convincing but that will not prevent his conviction”. On possible diversionary attacks by Pakistan Army : “The Pakistanis have two tempting targets”. One is the 18-mile wide Siliguri gap between Bangladesh and Nepal which these access to the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. The flow of refugees is likely to increase due to vanishing food stocks and the doubtful success of U.N. efforts to organize distributioin of relief in good time.

London Times : Dr. Navin Scrimshaw of the Nutrition department at MIT warned that hundreds of children were in danger of dying within days because of undernourishment at refugee camps. Dr. Scrimshaw was accompanying Sen. Kennedy on his tour of refugee areas. Mr. Julian Francis, coordinator for the Oxfam operation, said that hundreds of children are dying daily from malnutrition in the refugee camps and that the malnutrition is worse than in Biafra”. Yahya Khan said that the East Bengal crisis had
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made Pakistan a “stronger and prouder nation”. Moudud Ahmed, Bengali lawyer in exile, offers his services to defend Sheikh Mujib.

Indianapolis Star : Sen. Kennedy estimates refugees will rise to 12 million by December.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch : Senator John Serman Cooper (Ky) asked for termination of all military aid to Pakistan.

August 18
Wall Street Journal : 65 U.S. war planes secretly delivered to Jordan in recent days ; U.S. transports have ferried military supplies to Jordan.

August 19
Christian Science Monitor : Tikka Khan orders 30 Awami League National Assemblymen to appear before Martial Law courts.

Philadelphia Enquirer : 6 Bengali seamen claim threats of violence as reason for leaving Al-Ahmdi to seek political asylum in U.S.

Toronto Globe & Mail : 3 Bengali seamen leave Sutlej at Montreal harbor…

August 20
London Times : 190 Awami League members and 1 independent member from Provincial Assembly disqualified. Must answer charges.

August 21
Toronto Globe & Mail : Harvard Economics Professor John Kenneth Galbraith calls for termination fo all aid to Pakistan which can directly or indirectly help suppression in Bangladesh.

London Times : Pakistan Army assigns A.K. Brohi to defend Sheikh Mujib.

Christian Sciene Monitor : Agha Shahi of Pakistan U.N. mission proposed on August 11 a visit of Security Council inspectors to prevent fighting between India and Pakistan.

New Republic : “Today, U.S. grainships carry U.S. armed Pakistani troops to shore up Khan’s regime against the majority in the East ; M-24 tanks and F-86 aircraft were arriving up to June”.

August 23
London Tiemes : Lt. Gen. Muhammed Yusuf recalled from retirment to be U.K. High Commissioner. He served in the same post under Ayub regime from 1959 to 1963.

US News & World Report : Dispatch from Dacca. Army patrols enforce “unofficial” curfew in city after 8 P.M. Wid stretches of countryside as deserted as city. Dacca streets being renamed. Bus signs being converted to English or Urdu. Pakistan Army troops continue to take sizable casualities at the hands of the resistance. Chances of famine strong with ports unable to handle the needed 3 to 4 million tons in imports of food and a shattered distribution center. Pakistan military commanders doubt success at restoring the Dacca-Chittagong main railroad which has been rendered useless by the Resistance. Pakistan diversionary
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action in Kashmir possible. Famine may hit by September or October causing as many as 7 million additional refugees to flee to India.

New York Times : Mukti Bahini successfully overcome Pakistan Army and Razakars to destroy police station in Hohiljang.

August 24
Christian Science Monitor : 60% of crops destroyed by floods. 13000 villages directly hit by floods.

London Times : At the 3rd. General Assembly of Press Foundation of Asia held in Bali, a special PFA report presented on “decimation of the Pakistani press”. According to the report, People, Ittefaq, and Swaraj destroyed or badly damaged by the Army during March and April. Sangbad burnt down by non-Bengalis. 7 newspaper workers killed in the fires. 30 journalists fled after others were arrested and tortured by Pakistan Army. Strict censorship is applied to the remaining press in Bangladesh.

Washington Post : 2 Boeing 707 aircraft leased by World Airways to Pakistan Army. The jets are used to carry wounded troops out of Bangladesh and to bring in replacements from West Pakistan.

August 24
New York Times : Tikka may be replaced Governor but may continue as Martial Law Administrator. Probable replacement is Dr. A.M. Malik, special assistant to Yahya Khan. Tikka awared military decoration. 195 Awami League Provincial Assemblymen disqualified. The League had won 288 out of 310 PA seats.

August 26
Washington Post : Heavy flooding increased threat of famine. In July U.S. agricultural expert Leon Hesser had forecast a drop of 12% below last year’s rice production assuming normal weather conditions. At that time he had recommended top priority to grain imports if potential famine is to be averted”.

August 27
Boston Globe : Sen. Kennedy demanded an end to U.S. association with the monumental slaughter in Bangladesh. He asked the Administration for an immediate cease to all military and economic support of the Pakistan govt. Kennedy suggested that Pakistan to exelled from SEATO and that the U.S. consider breaking diplomatic relations with Pakistan. He termed the present U.S. relief assistance as “bankrupt response” to the refugee crisis.

Christian Science Monitor : Dr. Jon Rohde, who recently served for 3 years in the Pak-SEATO Cholera Research Lab. in Dacca, warns that USAID agricultural officials report that famine has already begun in Bangladesh, and that it ‘will reach unimaginable proportions by the fall’. according to Rohde.

August 28
Boston Globe : Mary McGrory, syndicated columnist, writers : “The official explanation for the continued arms shipments to Pakistan is that they are bent on averting war between India and Pakistan…This takes no account of predictions that 20 million could die of famine between now and October. War could hardly visit a much greater catastrophe on the innocents…The Nixon Administration feels there is no substitue for power in foreign policy and no place for shame.
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Washington Post : State Department confirms U.S. willingness to begin new economic aid programs for Pakistan. Maurice Williams, second ranking official in USAID is reported to have returned from Pakistan with new economic proposals formulated by Islamabad. Robert J. McCloskey of the State Department pointed out that the U.S. looks forward “to resuming support for what was a promising development effort”. 38 U.N. observers have arrived in Dacca to begin administering U.N. relief operation.

August 29
New York Times : Sen. Charles Percy called for termiantion of all aid, except humanitarian supplies, to Pakistani until there is stability in Bangladesh. The humanitarian aid should not go through the Pakistan Army but through an international body like the U.N. Although Sen. Percy repeatedly expressed his horror over events in Bangladesh be avoided any outright denunciation of the Pakistan Govt. or the Nixon Administration policy of continuing arms shipments.

August 30
Nashville Tennessean : The editorial quotes Sen. Kennedy : “We are providing millions of dollars in military aid to Pakistan and blood money to look after the refugees”. The editorial believes that there is sufficient “documented evidence already will known in Rawalpindi” for President Nixon to “act positively and promptly on the Kennedy plea” to stop all assistance to Pakistan. The editorial calls on Nixon to rechannel the military aid funds for Pakistan into a program to help the “300,000 children now dying of malnutrition and cholera in the 1150 refugee camps in India.

August 31
Washington Post : Yahya’s representative Agha Hilaly charged India with using international relief fund to train guerrillas. The State Department denied any knowledge of the this allegation. Hilaly accused Kennedy of being only a step behind declaring war. The ambassador acknowledged that Pakistan was currently receiving “lethal spares” because, as he put it candidly, “Our armed forces-army, navy and air force, are armed with U.S. equipment, and so we must have spare parts”.

WHO SHOULD KNOW BUT HILALY!

Agha Hilaly, representative of the Yahya regime, was kind enough to substantiate speculations on the extent of U.S. military assistance to the Pakistan Army. In October, 1970 the Nixon Administration lifted the embargo on arms sales to Pakistan and offered to supply 300 armored personnel carriers. 18 Starfighters and 7 B-57 bombers. On June 22 when the news first broke about continued military shipments to Pakistan the State Department deined that any of this equipment had been delivered. They maintained that only “non-lethal” equipment was flowing to Pakistan since 1967 and that this would continue till previously issued licenses were honored. Now Hilaly informs us (Washington Post, August 31) that the military equipment being currently delivered includes “lethal spares” and that part of the arms under the October deal have been delivered. Maybe the State Department does not know what the Pantagon is up to. But who should know better than Hilaly? This admission of Hilaly must be impressed upon the public and the Congress in the case for a complete embargo on military assistance to Pakistan.

DEFENSE LEAGUE MEETING

A meeting of the Bangladesh Defense League will be held in Chicago on Saturday, September 11 to
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review the activities of the League and adopt a comprehensive program for fall. All are encouraged to attend. For details call (312) 288-0728.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CLC

National Conference of Clergy and Layman Concerned held their national conference at Markley Hall, Ann Arbor on August 17. The conference decided to extend allround support to the national lieberation movement of Bangladesh. A plan was drawn up to further the cause of Bangladesh liberation struggle.

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.

No. 9 September 25, 1971

Editorial

OPERATION FACE LIFT

Yahya’s “Operation Face Lift” is in full swing. Islamabad’s military junta hired a few experienced hands to give their propaganda some sophistication. Pakistan military’s shrieking noise that Sheikh Mujib was planning an armed take-over of Bangladesh on March 25 was too obvious an after-thought for the world to buy. Indian infiltrator theory did not cut much ice either.

So the Operation Face Lift, A civilian ‘governor’. Removal of too familiar a name as Tikka Khan. And of course, a general amnesty!

Those of Yahya’s friends who were desperately looking for some ‘improvements’ now got them all. As for the people of occupied Bangladesh nothing changed between March 25 and today.

The so-called civilian governor is in effect nothing but the chairman of the central “Peace Committee”, the much hated civilian arm of the military operation. The real boss of occupied Bangladesh is General Niazi, the hangman of General Tikka Khan. Much publicized general amnesty excludes Sheikh Mujib, and everybody else who is anybody in Bangladesh. While the junta’s propaganda machine busy drumming up the declaration of General amnesty fifteen professors of Dacca University including the secretary of the Teachers’ Union were being driven off to detention centers.

Those who are worried about the face they wear rather then death, destruction and an imminent famine may find some comfort in Yahya’s actions but for the 75 million people of Bangladesh who have chosen irrevocably the road to independent they are not significant enough even to cause minor detraction.

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The Inevitable (?)

As sure as night follows day there will be an appalling famine in East Bengal by Octorber unless the international community intervenes now. This was the grim conclusion of South Asia experts who met in Toronto recently under the sponsorship of Oxfam of Canada.

Form 1966 to 1970 Bangladesh produced an average of 10.8 million tons of food grain against a requirement of 12 million tons—a deficit of ten per cent. Recurring floods and cyclones never allowed the agricultural sector of Bangladesh to close this gap. Very little development program was undertaken to control the annual flood or to establish irrigation network.

Bulk of the people of Bangladesh live in a precariously marginal subsistance. Slightest dislocation around them causes many to slip off from their holds on existance.

When the last November cyclone came half a million people were washed away, but five million others who survived were not sure whether they will survive the survival. Transportation facilities are so primitive but for international help food could hardly be rushed to the victims.

Man-made disaster of Yahya is again another thing. This is not localized disruption of communication and transportation. This is a total collapse.

In April Yahya’s army fanned out in all directions to occupy the countryside. Magnitude and severity of army’s action led to : 1. Complete break-down of the life system : economic, political and social ; 2. Entire Bangladesh pervaded with a sense of insecurity, terror and fear.

Agricultural fields which escaped army’s destruction at best remained unattended. Agricultural system collapsed with the departure of 9 million refugees along with their livestocks and with a population of 30 million roaming around the countryside uprooted. Bangladesh which boasts the largest number of agricultural co-operatives in the world (for the same area) found herself coming to almost grinding halt with the collapse of co-operative machinery.

June was the planting season for the November harvest. Planting was erratic. Even Pakistan government’s report show at places it dropped to the ten per cent of normal.

Flood this month affected an area 4000sq. miles. Whatever planting took place in these areas half of it has been completely damaged by the flood.

PL 480 food grains which were heading for Chittagong in late March to cover the normal food deficit were diverted to avoid the army-navy activities in Chittagong. Even in normal situation the capacity of Chittagong port is quite limited. Under the present circumstances its food handling capacity has been further reduced by the Army’s top priority on keeping the army supplies from Karachi coming in continuously.

Railway and road network throughout Bangladesh is out of service. River network is the only means to carry food stuff to the hinterland. All river vessels including those given by the international community to carry food to the needy—have beer transformed into troop carriers and gun-boats by the Yahya’s army.

Pakistan army has only one very clearly defined objective in mind : to keep Bangladesh under Pakistani control at any cost. Army understands that language and that language alone. When river vessels were being given to Pakistan Army to carry relief materials—an Army officer remarked : “Now we can get into
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areas where we previously could not”. He knew to what use he is going to put them.

Dr. Linkoln C. Chen of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Jon E Rohde of Children’s Hospital Medical Center in an article in the British medical journal Lancet predicted that the period between now and November may precipitate a famine of unprecedented proportions affecting 25 million people.

In the famine of 1943 three million people died of starvation in Bangladesh. This impending famine will far exceed the ’43 famine in magnitude. With a conservative estimate of 3 million tons of food shortage (one-fourth of total requirement) deaty from starvation can easily reach the staggering figure of 10 million and beyond.

While a great human disaster is in the offing Yahya is playing games with the United Nations. He would not allow any relief operation without his occupation army’s supervision. With the record of their past handling of relief materials and relief operations Bengalis know that they would be safer without army’s help. If world feels any way responsible for the lives of these millions only way to reach them is through the representatives of Bengali people. Peter Shore, former British Labor Minister suggests the same thing : “The first requirement is to establish quickly some relationship of confidence between the U.N. and the Bangladesh representatives…The Bangladesh authorities must be brought into the planning and administration of food relief for overriding practical reasons”.

If there is anything called world conscience it would be asfully uncomfortable when in coming months 10 million people will die of starvation. Very little time is left. Men and women of conscience must act NOW.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Members of medical profession have a special role to play in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh. Doctors in the United Kingdom have already organized themselves to provide medical assistance to the Mukti Bahini and the refugees. A similar move in North America has been initiated by the Bangladesh Defense League. All doctors are requested to contact Dr. Zillur Rahman Athar immediately for further communication at the following address :

Zillur Rahman Athar M.D.
808 Hillwood Blvd
Nasville, TN 37209
Ph : (615) 356-3912

ALL-PARTY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FORMED

Mujibnagar, Sept 9 : Leaders of Bangladesh political parties met here to discuss the formation of an all-party committee to guide the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, Mr. Khondkar Mushtaque Ahmed, Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Mr. Mansoor Ali, Bangladesh Finance Minister, Mr. A.H.M. Kamaruzzaman, Bangladesh home Minister and Mr. M.A. Samad, political adviser represented Awami League, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani represented National Awami Party (Bhasahni Group), Mr. Muzaffar Ahmed represented his group of National Awami Party. Mr. Moni Singh of Bangladesh Communist Party and Mr. Monoranjan Dhar of Bangladesh Congress Party attended on behalf of their parties.

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In a unanimous resolution all political parties expressed their unflinching support to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh. The conference also urged all citizens of Bangladesh to remain solidly united behind the Government of Bangladesh.

At the conclusion of the two-day conference formation of an eight member all-party Consultative Committee was announced. The Committee consists of Moulana Bhashani (NAP-B), Mr. Muzaffar Ahmed (NAP-M), Mr. Moni Singh (BCP), Mr. Monoranjan Dhar (Cong), Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed (AL), Mr. Khondkar Mushtaque Ahmed (AL) and two other members from Awami League.

BANGLADESH HIGH COMMISSIONER VISITS NORWAY

Mr. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Bangladesh High Commissioner in U.K. recently paid a visit to Norway. He met the Foreign Secretary of Norway and appraised him of the situation in Bangladesh. He also met the judges of the Norway Supreme Court, secretary of International Jurist Committee (Norway brance), mayor of Aslo and the president of World Judges Association. Justice Chowdhury also spoke at the University of Aslo and addressed the Rotary Club of Norway.

Danes Act on Bangladesh

On August 10, 1971, the Danish Cabinet met to discuss, among other things, the question of the greater Danish contribution to the Bengali refugees in India. At that meeting the Cabinet was urged by concerned Danish citizens informed on Bangladesh to : 1. Work for the right of self-determination of the Bengali people ; 2. raise the question of genocide in Bangladesh and the problems of the refugees in India at the U.N. Security Council ; 3. decide to stop all aid to the Government of Pakistan.

The Danish Cabinet did act on the latter, ordering blockage of all further purchases on a loan of Danish Kroner 40 million which had been granted to Pakistan in Jan. Although D. Kr. 21 million of the total amount had already been used up, the remaining 19 million will be blocked. (In the past the Danish government has had several aid project in Pakistan. Largely consisting of technical assistance in various field. Skeletal representation of the personnel on these projects, for example, at Comilla, will be retained for the time being.)

Meanwhile, the Danish Cabinet further decided to have the Danish Foreign Minister discuss raising the Bangladesh question at the U.N. Security Council at the forthcoming meeting of Scandinavian Foreign Ministers in Stockholm in early September.

In other action, a group of concerned Danes have bagun to form a Bangladesh action group in Copenhagen. They have drawn up an appeal for support from some members of Denmark’s political parties. The growing interest in the Bangladesh question could play some kind of role in the possible elections of September 21st in Denmark and, if there occurs a change of government after that date, more attention to the Bangladesh issue may be forthcoming.

BANGLADESH REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM CONFERENCE

Dr. Enamul Huq, Director of Dacca National Museum attended the International Museum Conference held in Paris August 21-September 10. In an address to the conference Dr. Huq appealed to the delegates to bring pressure on Yahya junta to stop their limitless atrocities and cultural genocide in Bangladesh. The
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participants expressed sympathy for the struggling people of Bangladesh.

POET NAZRUL RECEIVES HIS ALLOWANCE AGAIN

Mujibnagar : Mr. Hossain Ali, head of the Bangladesh Mission in Calcutta presented a check to the son of poet Nazrul Islam on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh. Since March Yahya Government has discontinued giving any allowance to the ailing poet.

WEST PAKISTAN SCENE : ACT II

“Events here in West Pakistan are rapidly moving towards a disaster similar to the one which overwhelmed East Pakistan last March” reports London daily Observer (September 5) correspondent from Karachi.

He reports that “made desperate by his fading chance of winning political leadership by orthodox menas” Zulfikar Ali Bhutto” is demanding that President Yahya Khan should immediately transfer power to the people ‘without gimmicks’.

“Bhutto is dropping broad hints of a ‘terrible mass movement’ to promote democratic rule. There is little indication that the President, who thought nothing of using his military power to crush the massively popular Awami League, has any fear of confronting the smaller People’s party in the streets of West Pakistan.”

“Meanwhile, the military regime is making some concessions to Bhutto. It has formally lifted Press censorship, but only by boiling down all the many martial law regulations aimed at intimidating and restraining the Press into a single ordinance which is in itself sufficiently dracoinian.”

…“But Bhutto is clearly not impressed by any of these actions. He has ridiculed General Yahya’s appointment of civilian Governors and says roundly that they ‘represent nobody’. In fact, he has declared that they are worse than the military men, who at least commanded the Army’s respect”.

New York Times correspondent Malcolm Browne reports from Karachi (September 12) “Mr. Bhutto insists that Pakistani’s current economic and political crisis can only be solved by political ledadership, not by army officers”.

Mr. Browne continues : “He (Bhutto) prefers not to talk about possible solutions for East Pakistan. ‘It may seem strange’ Bhutto said, ‘but the Government does not keep me informed about East Pakistan’.”

“Mr. Bhutto denounes the ‘that he says rules Pakistan and threatens that if he cannot reach agreement with President Yahya soon he will announce publicly waht his defferences with the President are”.

Associated Press reports from Karachi that Bhutto warned there could be” a civil war even in West Pakistan”. He said the country was “virtually on the brink of collapse” with the Government treasury empty and law and order broken down.

In the September 15 dispatch Mr. Browne of NY Times reports : “An attempt to kill one of the President’s key lieutenants today heightened speculation that one or more consiracies may be under way.

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M.M. Ahmed, economic adviser to the President was wounded by a knife-wielding assailant in Islamabad, the capital…According to a Government announcement, Mr. Ahmed, who holds Cabinet rank and is among the President’s closest advisers, was attacked as he was about to enter an elevator in his office building. He was stabbed in the back, the announcement said”.

MUKTI BAHINI NEWS

Mujibnagar, Mukti Bahini GHQ : During the third week of August Mukti Bahini sank more than a dozen ships in the ports of occupied Bangladesh.

On August 16, they sank 6 cargo ships in Mangla port : 2 American, 2 Chinese, one Japanese and one Pakistani. These ships were reportedly carrying weapons and supplies forthe occupation army.

The same day, at Chittagong port Bangladesh commando units sank a Somalian ship ‘Lightning’ and a 15000 ton Pakistani ship ‘Al-Abbas’. Another ship ‘Formosa’ loaded with a cargo of jute met the same fate.

The approach to Chittagong port has been blocked by sinking a large cargo barge in the Karnafully opposite jetty no. 13.

These simultaneous actions by the Bangladesh Liberation Army unnerved the high command of the occupation forces. On August 18 General Tikka Khan visited Chittagong port to see thin for himself. He ordered the arrest of the senior naval officer-in-charge of the port.

On August 16 3 ships were sunk at Narayanganj harbor. A large steamer carrying coal was also sunk. Bangladesh forces captured one cargo launch, four motor tugs and 16 barges in Sunamganj.

August 15 :
According to the information received here today Mukti Bahini have killed 102 Pakistan troops including 2 officers ; 49 Razakars and 6 collaborators have also been killed.

The enemy was driven back from Kheair market and Lakshmipur in Noakhali on August 21.

Mukit Bahini Liberated Ayedpur area on the same day.

August 26 :
The following reports reached here today :
On August 22 two Pakistan platoons including irregulars attempted to raid Mukti Bahini in Bahmania and exchanged fire. Enemy attack was repulsed and they suffered 25 casualities including one major.

On August 22 Mukti Bahini raided Pukhuria School occupied by enemy troops Forty-five enemy soldiers were killed and 15 wounded.

On August 24 Mukti Bahini ambushed Pakistan troop in tirdhyar Bazar and inflicted six casualities. As rerisal Pakistan troops burnt civilian houses of the locality and then fled.

August 27 and 28 :

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On August 26 Mukti Bahini raided Goyainghat in Sylhet district and killed 13 Razakars and captured 2 others.

Telephone lines between Nurri Boarmari and Kamalpur-Bakshiganj have been cut off.

Ambushed enemy patrol on Naokuchi-Ahmednagar road in Mymensingh and killed 3 Pakistan troops.

On August 25, demolished railway track near Madhabpur. As a result one railway engine with three bogies derailed in Sylhet.

On August 24, enemy troops attacked Takergaon and Lalpur in Sylhet with 6 boats fitted with medium machine guns. They also used mortars. Mukti Bahini sunk one Pakistan speed boat and inflicted heavy casualities.

On August 23, killed 15 enemy troops in a raid at Pakistan position at Jagannath Dighi area. Also destroyed two bunkers.

Raided Pakistan positions at Sagarmal and Muraichara killing 5 enemy troops and one Razakar.

August 21 :
Mr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former Revenue Minister and Secretary of the Provincial Muslim League, a collaborator of the occupation army, has been killed.

On August 28, Mukti Bahini raided Berigaon area. There was a heavy fighting between the Mukti Bahini and the enemy troops with continued till late August 29. In this action 8 Pakistan troops were killed and 15 wounded.

On August 27, Mukti Bahini raided Ranamati near Phulbari in Mymensingh and killed 15 enemy solders.

In Noakhali Mukti Bahini ambushed 15 vehicles carrying supplies for enemy troops in Feni-Belonia area on August 27 and damaged almost all vehicles. On August 25 they demolished a road bridge near Hasanpur in the same area.

On August 27 Mukti Bahini destroyea railway track in Nakurgachhi in N. Bengal. On the same day they fired on enemy positions at Darpul and inflicted 3 casualities.

In Kushtia Mukti Bahini killed Peace Committee chairman on Aug 27 in Pataldanga.

NEWS FROM BANGLADESH GROUPS
Colorado
Dr. m. Sher Ali, president of Bangladesh League of America, Colorado, reports : A booth was set up in the Blue Room Mall of Cinderella City, the largest shopping center in the mid-west on August 14.

On August 21 a variety show was staged to raise funds.

On August 31 Ambassador Siddiqui adn Mr. A.M.A. Muhit addressed a largely attended press conference in Denver. Local redios, newspapers gve extensive coverage of the press conference. The ambassador met state political leaders and appraised the Bangladesh situation.

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Indiana-Ohio
Representatives of various Bangladesh groups and Friends of East Bengal attended a meeting of the Bangladesh Association of Midwest oin September 18 to hear a first hand report from Dr. Aminul Islam who has just returned after a six-week tour of duty with the Bangladesh government. Dr. Islam worked closely with the Mukti Bahini and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Persons or groups interested to know more about the current situation may contact Dr. Islam (1212 Mt. Vernon Ave,. Dayton, Ohio 45405).

Urbana, IL
An international film festival has been organized in aid of the children of Bangladesh in the University of Illinois campus. Seven feature films from seven different countries will be shown September 20 through 26.

Tennessee
President and several members of the Bangladesh League of America, Tenn. attended the meeting of the Bangladesh Defense League in Chicago and expressed their desire to co-ordinate their activities with the Defense League. A member will soon be nominated from Tenn to join the Board Directors of the Defense League.

Toronto
A benefit presentation of Satyajit Ray’s “Dui Kanya” was organized on August 26. There were four showings of the movie. Entire proceeds from the presentation was donated to Oxfam of Canada.

Another charity performance has been arranged for September 17. An evening of music and dance at Eatons Auditorium will be highlighted by the performances of playback singer Suman Kalyanpur and party. Proceeds will go to Oxfam.

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Write to us giving your views comments and suggestions. Keep us informed of your programs. Send us addresses of persons interested in our liberation war. We’ll send them the Newsletter and other literature.
-Editor
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PLEASE NOTE

1. With the opening of the college and universities we expect requests for speakers to speak on Bangladesh from various campuses. On behalf of Bangladesh Defense League Dr. J. Bhattacharjee will maintain a list of speakers and organize all lecture assignments for various parts of the country. Those who are interested to be included in the speakers pool and those who need their service please contact :

Dr. Jnanendra k. Bhattacharjee
Dept. of Microbiology
Miami Univ,. Oxford, Ohio 45056 (513) 529-4727

Dr. Bhattacharjee will also supply information and provide assistance in ogranizing benefit performance for your locality.

2. Along with the 7th issue of the Bangladesh Newsletter we have mailed a specimen brochure prepared for fund raising by the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal. We requested all interested persons and
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groups to feel free to ask for required number of brochure to raise funds. We should be happy to supply these brochures on request.

3. A large supply of information materials has just been produced by the Defense League. Let us know if you would like to make use of some of them.

4. Bangladesh Mission in Washington, D.C. is publishing a weekly newsletter. If you are not getting it write to :

Bangladesh Mission
1223 Conn. Ave. NW
Fourth Floor, Washington DC 20036

5. Friends of East Bengal, Nashville, TN, is offering to help setting up of Bangladesh Information Desks in school campuses. They will supply literatue (you pay only mailing cost) and advise you on how to go about setting up desks. Contact :

Friends of East Bengal
Box 42, Sta B
Vanderbilt Univ
Nashville, TN 37203

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

September 1 :
Wash. Post : Partial transcript of ABC interview with Hilaly.
Q : Well, what has been going to your counrty, sir?
A : We wer allowed to buy a certain quantity of spares for the Army is equipped with American weapons exclusively…If we do not buy from her (U.S.), we can get them elsewhere, but that would cost us ten times more.

September 2 :
London Times : (Rawalpindi)-Pakistani official spokesman described the appointment of a civilian governor for East Bengal as “yet another significant step toward President Yahya Khan’s pledge to transfer power to the elected representatives of the people”.

(karachi) Mujib’s trial postponed for at least 3 months according to informed sources while Yahya seeks a political settlement to the East Bengal crisis. The appointment of Malik as civil governor is seen here as only one of a number of measures to satisfy public opinion before the trial takes place.

September 3 :
Wash. Post : (Islamabad) In West Pakistan while there is wide acceptance of Yahya’s military attempt to hold Pakistan’s two wings together, some Pakistanis doubt it will success…sympathy for Bengalis ranges from those who dismiss them as racially inferior “little monkey” to those who believe the Bengalis were misled by treasonous leaders. Extremists consider war with India ivevitable adn believe Pakistan should strike soon rather than wait until its arms forces are further bled by the guerrillas…Much of the savagery of army tactics in East Bengal is attributed to Gen. Tikka Khan. “Tikka is pretty chilling” says one man who has spent some hours with him ; he sys, ‘collective punishment’ the way you say ‘good morning’.”

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(Dacca) Military governor orders 48 Awami League Provincial Assemblymen 13 civil servants and 4 Dacca University professors to trial before military court on charges of sedition etc. Maximum sentence is 14 years in prison.

London Times : Peter Shore, MP (Labor) proposed to Sir Alce Douglas-Hume that the British Govt. should not resume consortia aid or economic aid to West Pakistan.

Indian Army on alert along entire western front including Kashmir. I India is believed to be apprehensive that Pakistan might embark on millitary action along the western front to cover their harrassment at the hands of guerrillas.

In a letter to the editor Oxfam Dir.H.L. Kirkley writes that the situation is “clearly beyond the control of individuals and private agencies”. He urges the international community to intervene now “to avert total famine” in Bangladesh.

NY Times : (Karachi) Albert Jacob Walg, a Dutch student tourist, was convicted of spying to two years imprisonment. The trial took place in secret where Dutch consular officials were not permitted nor were they informed of the charges or the evidence against the student. The student was arrested on February 17 near Karachi airport on charges of photgraphing Pakistan aircraft. The usual visible military aircraft at the airport are “C-130 transports of they type the army has used to supply its occupation troops” in Bangladesh.

September 4 :
London Times : Omega Relief Team says it will try to recent Bangladesh this month despite the deportation by the Pakistan Army on the earlier attempt. 145 Awami League Provincial Assembly ordered to appear before martial law administrators to answer charges of sedition, etc.

Globe & Mail : (Calcutta) Pakistani officials estimate that 4000 sq. miles of East Bengal flooded, more than 70 people dead and 9 million driven from their homses. “Crop losses are heavy, increasing the threat of famine already posed by the civil war”. Floods estimated to have ruined 3 million acres of rice, sugercane and jute. Pakistan govt. reports say that at least 50% of Kushtia district crops being harvested and 45% of crops being planted for the December harvest have been destroyed. Before the flood the Pakistan govt. estimated 3 million tons of grain would be required due to shortfall. No new estimate of shortfall.

Manchester Guardian : The Pakistan Govt. has ordered all its diplomats, other embassy personnel and their families to surrender their passports. September 7 has been set as the deadline for the surrender. The unprecedented move is an attempt to prevent defections to the Bangladesh movement. The order was cabled to all Pakistan embassies and High Commissions. The Pakistan High Commissioner to U.K. defended the move as one which “is an essential security measure, but it will also help to prevent the loss of passports which involves issuing new passports”.

(London) Dressed in denim uniforms, a group from Action Bangladesh demonstrated outside the office of the shipping company. Furness Withy Co. They were protesting against arms shipments to Pakistan. They were charged with threatening behavior. The group had set up picked linse for two days.

(Calcutta) The Bangladesh Govt. is to set up a united liberation front incorporating several leftwing and “progressive” parties as well as the Awami League.
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The move may well open the prospect of Soviet support for the guerrilla war in Bangladesh. The hope is that the establishment of a united front will convince the Russians that Bangladesh is a genuine people war of liberation.

CS Monitor : Pakistan Govt. lifts press curbs on September 3 but under another regulation 7 years prison sentence for conviction “of a crime considered prejudicial to the security, integrity, and honor of the country”.

Pakistan Affairs : (Embassy) Major General. Agha Mohammed Raza will replace Agha Hilaly as the ambassador to the U.S. Gen. Raza served as ambassador to China during 1951-54 and 1962-66.

September 5 :
Sunday Times : Announcement of amnesty specifically included personnel of the armed forces, the East Pakistan rifles and the police, but it excluded members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly in the East wing as well as “a limited number of individuals against whom crimianl proceedings had been initiated. The amnesty did not appear to apply to Sheikh Mujib.

Peter shore, Labor MP, recently returned from a visit to the border area. He writes that “the prospects for famine are grim…The relief experts in the field point to November as the starting month of a major food crisis”. Accoding to him the West Pakistan Army cannot be trusted to distribute relief due to the “delibeate political misuse of food which would follow”. He suggests that the U.N. be used but the “Bangladesh authorities must be brought into the planning and administration of food relief”. He also questions the adequate of the present U.N. force of 38 workers and suggest the the magintude of the problem and to avoid deliberate misuse of relief supplies a force of 1000 or more personel should be recruited.

(Peter Shore) On returning from a recent visit to the East Pakistan border Peter Shore writes : “in East Bengal the relief of hunger is not the overriding aim of the Pakistan Govt or Army. Their prime task, as the expulsion of eight million peol from their own country has already made plain, is to hold East Bengal for Pakiatan at almost any cost…The prospects for famine are grim…The West Pakistan Army has reduced the province to chaos. The movement of food as of other supplies has been disrupted by the collapse of the civil administration, by Army requisitions, by military reprisals and by guerrilla sabotage…the relief experts in the field point to November as the starting month of a major food crisis. But even if the food can be brought to East Bengal who can be trusted to distribute it? There are overwhelming objections to handing it over to the West Pakistan Army. It is not so much a question of the Army itself consuming the food—there are only 70,000 or so troops in East Pakistan and they would live off the land anyway—but the deliberate political misuse of food which would follow as the Army and the local “peace committees” saw to it that their friends and collaborators were fed and their opponents went hunry. Moreover the Pakistan Army only controls partof East Bengal. Enclaves held by the guerrillas certainly exist and these could grow substantially when the monsoon ends”. He goes on to point out the possible dangers to using U.N. teams as “there is the real danger that U.N. relief teams will be so inadequate in number that, within the areas controlled by the Pakistan Army the Army would in fact be running relief, with the U.N. providing no more than a cloak of respectability. There is also the reasonable fear that the U.N. operation could be undertaken in a way that inadvertently increased the repressive power of the Pakistan Army. The first requirement is to establish quicklysome realtionship of confidence between the U.N. and the Bangladesh rerpresentatives…the Bangladesh authorities must be brought into the planning and administration of food relief for overriding practical reasons—because of the areas they wholly or partly control and because of the impact their own military operations might have. Secondly it is crucial that the U.N. recruites for this vast relief operation substantial numbers of workers…They (U.N.) will need to recrit 1000 or more..The urgency of all this cannot be overstressed. Not only is a great human disaster in
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the offing but the subsequent political effects could be incalculable..They (8 million) refugees are not refugees from hunger. They are the refugees from oppression and fear. If hunger takes an increasing grip in East Pakistan in the months ahead yet another tide of refugees will flow across the borders. There is a real danger that this could sweep away not only the overstretched relief resources of India but the peace of the subcontinent as well”.

Wash Post (Islamabad) West Pakistan’s major esports—testiles—has been sold in Middle Eastern markets rather than in Bangladesh with no loss for the produce. Despite its success in maintaining stability so far, the govt. realizes that it is building problems it may not be able to contain. Either factories will have to shut down or prices will jump if the current situation continues into the spring of next year. Rising industrial unemployment is a principal worry since the workers could easily take to the streets in demonstratios. Although most foreign aid has been suspended the effect of the suspension will not be felt until next year. Commodity aid could continue to flow into Pakistan until 1973, judging by past patterns. For example, U.S. aid for fiscal 1970 was close to $100 million and by June 1971 very little had been used up. About one-third of this aid had not even been discaussed by Am. officials and Pakistan importers two months ago. The earlier attitude of the Pakistan govt. in response to world criticism has changed and it has made new requests for aid to several former aid donors.

(Islamabad) Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sultan Mohammed Khan left for Moscow seeking to clarigy the implications of the Indo-Soviet treaty signed four weeks ago. After the initial shock, Pakistan foreign office officials now point to the possible deterrent that the treaty may provide to India’s actions. This optimistic reading at least indicates Islamabad’s anxiousness to avoid a policy of confrontation with Moscow as recommended by the Pakistan. Press in general and Bhutto in particular. Bhutto compared the treaty to the Hitler-Stalin agreement. Sultan Khan denied that he would seek a similar treaty for Pakistan and pointed to “the best ties with China without the necessity of a formal defense pact”.

September 6 :
NY Times : (New Delhi)
“Washington’s policy as described by Am. diplomats her—most of them do not agree with it—is designed to be pragmatic, unemotional, quiot, constructive and sophisticated. It is aimed at keeping a foot in both camps, restraining India and Pakistan from going to war again, and producing stability on the subcontinent…Reliable sources ausggest that the U.S. is hoping for some short-term political solution to (the) civil war and that it sees a united Pakistan under the present Yahya regime as the best means to accomplish this.

(Islamabad) For the U.S. the main fear is the danger of war bet Pakistan and India which could swiftly involve both the Soviet Union and China. For Pakistan the main fear is of going broke. Washington has provided no new aid since March but the pipeline is by no means dry. U.S. officials are especially pleased by some steps Pakistan has recently taken : (a) Pakistan agreement to allow 38 U.N. officials as partial observers ; (b) Pakistan agreement to have mixed Pakistan and foreign crews on relief vessels loanded ; (c) Pakistan agreement to accept U.N. and U.S. officials to head food relief and refugee relief assistance programs : (d) Pakistan program for refugee rehabilitation centers : (e) Pakistan removal of Tikka Khan as Govt. and ML Administrator and replacement by a civilian as the new govt ; (f) Pakistan easing of press censorship and permission to resume limited political activity provide it does not involve criticism of the military regime ; (g) Pakistan participation in the arrangements of Kissinger’s visit to China.

While private Am. criticism has been muted lately there is a gulf bet. the views of many U.S. diplomats in the Pakistan capital and some of their Pakistan capital and some of their colleagues in Dacca.

September 7 :
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London Times (Editorial)
“The amnesty…was depressingly accompanied by warnings of more arrests to come. Some of the regular and irregular troops who were involved in the fighting are to be let go, but some more of the politicians are to be rounded up”.

T Globe & Mail (Dacca) Pakistan Govt. on flood damage : 96 dead, 500,000 homeless, cost $125 million, all roads connecting Dacca with north still under water. Govt. has approved $1.2 million for relief.

September 8 :
London Times
“The future of West Pakistan, quite as much as the eastern wing, is now inextricably intertwinged with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s fate…After the events since March the future in Pakistan can now only take three possible turns : East Bengal might ultimately win its independence. Alternatively, East Bengal might remain within the union of Pakistan but under a West Pakistan sponsored local govt. which would neither represent the aspirations of the Bengalis nor would it wield effective political power within a fed. govt. If one is to predict the future by the past pattern of regional compulsions then the present mood of euphoria is West Pakistan would disappear the moment East Bengal achieved its independence and the minority provinces would feel completetly vulnerable to the threat of Punjab’s hegemony. From the minority provinces point of view the pol counterbalance to Punjabi domiantion will either of the first two possibilities. Ironically, the integrity of the western wing might only be preserved by Press. Yahya Khan giving effective and real power to the Bengalis Yet this can only be achieved if the West Pakistan come to terms with the man they propose to execute”.

Wash Post (Islamabad)
A key test of the success of U.S. leverage will be Pakistan treatments of Sheikh Mujib. Yahya Khan has publicly called Mujib a traitor and no one is predicting that the military tribunal will find him not guilty.

There are reports that yahay has angrily terminated several discussions with foreigners when the name of Mujib was raised. U.S.A. Ambassador Joseph Farland, who has direct lines to the White House, is reported to have established a cordial relationship with Yahya Khan.

The U.S. has decided to do all it can to prevent famine this fall. But there are many diplomate here who believe that Pakistan will never succed in re-establishing the unity of the nation, no matter what emergency food aid or friendly advice the govt. is offered and accepts.

London Times : 4 members of the Omega team including one Am were arrested and are being held in jail at Jessore. They had crossed over on Sun with relief supplies. They face charges of illegal entry.

September 9 :
London Times (The Times Diary)
The overseas directors of Christian Aid and Oxfam report “the first signs of coming famine which may, they say, kill millions. Both are bitter about the international response to the treat”. Team of 7 engineers from CA, Oxfam, War on Want, worked in Noakahali area to get planting possible for December harvest.

Wash Post (Dacca) At least 15 university teachers arrested or ordered to report to Martial Law authorities in the last two and a half weeks, while students maintain a virtual boycott of universities throughout Bangladesh. A Dacca University, for example, only 63 out of an enrollment of 6000 are attending classes.

September 10 :
Wash Post (Islamabad) Pakistan has asked its western aid givers to consider its long standing request for
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debt relief and to reconsider their reluctance toward further assistance because of the crisis in East Bengal. Pol. observers here said that the Pakistan govt. was apparently counting on Yahya Khan’s recent decisions—the appointing of a civilian governor in East Bengal and the granting of amnesty—to mollify western critics of the military regime. October 31 is the date on which the unilateral Pakistan moratorium on debt repayment ends. The total international debt is $4 billion with the annual debt liability exceeding 25% of annual export earnings. The major effort is now directed at winning the West nations agreement for the suspension of debt repayments in convertible currency. The U.S. is the principal creditor. The Pakistan rupee is so weak and overvalued that the dollar depreciation may not effect Pakistan debt servicing.

NY Times
Harvard Med School team composed of Dr. Lincoln C. Chen and Dr. Jon E. Rohde warns that Bangladesh faces the “largest food deficit” since the famine ni 1943 when 3 million died. Some 25 million are predicted to be affected by the shortage. According to their aritcle in the current issue of Lancer, approximately “2.9 million tons of imports will be required to offset the deficit but the Pakistan Govt. has failed to acknowledge this crisis, much less initiated effective programs…much of the existing food stocks have been taken to the military cantonments to feed the army”. According to the team transportation facilities cannot handle relief shipments from abroad, therefore “the opportunity to prevent a major famine is rapidslipping away”.

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Photocopy of the original complete report of the items published here will be supplied at request.
Write to :

Editor
Bangladesh
500 Paragon Mills Rd # B-7
Nashville TN 37211
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September 11 :
Wash Post : Malik, the new civilian governor appointed by Yahya Khan, made his fisrt trip to the countryside. At Faridpur he met about 30 administraition officials and “peace committee” workers. Army officers of the local command were present at the meeting. The Governor was told : (a) the Army and police cannot go successfully into the intcrior to fight the Mukt Bahini ; (b) people in the area listen only to the Bangladesh redio and to the All India Radio, rejecting news broadcasts by Pakistan Radio ; (c) people who have surrendered under the September 5 amnesty are forbidden to withdraw money from the bank ; (d) attendance at most local schools in nil. Islamabad announced that Yahya is to visit Iran next week. There was speculation that the Shah of Iran may dediate between Pakistan and Bangladesh and between Pakistan and India. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sultan Mohammed Khan returned fro Moscow with assuranes from Gromyko that the USSR was “deeply interested in the unity and integrity of Pakistan”.

London Times (Calcutta) New broadbased committee formed for the struggle for independence. The committee consists of 4 AL members, and 4 NAP, Muzaffar Ahmed’s NAP, ang the Communist Party of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh National Congress is also on the Committee. Mahbubul Alaam, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary, announced plans to send a delegation to plead its case before the U.N. General Assembly.

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September 13 :
Wash Post : Plans for the autumn guerrilla campaign were discussed by members of the Bangladesh Mission in Washington. Pakistan embeassy sources say that “any mass movement of troops across the India-East Bengal border, whether of Indian soldiers or Bengali guerrillas would be interpreted as an attack by India and would signal all-out war”. U.S. military analysts say that operating in the broken-up terrain of Bangladesh, well-trained guerrillas could keep a larger regular army at bay for years, much as the Vietcong have been able to continue operations in Vietnam. State Dept say that they are “hopeful” about the appointment of Malik and the announcement of amnesty as a signal of sincere efforts by Yahya to reestablish peace. But, they say, “it’s just one tiny step and, obviously, it’s intended for us to see.”

(Dacca) Informed sources said that the Pakistan Govt. has told the U.N. that it expects 50,000 rebels to be
operating in East Bengal by October and it cannot guarantee the safety of foreign food aid monitors. The sources said that Pakistan wants U.N. relief monitoring reduced but that relief workers say this would reduce the efficiency of the program aimed at preventing widespread famine. Govt. and private relief workers said they needed monitors to spot areas where food is urgently needed and to prevent grain from being used as bait to pacity the rebellious population.

September 14 :
London Times : Khurrum Khan Panni, Ambassdor to the Philipphines, defected to the Bangladesh govt. He is reported to remain in Manila. Mohiuddin Ahmed Jaigirdar, Head of the High Commission in Lagos, defected to the Bangladesh Govt. and flew with his family to London. This brings the total of diplomatic defections in recent weeks to nearly 40. (Kuala Lumpur) The situation in Bangladesh and West Bengal dominated the first session of the 17th Conference of the Commonwelth parliamentary Association as it opened in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Arthur Bottomley, Labour MP and Minister for Overseas Dev. in 66-67 described the situation in Bengal as “acute”. He asked that steps be taken to assure future food requirements in view of the failure to sow for the next harvest in Bangladesh.

Wash Post : The editorial writes : “from the Pakistani side there is still no sign that an accomodation—as opposed to revenge and pacification—has any appeal…political impartial observers have yet to see evidence in East Bengal that conditions are normal enough to permit development efforts to proceed…Pakistan has been unable to secure new loan commitments, either from bilateral or international sources…military supplies have continued to flow to Islamabad. So it is that the Administration now is exploring ways to slip new kinds of assistance past an outraged Congress : By an indulgent attitude toward debt rescheduling, by expanding direct aid under the “humanitarian” label, and by taking advantage of the too-loose language of present Congressional restriction economic aid. Mr. Nixon had mad the U.S. partner to suppression of a cruel military regime. He has been the general’s friend in need, to American’s shame and surely to its ultimate political loss as well”.

September 15 :
London Times : The Labor Party yesterday decided to press U.K. govt. to intervene with Pakistan for the release of Sheikh Mujib and to raise the subject to the situation into the U.N. “as a threat to peace”.

(Teheran) Yahya Khan arrived here for his first visit abroad since March. There is no confirmation here of rumours that Teheran is being used as a launching pad for attempts to encourage a dialouge between India and Pakistan.
Issued by
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills Rd #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211
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No. 10 October 10, 1971

Editorial

YAHYA’S HOUSE OF WAX

If was figures could run nations, colonialism would have been a thriving business. Veteran colonial powers possessed no less skill and finesse in manutacturing native ‘leaders’ in their backyards than does General Yahya. Hitory is replete with examples how these homemade ‘leaders’ along with their elaborate regal paraphernalia crumbled into bits and pieces in less trying situation than that exists today in Bangladesh. But, probably colonial minds work in a way that History cannot cure.

Yahya’s backyard factory is working overtime to put up a grand wax museum of our time. A ‘governor’, a handy set of ‘cabinet members’, even a full line of assemblymen! Parody is the name of the game. A very ambitious parody at that. The General does not plan to stop until he has put in a pre-fabricated ‘constituion’ as the center-piece of the show.

Nations around the world are watching the Pakistani military junta at their endeevour and are perhaps a little amused at their desperation. But the people of Bangladesh have very little to feel amused about. As the grand show of ‘change’ unfurles on the show-window for the world amusement, skulls and bones pile up at yet faster rate behind the velvet screen. Life is becoming more and more insecure in occupied Bangladesh. Elsewhere on these pages we have reports describing the continuation and intensification of savagery of the Pakistani occupation army while military chieftains are sweet-talking to the world to keep the U.S. senators calm and the United Nations General Assembly hopeful.

Since History cannot cure the peculiar workings of the colonial minds, it has developed its own way of dealing with them. It crushes them under its wheels. People of Bangladesh are determined to turn these wheels of history faster.
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Saxbe-Church Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Bill is expected to be reported out of the Committee on Foreign Relations very soon. It will be ready for floor action by the third week of October.

Generate as many letters and telegrams to your senators as you can. Persuade your friends to write to their senators immediately. Better still, if you can, come to Washington D.C. to personally lobby in the senate. We are requesting each of our readers to organize to send at least five letters. Try to avoid writing form letters. For more information about lobbying, contact Bangladesh Information Center, 418 Seward Sq. SE, Apt 4, Washington D.C. 20003 (Ph. (202) 547-3194).

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DEATH AND TERROR REIN IN OCCUPIED BANGLADESH

A highly placed citizen of Bangladesh who has just fled the country attended the Bangladesh Defense Leauge meeting in Chicago on September 25. He gave a report on the current situation. For fear of army reprisal on the members of his family he left behind, he wishes not to be identified by name.
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Dacca is a city of death and terror, he reports, and so is the rest of occupied Bangladesh. Nobody ventures to go out of their houses after sunset. If you go out. chances are that you may not return. Even for people who do not indulge in such risk enterprizes—life is not quite guaranteed Some of them, for no reason, disappear. You never hear from them again.

Offices and schools in Dacca are open, but ‘functioning’ hardly is a word to describe them. Bengali officers, high or low, are not trusted. They are relegated to positions of clerks while the army personnel keep the decision-making to themselves.

Attendance in Dacca University is below 5 per cent. When the university opened for the first time only 32 students attended out of six thousand. Attendance has now increased to the present level after a continuous campaign of reprisal against the parents. In Rajshahi University attendance is still below 3 per cent of total. Majority of the students attending classes are non-Bengalis.

Out of 94,000 students who were scheduled to appear in the high school graduation examination about 3500 appeared. Again the bulk of them are non-Bengalis.

Bengali youths are prime suspect. Harrassment and physical torture of the youth is a common place experience. Cities are gradually becoming the prison of the middle-aged.

Atrocity stories proliferate, each competing with every other in terms of savagery. An eye-witness described how a Bengali Wing-Commander of Pakistan Air Force was kept in his detention cell with legs tied to the ceiling.After 66 days of ceaseless torture he succumbed to death.

About 300 women prisoners in Dacca Military Cantonment are not allowed to wear clothes because some of them have committed suicide by converting their saries into hanging ropes.

Rightist organizations like Muslim League and Jamat-e-Islami have been activated to recruit Razakars (vigilante group). Razakars are regularly sent out to loot and burn villages at night. Later govt. press releases condemn these activities by throwing the responsibility to the Mukti Bahini.

In the cities poor rickshaw drivers are forced into joining the Razakars. They are denied their driver’s permit unless they have served with the Razakars for a period.

Relatives of Mukti Bahini fighters are singled out regularly for wholesale reprisal. Guerrilla prisoners are sometimes released and sent back to their camps to collect information while Pakistan army holds their families as hostages.

MUKTI BAHINI NEWS SUMMARY

Mujibnagar, Mukti Bahini GHQ, Sept 7 : During the last week Mukti Bahini Killed more than 500 Pakistani soldiers including a number of officers. Mukti Bahini have cleared the enemy entrenchments in Baidyer Bazar, Kaikarder, Sonargaon and Anandabazar of Dacca district. Mukti Bahini also fought the enemy out of Shaldanadi and Shekher Bazar areas of Comilla. Bangladesh Flags have been raised in those areas.

In another message from Comilla received here it is reported that Mukti Bahini has killed during the last week 175 enemy troops in Ghatimora, Jagadishpur, Luximpur, Anapara and Sonagazi areas.

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A train carrying Pakistani troops and Razakars has been blown up by the Bangladesh guerrillas. More than 100 troops and Razakars were killed. In Nakhalkot near Laksam a Pakistani army supply depot has been destroyed by the Mukti Bahini. A bridge along the Feni road has also been destroyed. Mukti Bahini succeeded in completely cutting off the Feni-Comilla railway communiation.

Mukti Bahini have liberated the Sripur Thana of Jessore district.

NEWS IN BRIEF

England
British Labour Party will hold their party conference in Brighton beginning on Oct 4. A resolution calling the British Government to press for the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and to raise the Bangladesh issue in the United Nations has already been cleared for the discussion the conference. Mr. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Bangladesh High Commissioner in England will attend the conference.

An all-day ‘Pop Concert’ participated by the ‘Faces’ and ‘The Hue’ groups was held in the oval cricket field. England on September 18 to raise funds for the Bangladesh relief. An historic 60,000 strong audience attended the concert. Net proceeds of $50,000 has been donated to the relief fund.

Two Land Rover jeeps carrying medical equipment and supplies left London en route to Bangladesh in the third week of September. The project has been sponsored by Bangladesh Green Cross Society of England. The jeeps will be used in the liberated areas of Bangladesh to organize relief operations.

Saskatchewan, Canada
Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan declared September 30 as the Bangladesh Day. Bangladesh Association of Saskatchewan organized elaborate day—long program for the observance of the day. The campus community demonstrated its support for the Bangladesh cause by participating in all the programs.

Carbondale, Illinois
Annual conference of the Carbondale Peace Committee will be held on October 22-23. Estimated 500 students will participate in the conference. The discussion of the situation in Bangladesh will be major items on the conference agenda. Bangladesh Defense League representative will attend the conference and conduct a teach-in.

Athens, Geogia
Bangladesh Defense League has been formed here. The League has launched a campaign to encourage U.S. citizens to write to their representatives. Already 10,000 leaflets have been distributed.

Minneapolis, Minn
Bangladesh Crisis Committee has been formed in the University of Minnesota. The Committee has been sponsored by the faculty members of the university. On September 30 the Committee organized a public meeting to educate the people about the situation in Bangladesh. On October 2, a rummage sale was conducted by the members of the Committee to raise funds for Bangladesh relief.

Madison, Wis
Young World for Developement, an organization of high school students, with chapters all over the U.S., organizes marches throughout the country to collect funds for various causes. A marcher collects a dime form a sponsor for each mile he/she walks. This year Madison chapter oif YMD will collect money for
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Bangladesh by marching on October 17. Bangladesh Defense League representative will speak to various Madison area schools for two weeks to acquaint the participants with the Bangladesh situation.

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Unless you help
MILLIONS WILL DIE OF STARVATION
Send your contribution to Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal
30 W. Konroe Street (5th floor)
Chicago, Il 60603

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

September 15 :
T Globe & Mail (New Delhi)
After visiting East Bengal refugee camps in India a team of doctors has reported that 100,000 infants and pre-school children may die if emergency steps are not taken in the next few months. According to the team, 50% of the children below 5 “show moderately severe and advanced stages of protein caloric malnutrition.

September 16 :
N.Y. Times (Karachi)
Yahya Khan returned to Pakistan today from Iran, where he was said to have held secret talks. The Shah of Iran is said to have offered his help and facilities for all groups involved in Pakistan’s various crises. The Soviet and American embassies are believed to be encouraging peace-making efforts in Teheran. Circles close to the Government report that the secret trial of Sheikh Mujib is nearly over. Yahya is expected to discuss his political plans in detail in the next free days.

(New Delhi)
A world Bank report has concluded that India’s economic development could be seriouly stunted by the cost of supporting the milloins of Bengali refugee who have fled into India from East Bengal. The influx is reported to be continuing at 30,000 to 40,000 daily. The report estimated that of ther present 8.5 million refugees, 6 million were living in camps. After accounting for the $200 million pledged by international relief aid, India’s burden for fiscal 1971-72 is expected to be $500 million. The Bank’s report is based on an expected figure of 9 million refugees in camps by December. Therereport emphasises that since the refugee problem was thrust on India the world commuity should not expect India be bear the bulk of the costs.

London Times (Calcutta)
An estimated 25000 refugees are still crossing the frontier every day with allegations that Pakistan soldiers, Muslim Zealots and the para-military Razakar troops are still persecuting isolated villagers.

In many cases the refugees of the past seven days claim that their villages were destroyed by Pakistan troops and the locally recruited Razakars when the authorities discovered that Bengali guerrillas had been operating in a particualar village or area. In other cases the villagers say that they were forced to flee under persecution and their possessions looted by Muslim zealots and the Razakars. The majority of the refugees today, as in the past, were Hindus.
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Some recent arrivals interviewed assert that the Razakars and the zealots in the Muslim League are now more often responsible for acts of terror than the troops. It is abundantly clear that a reign of terror contiues to force a substantial number of Bengalis into India whatever other reasons might drive them here.

Teheran
Iran affirmed its support for Pakistan for the first time since the events in East Bengal in March. In April the Iranian Govt. described the events as Pakistan’s internal affairs and called on other nations not to interfere. The two states have consistently pledged mutual support. Official sources said that discussions were necessary between Yahya and the Shah before the General Assembly met, which suggests that Pakistan will have Iranian backing at the U.N. It is possible also that Iran may help Pakistan with military spare parts, although the scale is not likely to be large.

Rawalpindi
M.M. Ahmed, economic adviser to Yahya Khan, was stabbed on September 15. The police name the alleged assailant as Muhammed Aslam Quereshi, from Sialkot. Officials said that Mr. Quereshi, an air-conditioning supervisor, had recently been dismissed from govt. service.

C.S. Monitor
Sen. Charles Percy recently returned from a personal fact finding trip to India and Pakistan. Extracts from his statement : “I saw children die of malnutrition and disease in make-shift hospitals. While talking with refugees in mile-long food lines I heard stories of entries families of East Pakistani who had been executed without provocation. I saw the effects of inadiquate sanitation, of food shortages, of disorientation and rootlesness…no one knows for certain the number of East Pakistanis who have died since the civil war began last March 25 ; estimates range from 200,000 to one million. Moreover, it may not even be possible to calculate the loss of life accurately. During my visit Gen. Tikka Khan, then the governor, put the figure at between two and three million. By impression is that the Indian figures (of 8.1 million) are much closer to the facts…The Pakistan govt. claims that more East Pakistanis are returning to its ‘receiving camps’ than are leaving for India. Yet I personally inspected a large and woefully underutilized ‘receiving camps’ on the border, which was processing returnees at the rate of only 30 per day, and was inbabited by only 64 persons at the time of my visit…Almost every East Pakistani with whom Isspoke wants to return home eventually. Their committment to an independent East Pakistan is very deeply felt.

The problems in East Pakistan are immense. A breakdown in public services, in transportation, communication, distribution, and production…Repressive measures by army units sent from West Pakistan futher inflame the people who are scared and helpless…“of major imortance is the secret trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the nowoutlawed Awami League and the symbol of resistance to West Pakistan hegemony over East Pakistan. I told Pakistan leaders that their nation would suffer the condemnation of world opinion if Mujib is sentenced to death or to a long term in prison, as has been threatened.

…I strongly feel that we should end the shipment of military supplies and of economic assistance to Pakistan. It is difficult to see how Pakistan can even again be united in peace…If ever there was a role for the U.N. to play, it is in this bitter area of conflict and human suffering”.

September 17 :
N.Y. Times (Karachi)
Political informants say that Yahya went to Iran mainly to explore the possibilities of reducing tensions between Pakistan and India, and to renew a Pakistani initiative toward a summit meeting between himself
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and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Pakistan Govt. sources made it known through local newspapers that current Pakistan initiatives toward peace are in the nature of an eleventh hour effort. The Karachi Evening Star quoted a Govt. source as saying that the situation on the border between East and West Bengal has become “almost unbearable” and that if Indian shelling in that region does not stop, “something drastic will have to be done about it soon”.

(New Delhi)
The Indian Govt. Radio said that Pakistan agents had blown up an Indian passenger train in Assam State on September 126, killing one person and injuring 17 others.

London Times (London)
John Pardoe, Liberal MP for Cornwall, moved a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the Pakistan army from East Bengal and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. If this action was not forth coming within 60 days, the resolution asks the British Govt. to call a Commonwealth Conference to urge the recognition of Bangladesh as a free and sovereign state. Mr. Pardoe said a whole nation was being destroyed because it dared to take the principles of liberal democracy seriously. Countries that supplied aid and arms to Pakistan had a duty to use their influence to enforce the democratic hoice and rights of East Bengal

(Calcutta)
Flood waters have begun to recede in West Bengal. But Indian officials say that many refugee camps are still uner water, particularly in the district of Nalda, and many of the main road links have been breached by water. As a result the Govt. is still confronted with the problem of transporting stocks of food to the camps. Govt. officials revealed that only $12 million of the $154 million promised by the international community had been received and distributed to the refugees so far. The BD mission announced that Mr. Mushtaque Ahmed, Foreign Minister of the provinsional govt., will lead a delegation next week to New York in an attempt to put their case before the U.N.

The Karachi Evening Star cited reliable sources as saying the Pakistan has proposed that the USSR and Iran mediate in its differnces with India. According to the Star Yahya proposed a 4-party summit conference during talks with ths Shah of Iran.

Wash Post (Karachi)
Pakistan military regime has jailed an American, Charles Philip Gerhardt, on charges of insulting President Yahya Khan. The imprisonment is for three months of hard labour. The offense is alleged to have taken place about two weeks ago at the Karachi Intercontinental Hetel. Mr. Gerhardt has served as an associate dierctor of the Peace Corps in India.

September 18 :
London Times (Calcutta)
Indian govt. has imposed restrictions on the movements of foreign corresposdents attempting to visit refugee camps and border areas. The retrictions apply to diplomats as well. The Omega relief team have team released from Pakistan prison.

Wash Post (Paris)
Andre Malraux offered his serviecs to the cause of Bangladesh. M. Malraux, 69, was Minister of Culture under De Gaulle. He witnessed the Canton uprising, was a hero in the Spanish Civil war and a resistance colonel during the Nazi occupation of France.

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M Guardian (West Bengal)
A U.N. official is quoted as saying “children are starving to death every day”. The general view at the refugee camps is that the means of heading off a major disaster are available, and that if it goes wrong it will be because the special food stuff cannot be got to the camps. As some U.N. official said : “If this does turn into a disaster, it will be because of logistics. If this flood water does not go down, we may need
something as big as the Berlin airlift”.

Le Monde
M. Jean Daridan, former French Ambassdor to India, writes : “In this year of grace 1971 it is apparently ‘normal’ for any State to be allowed to torture of death those of its citizens whom it objects to without provoking any outside reaction other than commission…The refugee camps are full of old men, some so exhausted by the hundreds of miles they have had to walk that they no longer have the strength to speak…There are very few young men in the camps adn even fewer girls. The hospitals, however, are full of women and young girls who have been raped, many of them dump with terror after their expericnces, and children, thousands of them, suffering from malnutrition and dysentry. But very few babies or infants under three : they are almost all dead. This is the picture today. Tomorrow it will be even worse”.

September 19 :
NY Times (Karachi)
Pakistan Govt. newspaper, Morning News, says that the secret military trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has ended, and the tribunal’s report will soon be submitted to Yahya. There is no official confirmation.

(Karachi)
Yahya Khan said he would retain absolute veto power in framing the new constitution. Elected officials would have only an advisory role.

(New Delhi)
Officials refuted reports from Karachi that “secret” contact had been arranged between India and Pakistan in Teheran.

(Dacca)
Despite President Yahya’s announced amnesty, Dacca remains a city of missing men. Bengali sources say at least 5000 people have been imprisoned. The army does not confirm this figure. The fate of many has not been divulged officially.

Wash Post (New Delhi)
An International conference on BD opened today with a call for the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The 3 day conference is attended by more than 100 delegates from some 20 countries.

September 20 :
N.Y. Times (Wash)
U.S. has agreed to furnish the U.N. with 2 helicopters, 200 trucks, and an additional 210,000 tons of grain and food blends for East Bengal relief. This brings the total of U.S. aid to $137 million. AID officials denied a Pro-Pakistan stance but confirmed and belief that most effective policy lay in helping restore the war-shattered economy, U.S. has also chartered 26 shallow-draught river boats with capacities of 600 to 3000 tons.

September 21 :
N.Y. Times (Karachi)
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The Karachi Star, quoting authoritaitive sources said that the USSR and the U.S. would probably be asked to take a hand in peace-making efforts between India and Pakistan. According to the Star, the U.S. and USSR were already assisting them in efforts at mediation. Border clashes between Indian and Pakistan infantry artillery units along the East Bengal border have become increasingly serious. “The Pakistan govt. is now issuing what amounts to a war communique in which a dozen or more enemy dead are claimed nearly every day”.

It was announced last week that major U.S. relief aid to East Pakistan was to be resumed. Diplomatically, Washington seems to be doing all it can to cultivate the friendship of the Yahya regime. The Soviet Ambassador, A.A. Rodionov, spent the past week reassuring high Pakistan officials of his country’s friendship.

September 22 :
Chr Sc Monitor (New Delhi)
“East Pak resistance to West Pakistan occupation of the State has built up into a surge of terrorism and all-out gerrilla warfare…Only last week bodies of 10 Pakistan officers were brought into Dacca from the north. Islamabad planning a second counter offensive is October, after the monsoon, the situation is expected to deteriorate even further…Despite the departure of General Tikka Khan and the appointment of A. M. Malik as his civilian replacement, effective power remains with the army. Political suspects ard still “lifted”, although care is taken to make their arrests unobtrusive. Army reprisals continue to be savage…Minor officials have fled, or are immobilized by fear. All levels, resentful of the Pubjabi ‘conquerors’ from West Pakistan work perfunctorily”.

N.Y. Times (Karachi)
A senior spokeman of the Pakistan Govt. said that there was “no indication” as to when the secret trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman might be concluded.

Pakistan Affairs (Wash)
According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the Pakistan Rupee will be delinked from pound starling and aligned with the U.S. dollar starting September 17.

T Globe & Mail (Ottawa)
At a press conference, M.R. Siddiqui said that a million refugees a month are moving into India. He contended that the aid being sent to the refugees helps but is not the solution : “The root cause must be removed. The Bangladesh govt. must be recognised”. Mr Siddiqui arrived in Ottawa yesterday and hopes to meet Canadina External Affairs Minister Mitchell Sharp.

September 23 :
N.Y. Times (Kutibari)
The latest refugees from East Bengal report that the Pakistan Army and its civilian collaborators are continuing to kill, loot and burn. Correspondent Sydney Schanberg interviewed dozens of refugees who had all fled last week. Most of these were from Faridpur. The refugees said that the military regime still made the Hindu minority its particular target. The refugess said that despite massive reprisals against civilians, local people were continuing to provide food, shelter, and information to the guerrillas.

(Karachi)
Z.A. Bhutto, speaking to newsman, said : “It is vitally important that by-elections be held and a national assembly be convened by the end of this year…If we have not restored democracy in Pakistan by the end of this year, I feel that chances will be very slim that it can ever be done. In that case…the choice will be
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either to give up or to adopt a non-parliamentary course…Governments could be changed in parliamentary ways or by revolution or coup d’etat”. Bhutto acknowledged that he is not well informed about the situation in East Bengal ; “If the govt. is not well informed about it. how much less can we be?”

Police in Karachi said that Bengali guerrillas were apparently operating in West Pakistan also. 7 Bengalis have been arrested over the weekend on charges of starting a fire on a slip. The police are reported to be
looking for Bengalis in Karachi on charges of “spreading rumors” and subversive activaity.

(Rome)
The international relief organ of the Roman Catholic Church appealed to the U.N. to save the people of East Bengal from “what threatens”.

T Globe & Mail (Calcutta)
A cholera epidemic raging through the refugee camp of Mailam in Meghalaya is killing hundreds of people every day. Indian air force planes have started an emergency airdrop of food supplies to the 200,000 refugees in this camp. Officials put the death toll from cholera at 1000 in the past month.

September 24 :
L Times (Indo-Pak. Border)
Mr. M. Ahmed, Foreign Minister of the Provincial Govt., announced that the BD Govt. has agreed to support any relief proposal under which both the Bengali guerrillas and the Pakistan Army would assist and give safegurds for the security of foreign volunteers if a big international relief operation is launched in Bangladesh.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
State Dept. is planning to ask Congress for additional $250 million for refugees in India and for rehabiltion prog. in East Bengal. Sen. Kennedy introduced legislation to provide $400 million for refugee relief in India. Estimates prepared by AID are said to predict a total of 12 million refugees in coming months.

September 25 :
London Times (Calcutta)
Mukti Bahini Frogmen have severly damaged a 1600 ton British cargo ship, “Teviotbank” in Chalna port. As a result, another British ship, “Chakdina” wighed anchor suddenly and attempted to flee from Chalna port. Sailors of ships leaving East Bengal ports report that several vessels including 2 ocean-going steamers, a Pakistan coastal tanker and several barges are lying damaged at Chalna. Two Pakistan cargo ships were sunk at Chittagong. The 10,000 ton “Ohramazo” sank after limpet mines holed her on August 14. About three weeks ago mines were removed from a Greek ship.

(Rome)
The Pope has summoned international Roman Catholic relief agencies to meet in Rome tomorrow to discus ways of increasing aid to East Bengal.

Phila. Inquirer (Phila)
John Cardinal Krol, Archbishop of Phila., in a press conf. pointed out 8 to 10 million refugees in West Bengal living in temporary camps and are dying too rapidly for the survivors to dispose of the bodies. Yet “arms are still being sold”, be said “…and there is a sense of business as usual” in the world.

T Globe & Mail
In the past two months, Pakistan has received from China at least 50 MIG-19C jet fighters and 110t 55-j
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main battle tanks. There are reports that submarines, patrol boats and minesweepers will also be furnished. The new MIG-19C’s will allow the equipment of an additional three squadrons of that type (Pakistan already has five). The tanks will go into the armored battalions of the two new infantry divisions that are being raised.

M Guardian (Calcutta)
“The Bangladesh Govt.-in-exile and liberation forces at this moment are best compared to the French resistance movement in the Second World War. There is the same lack of ideological homogeneity and the same military approach, one based on raiding and sabotage…The course of the war during the coming winter months may have significant political consequences, for it seems likely that the Pakistan army will embark on major search and destroy operations as soon as the ground is dry.”

September 27 :
Chicago Tribune
Senator Percy yesterday said that the U.S. was “backing a military aristocracy at war with its own people…by permitting aid and arms shipment to Pakistan”.

N.Y. Times (Karachi)
Maulana Muhamed Ishaque, Minister for local goverment in Pakistan Government A.M. Malik’s cabinet for East Bengal, was injured Saturday by an explosion in his car in Dacca.

September 28 :
Wash Post (Calcutta)
Mukti Bahini has opened its first camp to train girl recruits to staff mobile hospitals. The first batch of 200 girls will leave in 7 to 10 days.

N.Y. Times (Karachi)
Pakistan newspaper seculated today that Sheikh Mujib would be released on parole soon to visit his ailing parents. Most legal and political observers think the result of the military trial a foregone conclusion : a death sentence. Newspapers also predict that the future constitution that is being drafted by Presidential commission will include elections on the basis of religion (separate electorate). Fighting in East Bengal between Bengali guerrillas and the Pakistan army appears to be growing more intense. Association attempts against officias, often successful, have increassed sharply.

(Hyderabad)
Leader of Sind autonomy movement G.H. Syed is under house arrest. Sind remains a problem for Islamabad govt. Like Bengalis, many Sindhis feel they are economically and politically exploited by the Punjabis. Some of Bhutto’s aside say privately that he is facing a crisis in his conversations with President Yahya that could lead to imprisonment. “If something like that happens”, one politician said, “the army had better be ready to occupy Sind as well. And they may find that expensive and dangerous”.
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Photocopy of the original complete report of the items published here will be supplied at request. Write to :
Editor
Bangladesh Newsletter
500 Paragon Hills #B-7
Nashville, TN 37211

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September 29 :
N.Y. Times (Karachi)
Pakistan Govt. warned against public speculation on the trial of Sheikh Mujib. It said that the trial is continuing and prosecution had examined 20 witnessess. Nothing was said about defense cross-examination.

Wash Post (Moscow)
Premier Kosygin called on Yahya Khan to resolve the conflict in East Bengal. He said : “It is impossible to justify the actions of Pakistani authories which compelled over 8 million people to leave their country, land and property”.

September 30 :
N.Y. Times (Moscow)
A joint Soviet-Indian statement affirmed the Kremlin’s endorsement of India’s stand on East Bengal. The endorsement was given orally yesterday in a luncheon speech by Premier Kosygin.

(U.N.)
Pakistan suggested dierct negotiations with India on refugee problem. Flow of refugees continues unabated. The exodus may soon increase. Dangers of a Indo-Pakistan war were invoked by the British Forign secretary in his address to the General Assmebly.” The world watches the frontiers of India and Pakistan with increasing anxiety…There could be no greater tragedy for the world, even than the Middle East, if India and Pakistan find themselves unwillingly at war, Sir Alce observed.

(Karachi)
Z.A. Bhutto denounced the military rule in the harshest terms to date. “The long night of terror must end. The rule of generals mus end. People of Pakistan must take their destiny in their own hands”. He continued, “Elections took place 10 months ago. On one pretaext or another, with one contradiction after another, the abominable status quo is being maintaines”. He described the appointment of A. M. Malik as a “subterfuge:.

(Calcutta)
Large numbers of refugee chidren are dying everyday from malnutrition and diseases that accompany it. Tens of thousands are seriously malnourished and facing death. In the critical age group, 1 to 8 years, deaths are in hundreds every day. Some foreign relief officials believe the toll is higher. The misery in the camps may deepen when winter arrives. At least 3 million blankets are needed, and only a few have arrived.
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PLEASE NOTE

1. For bulk supplies of printed materials for campus distribution (list of items will be supplied on request) contact :

Friends of East Bengal
Box 42, Sta B
Vandexbilt Univ
Nasheville TN 37203

2. For campus speakers on Bangladesh contact :
Dr. J.K. Bhattacharjee,
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Dept of Microbiology, Miami Univ, Oxford, Ohio 45056 Phone : (513) 529-4727

INTERVIEW WITH YAHAY : Pierre Bois

(Following is an unabridged translation of an interview published in French magazine Le Figaro, September 8, 1971)

Q : They say that soon you are going to East Pakistan. Your last trip ended rather badly. With what purpose in mind are you returning?

A : I shall go, but not now. I’m too busy and East Pakistan is only one of my five provinces.

Q : But why did you go to Dacca before?

A : What? Who can prevent me from going where I wish in my country?

Q : That’s not what I meant to say. But what is it, precisely, that could call you there now?

A : There are lots of problems over there. To begin with, famine. We can’t get supplies through. We only have 3 months reserves and the railroad line from Chittagong is cut off by Indian mortar fire. We could go by water ; we have some very good rivers but not enough barges. Foreign countries have promised us some, but only the Chinese have kept their promise.

Q : Do you still believe, then, that after the policy of genocide of your army that a union is possible between East and West Pakistan?

A : That you use the word genocide shows that you don’t know Pakistan. And then, I can tell you something about Pakistan’s history. The first to have asked for the formation of the State were just these same East Pakistanis. As a result I am very confident with regards to the future : Bengal will remain Pakistani.

Q : However, one of the reasons for the crisis in Bengal was that you failed. Before, you said that you had no other political ambitions than to give the Pakistanis a Parliament and a constitution. But hardly had the people chosen a leader when you had the army intervene…

A : That’s the fault of Mujibur Rahman. Just between the two of us, you know, he was perhaps a good speaker, but he didn’t have the stuff of a leader. He was brilliant and very sure of himself in public, but facing me he was no more than…How would you say it? Than a “little cat”, no bigger than that. General Yahya then leaned from his armchair and took a teaspoon. He says in a confidential tone : “I’m going to tell you a stroy : during the negotiations in Dacca, when the fate of the country was at stake, I tried hard to be patient. Mujibur attempted to look relaxed, playing with his pipe. But I had only to raise my voice for you to be able to hear his teeth chattering. Then do you know what he did”?

General Yahya laughed heartily and bit the teaspoon with all his might.

“That was the extent of his courage. He must have broken a lot of pipes during his conferences…”

The laughter stops and the Pakistani president becomes more serious again : To lead a country, you must have good sense. As for myself, I’m a soldier, I was never raised to govern. I rely on my good sense.
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Mujibur Rahman was a little fascist who didn’t have a sense of moderation. The people elected him on a program for autonomy. Intoxicated, he immediately started talking about independence. At the beginning, the autonomy which he proposed was in six points, the classic kind of autonomy in a federation, that is to
say leaving to the central government the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, and defence. I was in agreement with that. Then, scarcely elected, I perceived that he was already making revisions :

1. For instance, he demanded complete freedom of commerce for East Pakistan. That means, in other words, beginning trade with India again.

2. Defence. There, he wanted to create a paramilitary force.

3. Finance. He wanted two currencies, East and West Pakistani, and two bank reserves. Finally, a separate flag. What does that mean in the final analysis? That means secession.

Q : Before having the army interene, you had ten days of negotaitions in Dacca with Mujibur Rahman. How did that happen?

A : On one side, Mujibur Rahman had the majority of the votes in East Paksintan ; on the other, Bhutto was victorious in West Pakistan. It was the first election with universal sufferage. I wanted the leaders of those two important parties to create a constitution in order to substitute civilian power for military power. But with Mujibur Rahman said, “End martial law”. I replied, “it will be up to the National Assembly to do that when there’s a constitution”. He said, “Transfer power before the meeting of the National Assembly”. I answered, “To whom? You are a single party and there are three others in the West”. He said, “Remove the 20,000 men in your army”. I answered, “Where shall I put them? They are here in Pakistan”.

Q : Mujibur Rahman was the one elected by the people. If you believe in democracy, why didn’t you let him alone until the end?

A : Firstly, I repeat to you that he was not elected on a platform of indenpendence. The people voted for autonomy. On the other hand, Bengal is only one out of five provinces in Pakistan. What becomes of a nation if each one starts talking about independence?

Q : How did it happen that Mujibur Rahman, from the idea of autonomy, arrived at the nation of independence?

A : He didn’t change his mind completely by himself. The Indians, you know. A long history beforehand. They never accepted partition and have never failed to take advantage of any opportunity to weaken our position.

Q : The CIA has also been spoken of?

A : It is true that the CIA and the English have been mentioned. The Chinese have even openly accused all the Western countries. There, I have no proof. In retrospect, it is certain that the Indians furnished money and arms to the Awami League. With regard to the others, certainly I have suspicions, but he who governs can’t linger over suspicions.

Q : What happened during your last interview with Mujibur Rahman?

A : Mujibur said to me, “If you don’t sign an agreement with me, tomorrow there will be a revolt in East
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Pakistan”. I looked at him and replied, “very well! Go ahead and revolt”.

President Yahya Khan sights. He says, “I was genuinely saddened…for him”.

Q : But you speak of him in the past tense. What has become of him?

A : He’s in prison.

Q : Where?

A : I don’t know anything about it. Does your President in France know where all the criminals are? If he is capable of that, it must be because you don’t have very many!

Q : But all the same he’s your chief enemy….

A : He’s not my personal enemy. He’s the enemy of the Pakistani people. You needn’t worry, everybody in Pakistan know where he is. But it’s useless to ask them, they won’t tell you.

Q : And international opinion?

A : I have enough to feel justified. I’ve said that he was alive, you have only to take my word for it.

Q : They speak of atrocities committed by the army the tragic night of March 25?

A : They have forgotten to mention atrocities by the Awami League. Already on March 2, the Awami League seized non-Bengalis, Biharis, Punjabis, and others in Chittagong, and bled them to death. A butchery! That’s only one of the things that happened : read the White Paper which my government issued on the subject.

Q : But your army?

A : My army is a professional, well-trained army. I myself trained in the army of the Indes. When my soldiers kill, they kill as they should.

Q : You’ve denied that there were 250,000 dead?

A : That’s greatly exaggerated, but of course, there were deaths. What happened at Dacca wasn’t a football game. When one fights, one doesn’t throw flowers.

Q : You expelled journalists. Why?

A : I wanted to protect them. When you undertake a military action of this importance, you don’t know what the outcome will be. I acted as a military man and not as a complacent politician. Now I regret it. If several reporters had been killed by the Awami League, that would have been very useful to me : then people would have spoken of atrocities by the Awami League.

Q : What is the situation now in East Pakistan?

A : Regarding law and order, everything is currently under the control of my army, with the exception of several frontier zones. And I can tell you that I am still definitely planning to turn over the reins of the
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government to the people. I banned the Awami League, but I have not taken away the seats of the elected representatives of the province. I drove out the traitors and I selected 89 deputies who will be able to sit on the National Assembly. For the rest, I will call an election. And even border problems won’t prevent me from going the greatest lengths in the democratic process. The only condition is that they let me alone.

Q : What is the current situation on the frontiers?

A : Go there and see. It’s not at all peaceful. Because India continues to infiltrate troops and encourage the revolt. That’s why the refugees aren’t able to come back. One can accept that for a while, but the situation can’t last like this. Even in normal times what is happening along the border means war. Try to send 251h. shells across the border of another country! That’s what we’ve been getting. I am making that observation with great patience, but I am taking advantage of it to warn the world that if the Indians think that they can take the smallest bit of my territory without provoking a war, they are making a grave mistake. Let me warn you and the world, that would mean war, total war, which I hate. But I would not hesitate for the defense of my country.

Q : And the refugee problem?

A : Let us speak of the refugee problem. India is using the refugees as political capital and that is all. That way she gets money from the U.N. There are lots of ways to help the refugees. India asks only for money. She is stopping them from returning. She says that they won’t return until an argeement in signed. But with whom? The refugee problem is not India’s, it’s ours.

Besides, how many are there of these refugess. According to India seven million, according to us two million. And I’m going to tell you how they get from two to seven. Around and within Calcutta there are thousands of Hindus who were settled there during partition. You know that there human beings crouch like animals. They’ve mixed real and fake refugees together in the camps. But don’t worry about it : when the refugees return we will keep record and we know well enough how to separate the good from the bad…”

Q : Have you also made a record of your foreign friends and enemies in this affair?

A : I’ve thought about it. And moreover, at this time I’ve certainly seen the English reveal themselves at the head of those opposing us. That, it’s true, was not a surprise. As for France, I am taking advantage of your presence to thank her. Your President, M. Pompidou, wrote me a letter in which he showed, certainly, his concern for the refugees, but on the other hand he explained to me that he didn’t want to interfere with an internal matter. With respect to the Chinese, their friendly position towards us is known.

Q : Do your intend to enter into negotiations with India to control the border conflicts?

A : On several occasions I’ve stated that I was ready to talk to India but I’ve never gotten any response.

President Yahya gets up. The interview is over. He accompaies me to the entrance. He is smiling. I ask him, “But if you meet Mrs. Indira Gandhi, what would you say to her?” She doesn’t like my self-confidence. But that doesn’t bother me. Because she’s neither a woman nor a head of state trying to be both at the same time. She lacks her father’s qualities.” “But what would you say to her?” More laughter. Then general Yahya says. “I would say to her ‘Shut up, woman! Leave me in peace and let my refugees come back’.”

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SOME IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal
30 W. Monroe Street (5th Floor)
Chicago, IL 60503

OXFAM-American, Inc.
Suite 509
1028 Conn. Ave. NW
Washington D.C. 20036
and
120 East 32nd Street
NY, NY 10016
Phone : 212 684-4302

Catholic Relief Services-USCC
350 Fifth Ave
NY NY 10001

Church World Serviecs
475 Riverside Drive
NY, NY 10025

Bangladesh Mission
1223 Connecticut Ave NW
Fourth Floor, Washington DC 20036

Bangladesh Information Center
418 Seward Sq. SE, Apt. $
Washington D.C. 20003
Phone : 202 547-3194

East Bengal Emaergency Relief Fund, Inc
South Point Plaza
Lansing, Michigan 48910
Phone : 517-393-0255
and
33 Perry Street
New York Cith, N.Y. 10014
Phone : 212-924-8458

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 (615)833-2064

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No. 11 October 25, 1971

Editorial

UNITED NATIONS AND BANGLADESH FAMINE

Repeatedly attention has been drawn from diverse directions to the use of U.N. relief supplies of political ends by the occupation army of Pakistan. Recently British correspondent Clare Hollingworth reported in a dispatch from Dacca : “Many foreigners are deeply disturbed by the refusal of the Pakistan military authority in East Bengal to allow food to be distributed by foreign voluntary organizations working under the United Nations. They insist that this powerful political weapon remains firmly in the hands of the West Pakistan administration.”

Also recently the unit of Food and Argiculture Organization (FAO) of the U.N. working in Dacca has accused the West Pakistan Government of diverting boats and vehicles, which are intended for carrying relief materials, to military use. It has been reported that the FAO has informed the U.N. Secretary-General U. Thant that West Pakistan administration is deliberately withholding relief supplies meant for the people in order to sustain the Pakistan troops in the occupation areas.

U.N’s total dependence on the Yahya regime to bring international relief to the distressed is nothing but extending international code of behavior to ultimate absurdity. U.N. Secretary-General, we are afraid, has pushed his reasoning beyond the limits. As a result he finds himself asking Yahya and his boys to carry food and cloth for those they are so eager to kill.

Trapped in its own logical quagmire the U.N. in the name of saving the Bengali lives is enthusiastically engaged in keeping the murderers in business. With a friend like the U.N. who will over need an enemy?

It has been suggested many times so far that only way to avort the worst famine in human history is to take into confidence the representatives of Bangladesh. We urge all nations contributing to the U.N. relief fund to refrain from dong so until Bangladesh representatives are included in the relief operations. If the U.N. fails to do so immediately, we request all nations to take the relief materials directly to Bangladesh where they can be distributed through Bengali channels.

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Keep sending letters and telegrams to your Senators. Foreign Assistance Bill will soon be on the Senate Floor. Make sure your Senators are supporting the Saxbe-Church Amendment S 1567 No. 159.

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FORTY MILLION FACE STARVATION

(The following article by William Shawcross appeared in the Sunday Times of London on Oct. 10, 1971.)

The hunger in East Bengal has been a guessinggame. Numbers have fluctuated by the million. Accurate figures are now available from an unpublished United Nations report. Seventeen million Bengalis are at the moment facing critical shortages of food. Unless a mammoth relief operation is finally mounted (and little has yet been achieved) another 23 million will be starving by Christmas.

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The report is invaluable because it is the only analysis that has yet been made of the precise extent of starvation and food supplies throughout East Bengal since the civil war began last spring. It was prepared for Paul Marc Henri, the head of the United Nations Relief Operation in Dacca, by U.S. Aid officials in East Bengal. Its conclusions will be discussed at a meeting of the U.N’s Inter-Agency Group after Henri has flown to Geneva next Wednesday.

East Bengal has a normal grain deficit of two million tons and many observers consider that this year that may well double. Such a shortage can in theory be met : there are already large stores of what from the surplus granaries of the West stockpiled in Chittagong. But, as the report makes clear the difficulty is in distributing them : if there is famine in East Bengal this winter it will be because the infrastructure of the country has totally collapsed, not because no food is near at hand.

The report divides the country into 59 areas, averaging about 1.2 million people and 1,000 square miles in each. They found that 14 of there areas were likely to face critical food shortages during the autumn, 19 could well yet become critical, and 26 should, with luck, be adequately supplied.

One of the difficulties that all the relief operations are facing is that in theory the Government will allow them to work only on post-cyclone relief projects that were begun before that spring civil war. Officiallay they are not allowed to give relief to those affected by the war rather than by the floods. In the North there was no flooding and it is there, as a result, that starvation is likely to increase—beacause so far the Pakistan Government has forbidden access, except to the permanent missionary bodies.

Victor Powell, the Chairman of the Consortium of British relief charities, who just returned from Dacca, consisders that one of the other major problems is that there simply is not enough money for people to buy rice. He reckons that only 20-30% of the country’s industry is now functioning, and a whole new class of unemployed is living off its last savings, unable to buy what food there is. The normal commercial network of food distribution has therefore broken down : there is no incentive for merchants or indeed for peasant proprietors ; both are nor hoarding their crops. Powell thinks that the most effective way of overcoming food shortages would be just to restore the normal commercial incentives. Food vouchers should be distributed in starvation areas, he says.

Instead the report recommends various contingency transport plans, hopefully designed to fit the specific requirements of various areas. For example in Comilla Sadar, a region which has traditional food deficit, the first two crops were very small this year and the usual access routes are badly disrupted. The food deficit is normally made up by merchants importing supplies to the area ; this year that has not happened and prices are now up to 43 rupees a maund, which is not as high in some areas (Faridpur 50 rupees) but is about 30% more expensive than usual. The U.N. investigators reckon that the area needs about 4,000 tons of grain a month and recommend various combinations of road river transport to deliver them.

Nevertheless as a plan action rather than as an analysis of the present crisis, the report is seriously limited and those British aid officials who have seen it are shocked by the vagueness of its recommendations. “If we had their resources, we should have been able to put forward far more concrete proposals” says one. It is further limited by its own assumptions, the most basic of which is that “none of the participants in the current civil strife will actively pursue a policy of preventing the transportation and distribution of food to the people”. As the writers admit, “without that assumption, the report is virtually meaningless”.

Not a new would therefore say that the report does indeed render itself quite menaingless. There are still reports from East Bengal of how the Government and army commander food trucks and boats and use hunger as a political weapon.

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So far United Nations action has been quite inadequate and 10,000 refugees are not only entering India every week, they are also now fleeing to Burma. The report speaks of UNICEF plans for child feeding programmes in six districts. In fact these have begun in only two areas : Dacca and Chittagong . Indeed, independent charities seem to have been more marginally successful to date. The Consortium of British charities (War on Want, Oxfam, Christian Aid) have a team with 38 tractors in the Noakhali area, and Save the Children last week began a mother-child care program.

However in the past two weeks, the U.N. operation has received 100 five ton trucks from Japan and 200 more are now no their way from the U.S. army in Germany. It will be a proof of the report’s basic assumption that everyone, but everyone, wants the food to be distributed and eaten by the hungry if the bridges are now rebuilt.

The new Republic, Oct 16, 1971

WHAT PAKISTAN WANTS

The war in Bangladesh is six months old, and Washington is walking a tightrope, skittish as it might well be of entrapment in the politics of either side—or in another Asian war. Meanwhile, regular units of the Mukti Bahini (liberation foreces) strike at will. West Pakistani convoys are ambushed, troop carriers sunk, communications interdicted, posts neutralized, collaborators eliminated. Trained guerrillas infiltrate the towns and countryside. Bombing in Dacca, the regional capital, began about three months ago, and guerrilla formations have begun operating there with machine guns attacking army ports and encapments. Villagers shelter and feed guerrillas and act as their eyes and ears. Nine million refugees have already converted this conflict from a confrontation between 75 million Bengalis and Pakistanis into a domestic problem for India. And if Pakistan could manage it India would be blamed for the whole tragedy.

Faced with a progessively deteriorating situation the Pakistani government continues to claim that normalcy is round the corner. It is not. Officer deaths have topped 400, four times the loss in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. The Pakistani economy remains at low ebb. Development activity is limited to aided projects where the foreign aid still continures to flow. It is reckoned, howver, that by about December the pipeline will begin to run dry.

Faced with the unwillingness last June of the Pakistan Aid Consortium to bail it out, Pakistan has reverted to bilateralism, pressing the U.S. to negotiate agreements for the $80 million in commodity assistance that has been carried over from last year and remains frozen by AID. Encouraged by the continuation of previously-committed U.S. arms shipments and the belief that its role as messenger boy in the Chou-Kissinger talks entitles it to favors, Pakistan has been putting pressere on the Nixon administration to release the $80 million, plus another $118 million forthefirst half of the next financial year. In addition, the government is trying to secure a further moratorium on its debt liabilities. On April 30, it declared a moratorium, defaulting on $80 million it owes ; that moratorium terminates Octorber 31, so the Pakistan’s are seeking further relief on another $220 million falling due over the next year.

A genuine returen to civilian rule in Bangladesh would require pulling the Pakistani army out of the counrtryside, which is impossible because the district civil administration would be the first to declare its allegiance to the rebel states. All Pakistan can do is provide the trappings of civilian rule, simultaneously burning villages in retaliation for guerrilla action.

U.N. famine-relief teams improve the Pakistani army’s logistical position. Jeeps, trucks and rivercraft belonging to UNICEF, the United Nations Development Program and a US-aided cholera reaserch project
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have all been pressed into service by the army, which concedes the prospect of famine but stresses the need for improved communications if the food is to get from the ports to the people. The Pakistan’s claim there is a serious bottleneck in the distribution system due to a shortage of river craft, and so there is, created by the army when it commandeered all commercial and foreign-donated vessels for its own use. The U.N. has asked Pakistan for two helicopters and coastal and river craft of 10,000-ton capacity, to be chartered at a coast of $15 million, plus 10 tugs and 400 trucks. The United States has provided $4 million for leasing 26 coast al vessels. It remains to be seen whether U.N. and U.S. representatives on the spot will be able to keep these vessels out of army hands. Washington says that its chartered boats will be operated by non-Pakistani crews, but this is already being diluted to mixed crews moving under Pakistani military escort. Bangladesh leaders fear that military supplies will be camouflaged as relief.

The U.N. has assigned 38 people to supervise relief operations, but they are confined to Dacca, are only permitted outside during the day under escort, and there are 62,000 villages in Bangladesh—ill—served by communications in normal times and now virtual islands as a result of the insurrection, How 38 or even 138 U.N. personnel, ignorant of the language, social milieu and political of the area and not permitted to set up bases outside Dacca can ensure that their grain is distributed to the starving and not black-marketed in the rural areas defise imagination. The prospects are that the army and the towns will be fed and some grain may filter to the villages.

SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE FAVORS AID CUT-OFF

Senate Foreign Relations Committee has adopted and amendment to the Foreign Assistance Bill similar to the Gallagher amendment which was passed by the House before the summer recess. Senate amendment in the present economic aid to Pakistan, including the aid commitments already in the pipe-line, effective from the day of enactment of the bill. This additional requirement of the stoppage of pipe-line deliveries has been proposed in the Saxbe-Church amendment.

Another important provision of the Senate Committee amendment pertains to the outstanding and future debt repayments of the Government of Pakistan. It prohibits the administration from allowing any rescheduling of the repayment schedule through deferment or moartorim. It may be recalled that the Government of Pakistan failed to repay the previous installment of the repayment and declared a unilateral moratorim until the end of October, 1971. Presently, Yahya regime has been lobbying in Washington to get at least a partial deferment for extended period. The passage of the amendment by the Senate will bar any such concession to the Military rules of Pakistan by the Nixon Administration.

To ensure the passage of this amendment by the Senate we urge our readers to contact their senators immediately and request their support to the bill in the present form. The bill may be scheduled for flood action some time in the last week of this month.

BANGLADESH RELIEF ORGANIZATION : ‘HELP BANGLADESH’

A relief organization, called “Help Bangladesh”, to help the people of Bangladesh has recently been formed with the approval of the Government of Bangladesh, HELP is scheduled to begin its operation in Tetulia, a liberated area in the Northwest of Bangladesh. Two persons have already been dispatched to all sectors along the border to make a procliminary survery of the famine situation and logistics of infiltrating relief into Bangladesh.

‘Help Bangladesh’ plans have been wideley acclaimed as feasible ; particularly welcomed by the Mukti
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Bahini Sector Commandors and the Commandor-in Chief.

Due to the total break-down of the transportation system and administrative network in the occupied Bangladesh there is very little chance that any relief effort through the occupation army will be of any avail. ‘Help Bangladesh’ sponsors believe that the best way to avert disaster is to infiltrial into Bangladesh from the Indian border. The organization has at its disposal the existing and presently functioning communication system of India. Also at its disposal there is a large reservoir of trained personnel from Bangladesh.

‘Help Bangladesh’ operations will be in three phases. Phase One will deal mainly with the setting up of the organizational headquarters and undertaking relief operations on a limited scale. Phase two will encompass an enlarged relief operation extending at least 20 miles inside the border. In Phase Three the operation will cover most of Bangladesh, focusing on areas of chronic food deficit and famine conditions engendered by the army activities.

Operation area of the ‘Help Bangladesh’ will be divided into primary blocks of 15 sq, miles (5×3). In the occupied areas each primary block will be covered by a team of five young workers whose main task will be to carry and deliver HELP foodgrains to reliable persons within the occupied territory. Foodgrains will be transported into the blocks in large quantities by bullock carts or boasts. In case where this is not feasible foodgrains may be rebagged in 20 to 25 1b. sacks and manually transported.

HELP officials estimate that by the mid-November, k 1971 Phase One of the operation can be completed and Phase Two can be initiated. ‘Help Bangladesh’ has opened its London office at 209 Archway Road, London N. 6.

UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS ARRESTED, DISMISSED

The true face of Yahya’s ‘general amnesty’ is emerging from under the sheep’s skin with its unmistakably familiar features. A so-called screening procedure has been imposed on the faculty mambers of the Dacca University. After the preliminary screening the following faculty members have recently been arrested :

1. Prof. Ahsanul Huq
Department of English
Secretary of the Dacca Univ. Teacher’s Association

2. Prof. K. M. Saaduddin
Department of Sociology
Secretary, Dacca University Club

3. Prof. Rafiqul Islam
Department of Bengali

4. Prof. Shahidullah
Department of Mathmematics

5. Prof. Abul Khair
Departement of History

The following faculty members have been dismissed :
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1. Prof. A.B.M. Habibullah
Head of the Dept. of Islamic History

2. Prof. Enamul Huq
Professor Emeritus

3. Prof. M. Moniruzzaman
Dept. of Bengali

The following faculty members have been served with warning notices :

1. Prof. Munir Chowdhury
Head of the Dept. of Bengali

2. Prof. Nilima Ebrahim
Dept. of Bengali

3. Prof. Serajul Islam Chowdhury
Dept. of English

OMEGA WORKERS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS PRISON TERMS

Two more members of the British relief organization Operation Omega have been arrested in occupied Bangladesh while trying to distribute clothes to the inhabitants.

They are Mrs. Ellen Connett, an American aged 27, who had been living in London and was one of the founders of Omega, and Mr. Gordon Slaven from Hampstead, aged 20.

The two relief workers were areested on October 4, ten miles inside the occupied Bangladesh while transporting a load of saris by boat. The main object of their trip was to assess what relief was needed in the area. They have been sentenced to two years rigogous imprisonment.

An Omega spokesma in London said : “They were going into an area where the people are believed not to have received any relief since the Pakistani invasion on March 25. This was also an area intermittently patrolled by the army. We assume that the army was either waiting for them or came up in order to arrest them”.

Their trip was the sixth Omega mission to the occupied Bangladesh since August. Twelve Omega workers previously arrested have been held for short periods before being expelled or deported.

WORLD BANK ARCHITECT REFUSES TO WORK FOR PAKISTANI REGIME

Stanley Tigerman, 40, a Chicago architect assigned by the World Bank to work on its projects in East Bengal declared on September 28 that he could no longer work under “fascist military rulers” of Pakistan. Full text of the architect’s statement at a press conference is given below :

I am an architect. I am not a political person.

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Five years ago, in 1966, the Government of Pakistan in cooperation with the World Bank commissioned me to design five polytechnic institutes at Barisal, Bogra, Pabna, Rangpur and Sylhet in waht was then East Pakistan. In order to rationally establish design criteria (which was not available at that time) my firm developed an extensive master plan organising data on climatology, sociology, mete orolory, seismology. Natural resources, construction methods, building codes and standards, labor and meterial rates, etc. Thus I came to know the country very well. Over these five years, in conjunction with my work, I made sixteen trips to Dacca and other parts of the country, developing many lasting friendships with the people of the country.

As of March, 1971 all five projects were substantially under contruction. The events of March 25th and subsequentl to that time caused me to have personal doubts as to my continued involvement with the work. I conveyed these doubts to the World Bank. However, I wished to witness, first hand, the condintions to properly assess whether or not I could continue. Since I felt it necessary, I went to Dacca Sept. 18th and spent one week reviewing the conditions and attendant problems to the Development of the polytechnics. Dacca is not the same city I knew it to be. There is a level of fear that makes it difficult to discuss even the most mundane technical problems. The martial law authorities have created an atmosphere through threats, searches and check points, that, in combination with the presence everywhere of police and the army, is tantamount to a “police state”.

The polytechnic projects are very dear to me. Nonetheless, it seems to me that some level of moral judgement must be exercised with respect to offering my professional services to a government that forces people to work by threatening them that they will be an enemy of the government, with its attemdant implications, if they do not work. This is not my idea of “normalcy”.

I have, this day, cabled the government of Pakistan and two the world Bank that, under the terms of my contract, I am exercising the termination clause therein. I do not wish, nor have I the right to ask people to supervise and engage in the construction of buildings I am responsible for and risk their physical well being, indeed their very lives in the process.

I have no intention of working for a military government with its attached implications. Moreover, I will never again travel to East Pakistan. Lastly, when the country is free and self-determing I would wish to visit and hopefully work in Bangladesh for I have come to love these people and their country very much. I am an architect. I am also a human being.

TEN DAYS IN PIPE-CITY

Lafayette Park in Washington D.C. has got an opportunity to experience a mock-up of the greates misery of our century. A miniature refugee city has sprung up in the Park to offer the citizens of Washington a closer view of the refugee camps in India. Organized by the Philadelphia Friends of East Bengal and supported by a number of Bangladesh groups in the region, a series of drain-pipe shelters have been set up for a period of ten-days beginning from October 14. This dramatization of the refugee situation has attracted the attention of the public and the press in Washington. Scores of volunteers from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston have arrived in Washington to join the participants in this ten day program.

The program includes a march to the Pakistan Embassy on Saturday (October 16), a religious memorial service on Sunday and a mass lobbying in the Senate on Monday.

This ten-day “refugee camp” is run by “camp director” Dick Taylor who organized the “naval blocka de”
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of the arms carrying Pakistani ship PADMA. Dick Taylor is assisted by David Hartsough and Bill Moyer.

MORE DIPLOMATS DECALRE ALLEGIANCE TO BANGLADESH

By the end of the second week of October a total of 114 diplomats all over the world have severed their relationship with the Yahya regime and declared allegiance to the Government of Bangladesh. Among the diplomats who recently joined the liberation struggle of Bangladesh are : Pakistani ambassador to Argentina Mr. Abdul Momin, Political Counsellor to the Pakistani High Commissioner to the U.K. Mr. M.M. Rezaul Karim, Minister-Councellor in the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Mr. Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, Mr. Latif in Beirut, Mr. Abdul Karim Mondal in Madrid, Mr. Nayebul Huda in Belgium and Mr. Mustafizur Rahman, First Secretary of the Pakistan Embassy in Nepal.

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

September 30 :
Wash Post (Geneva)
The World Health Organization said that cholera had claimed 5805 refugee lives. There have been 46,469 cholera cases among the refugees. WHO said both the number of cholera cases and deaths are probably higher because not all are reported.

London Times (Editorial)
The paper underscores Sir Alec Douglas-Hume’s point at the U.N. that the danger of war between India and Pakistan “could only certainly be avoided if and when there was a return to civilian government in East Pakistan…A government in which the people of East Pakistan, Muslim or Hindu, have confidence is an absolute necessary, whether Pakistan’s two wings are to remain united or whether they are to be separated, or whether some new compromise is to be arrived at…what hope can there be of the great majority of refugees who are Hindus returning, when not only their homes or their land but the very society they once inhabited has been dismantled?…The shadows of a civil government that have so far been offered in Dacca are no more than a pretence, scarcely even a promise of what is really needed…They only hope, and the only hope to bring a decent life to these millions of suffering people, must be negotiations with the Awami League…Sheikh Mujib must be associated in freedom with such negotiations…the question of the future relations of East and West Pakistan cannot be evaded. Sooner or later the realists in Islamabad will have to face the only possible path to peace.

October 2 :
London Times (Delhi)
President Podgorny of USSR warned India and Pakistan tonight against going to war over East Bengal. He said that “the tension should be removed by means of an equitable political settlement with due account for the legitimate rights and interest of the people in that region”.

Wash Post (Key Biscayne)
President Nixon said the situation resulting from the civil war and last year’s devastating cyclone if unchecked “could drift toward greater disaster in the form of famine or even war”. Mr. Nixon declared : “It is a primary objective of the administration to relieve suffering and help avert such a situation”. He asked Congress to authorize an extra $150 million to add to the $100 million that the House has authorized for relief under international auspices. Mr. Ziegler told a press conference that $100 million would be for “humanitarian aid in East Pakistan” and $150 million for the refugees in India.
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M Guardian
Correspondent Martin Woolllacott describes in detail an operation of a Mukti Bahini unit which he accompained. Captain Najmul Huda’s company claimed to have killed 125 Pakistani soldiers including two officers in the four months it has been in existence. Their best effort so far was an action in late July when they ambushed a column, killing or wouding a claimed 50 soldiers and capturing two radio sets, which they now use themselves. They set ambushes using American M-16 mines as “cutoffs” in front of and behind an enemy party on the road and then sweeping the trapped men with Bren fire. Captain Huda, who commands not only his regular coampany but a nearby guerriall training camp, claimed that about 100 guerrilla parties have gone into thepart of East Bengal which is his responsibility-Jessore Distrtict and parts of Faridpur District. They go in with ammunition sufficient for two or three weeks and their supplies are replenished by other groups going in later.

October 3 :
L A Times (N Delhi)
Diplomatic observers here see nothing new in the Russian stand that would point to an early solution of the refugee problem. Mrs. Gangdhi was unable to obtain anything more thana strong verbal stand from the Russian exging the Pakistan generals to find a political solution in East Bengal.

L’Express
Nearly 70 years old, Andre Malraux announced his dicision to fight for the independance of Bengal. “The drama of Bengal isn’t an accident it’s a corpse-filled chapter in contemporary history. And Bengal, astride two countries, is a reservoir of poor that destiny will not leave idle. The center of the world is oscillating like the little ball on a roulette wheel. And Malraux would not be surprised if it falls on Asia”.

October 4 :
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Brussels)
A man depicting himself as a modern-day Robin Hood has demanaded $4 million for East Bengal refugees in return for a missing Vermeer painting. The Dutch State Museum valued the painting at $3 million.

(Dacca)
At least 400 persons have died in East Bengal from cholera in the past six weeks. The epidemic broke out after recent monsoon floods.

Christain Science Monitor (New Delhi)
There is strong speculation here that the USSR is making moves to mediate between the two embittered wings of Pakistan and to arrange for talks between Islamabad and New Delhi for a solution to the East Bengal refugee problem. Most newspapers presume the USSR is in agreement with the U.S. in the desire that Pakistan should not be broken up.

N.Y. Times (Rome)
Issuing an appeal for aid to the “800,000 exhausted, sick and starving children” from East Bengal in refugee camps, Pope Paul invited the churches of the world to join him in making next Sunday a day fasting and prayer in the children’s behalf.

October 5 :
N.Y. Times (Washington)
Amongst top U.S. government officials the Pakistani leaders are generally discussed in sympathetic terms and President Yahya Khan is though ot have been sincere in his desire to transform a military regime into a constitutional government. And his help this year in smoothing President Nixon;s path to Peking is
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warmly appreciated. Officials here refuse to denounce Yahya’s repression in East Bengal and have refused to cancel shipments of military equipment. With India’s cooperation, U.S. planners contend they could probably help to negotiate a fair degree of autonomy for East Bengal and over the years this might even evolve into independence.

(Washington)
Sen. Edward Kennedy today exhibited documents that he described as indicating that the Defense Departement was offering military material to Pakistan as recently as July 20 despite State Dept testimony to Congress June 28 that such offers ended March 25. Mr. Maurice Williams, Deputy Admn. AID, and Christopher Van Hollen, Deputy Asst. Secretary of State, both appeared unable to explain the Pentagon’s dealings as late as September 15 with the Pakistan govt’s local procurement office here. Mr. Van Hollen repeated that heavy arms shipments planned under the October. 1970 “one-time” embargo exception had not been delivered since March 25. He acknowledged that the U.S. was receving and processing requests for military equipment by Pakistan but that no new licenses had been issued since March 25 by the State Dept office of Munitions Control.

Wash Post
State Department officials said the administration was “not aware the military services (Pentagon) were issuing letters of offer” to Pakistan after the embergo on new licenses after March 25. The State Dept said that upon learning of it, written instructions had been given on July 2 to stop the practice. The officials said that 10 contracts were signed between March 25 and “late June” totalling some $9.1 million including the two agreements Sen. Kennedy revealed. Copies of the 2 documents showed that one, for $9.7 million originated on April 12 with an offer of spare parts for U.S.—supplied air force planes.

Sources close to Kennedy’s committee claimed that documents unearthed by GAO showed U.S. commercial fims had received licenses to ship arms and ammunition purchased from the Soviet Union and several East European countries to Pakistan. All of these licenses were issued before March 25.

London Times (Paris)
A French Dominican priest, Father Jean-Yves Jolip, said after an after an eight-day visit to India and East Bengal, that he was convinced there could only be a military solution to the Bangladesh problem. According to his statements at the press conference, the Bangladesh liberation army had taken over two zones north-west of the Indian border, one of 844 sq. miles with a population of 85,000 and another of the sam size 40 miles to the west. He said that most East Bengalis supported the Bangladesh movement.

(Dacca)
According to the Pakistan govt. by-elections for the national and provincial assembly seats declared vacant will take place in December and January.

(Delhi)
Indian newspapers reported Pakistan build up on the border between West Pakistan and India.

Daily Telegraph (Delhi)
The main feature of recent Pakistan preparations has been the digging of 2 long anti-tank ditches in the Lahore area, where India made its main thrust in the 1965 war. Crack units of the Pakistan Army have been moved into forward positions along the Punjab frontier. Neutral military observers see this as prudent defensive measures. Indian officials are well aware that a conflict would only create deeper problems. Mrs. Gandhi, on her recent trip to Moscow, found that there is no easy guarantee of Russian backing in a war with Pakistan.

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October 6 :
Wash Post (Washington)
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday tentatively approved a cutoff of all U.S. economic and military aid to Pakistan until East Pakistani refugees now in India have been allowed “to the extent feasible” to return home and reclaim their properties. Identical to the House action on August 3, it gives the President discretion to restore aid. A tougher version proposed by Sen. Church was beaten on a 7-6 vote. The administration opposed both versions. The administration had asked for $220 m in economic aid and $5 m in miltitary aid.

N.Y. Times (Calcutta)
With a reported 30,000 East Bengal refugees coming into India daily to join the millions already here, tensions are building in the overcrowded refugee camps and between the refugees and the local people. Officials acknowledge that the situation is serious and could become explosive shortly if food shortages in East Bengal cause an even greater increase in refugees.

(Dacca)
Diplomatic sources reported today that guerrilla divers damaged a Greek tanker, Avlos, in Chittagong last Friday. There was speculation that the Av los had been selected partly for blocking the dock area. Since August 16 at least a dozen vessels in East Bengal ports have been damaged or sunk by divers. The danger posed by guerrilla frogmen is significant since East Bengal is highly dependent on water traffic. To circumvent the destroyed bridges the Pakistan Army is using ferries. In some parts of the country, civilians are banned from using the ferry and most if not all motor launches have been commandeered by the Army.

T Globe & Mail (Ottawa)
According to the Canadian External Affairs Minister, Mitchell Sharp, famine has been averted in East Bengal. He gave famine a narrow definition : “In a famine, there just isn’t any food and people die. Full stop”. He acknowledged that there may be food shortage in certain areas. This would mean death to old people and children. A senior officer of his ministry said that large quantities of cereals had been shipped and that repairs and replacements have been made to the transportation network in East Bengal. He gave statistics showing $6.3 m as contribution by various governments and volunteer organizations in Canada. The federal govt. has channelled all its food aid intended for Pakistan into East Bengal, totalling $7.5 m.

October 7 :
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Washington)
U.S. food, blankets and medical supplies are being shipped to East Bengal and to refugee centers in India as part of an international relief effort by which statement hope to dampen tensions and prevent war. AID Deputy administrator Maurice Williams, speaking at a Senate subcommittee hearing on refugees emphasized that it was essential that food and other relief in East Bengal be “kept above the battle. There can be no mixed cargoes lest someone think that humanitarian grain is mixed with something else. Return trips of boats and trucks do not carry jute”.

October 8 :
S L Post-Dispatch (Editorial)
“The scandal of continuing U.S. military help to the oppressors in put in a most peculiar light by Nixon administration efforts to help the oppressed…It is mandatory that Washington expand every effort to feed the hungry, through the U.N. and unilaterally, and stop the flow of military supplies to West Pakistan”.

October 8 :
London Times (Brighton)
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At the Labor Party conference, Mr. Bruce Douglas-Mann, MP, said that the economic pressure exerted to compel Yahya Khan to with draw his army from East Bengal was inadequate and ineffective. Mr. Mann expressed fears that it was likely to become the greatest tragedy the world had known. Economic and diplomatic pressure were vital but he felt the Labour Party could do more by recoginzing the Bangladesh government also recongnize it. At the same conference Mr. John Stonehouse, MP, pointed to the danger of mass famine in East Bengal killing upwards of 10 million within the next 3 or 4 months. He hoped the Labour movement would put its full force behind the great campaign to send in a U.N. Relief force with military support to ensure that food was distributed and to secure recognition of the democratic will of East Bengal. Mrs. Judith Hart, MP, stressed that the responsibitlity for the tragedy lay with Government of Pakistan and that words must not be minced when appointioning responsibility. She said that the British Government should take the initiative in damanding action on a world scale at the U.N. with a massive U.N. operation in East Bengal. The only long-term answer lay in the right political solution, and not a phony one to satisfy world opinion. (Brussels)

Mario Peter Roymans was arrested in connection with the theft of a Vermeer painting and the demand for $3 million as contribution to relief organization for East Bengal refugees as reansom.

C S Monitor (Geneva)
India told the U.N. that refugees from East Bengal now totalled 9 million and that if they continued to enter at the present rate they would number 12 million by the end of the year.

N. Y. Times (Dacca)
Retired Air Marshall Asghar Khan announced that his party would contest forthcoming by elections for NA seats in East Bengal in order to keep “Unscrupulous elements” from power. Asghar Khan called for maximum autonomy for the provinces within a united Pakistan and the end of “economic exploitation of East Pakistan.” Pakistan reporters at the press conference said they had originally been prohibited from attending but were later allowed to attend upon condition of submitting their copy for censorship. No remarks were allowed to be printed in the local press.

At an early press conf. on September 26 Asghar Khan announced that the he favored amnesty for everyone not chareged with such crimes as murder and looting. It was understantood that he meant the amnesty to apply to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The govt. had censored this earlier press conference, too.

October 10 :
Boston Globe
Harvard Prof. John W. Thomas, who served as an economic advisor to the Pakistan government, analyses the situation in East Bengal. He writes : “The U.S, traditionally Pakistan’s largest aid donor is playing an important role in supporting the army’s operation in East Pakistan. There is disconcerting evidence that U.S. policy is not affected by Pakistan brutality to its own citizens and that we are prepared to make the financial commitments necessary for the present policy of military suppression to succeed. Such a policy requires the urgent attention of the American people…The U.S. has prompted and supported a U.N. relief operation in East Pakistan, although Pakistan would accept only 37 of the 157 observers initially agreed upon and although an important part of the relief supplies are trucks, boats and communications equipment of the type the army needs badly for its operations and has previously commandeered from U.N. agencies operating in East Pakistan. All parties to this program are well aware that among a starving populace, food in the hands of an occupying military force is a potent instrument of political control…

Is the again going to be involved in an Asian civil war, on the basis of executive initiative over the opposition of Congress?…to continue to support Pakistan’s martial law govt. and army and to help finance their operations is to promote a long-term guerrilla conflict which will have tragic economic and political
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consequences for both East and West Pakistan and is not likely to be in the long-term interest of the U.S.”

Sunday Times (London)
Correspondent Anthony Mascarenhas refutes the Pakistani agents Dr. Sajjad Hossain and Dr. Mohar Ali’s contention that “there is no massacre of intellectuals” and some professors died by accident during the fighting around the Iqbal and Jagannath Halls.

The correspondent reports : “The army sought out these teachers on the basis of lists prepared earlist and according to their neighbors, “finished them off”. …Neither Iqbal Hall nor Jagannath Hall, despite the heavy firing, were “used by aremd members of the Awami League volunteer corps” as Dr. Hossain and Dr. Ali allege…The only evidence of “weapons” in the hotel were dummy rifles used on parade by the University Officers Training Corps”.

The advertisement in The Times on August 3 was ostensibly “sponsored by the Pakistan Solidarity Front”. In fact, it was paid for by a special subvention made through Mr. Qayyum, Press Counsellor of the Pakistan High Commission, London. The sum of 2,640 pounds sterling was made available to him on July 30.

The hand of government is clearly behind “individual” visits and “spontaneous” advertisements.

October 11 :
N.Y. Times (Rome)
Pope Paul VI led delegates to the Synod of Bishops in a day of fasting and prayer on behalf of the refugees of East Bengal. Churches in italy held special collections for the refugees and many delegates to the international Synod gave sermons on the situation.

(Editorial)
“The charge…that the Pakistan Government has unleashed a reign of terror in the rebellious Bengali province is substantially confirmed by the pathetic tales of refugees still pouring into India…The primary responsibility for initiating a political solution obviously lies with Pakistan. There can be no hope for peace while Pakistan soldiers continue to terrorize their Bengali countrymen or as long as the military regime in Islamabad refuses to deal with East Pakistan’s elected leaders…A special responsibility for the deteriorating situation in South Asia falls on Washington. The Nixon Administration’s continuing military and economic support’s for Islamabad has encouraged Pakistani intransigence and fed frustration in Bengal and India. It is time the Administration heeded Congressional demands for a reversal of this disastrous policy”.

October 13 :
C.S Monitor (Rawalpindi)
There is continuing resistance in Dacca, at the major ports of Chittagong and Chalna, and in the interior in Mymensingh and Munshiganj but only narrow areas are under actual control of the Mukti Bahini. The major test for both sides is approaching. The ground will harden next month for vehicles and troops to move easily. There is fear that scarcity of food will launch another exedus to India. Relief workers are accused of collaborating with the Army by the Mukti Bahini. Peace committee sources say at least 600 of their workers have been killed since April. Unofficial estimates say the Pakistan Army has taken a total of 8000 casualties. More and more it is giving over military duties to locally recruited militia and volunteers. Sources at the Pakistan Military Acamdemy in Kakul, West Pakistan, report 47 of the 147 members of the school’s last graduating class have been killed or wounded in East Bengal.

London Times (Karachi)
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Addressing the nation, President Yahya Khan yesterday said : “I would like to address a word to my countrymen who are living abroad and who were misled by the horrifying tales born in theimagination of Indian propagandists and their foreign protagonists. I am glad that facts are now becoming known to them. I wish it were possible forthem to come home to see things for themselves…”

October 14 :
N.Y. Times (Dacca)
The chances of reversing the tide of millions of destitute refugees seems remote. Many governments, including the U.S, have pressed the Pakistan government for fundamental changes, among them : (1) the end of police and military terror (2) a reasonably representative government in Dacca; (3) a much more convincing effort by the government to relive the suffering due to the cyclone, flood and civil war.

The consensus among foreigners here is that there has been no real propress in these areas.

A number of Bengali gynecologists are known to have been preforming many abortions on girls held at army installations and released. A persistent rumour is of about 600 women picked up by the army in March and April and held in military brothels not being released because they are pregnant beyond the point at which abortions are possible.

People, obscure and prominent, are also subject to arbitrary arrest despite the general amnesty proclaimed last month by Yahya Khan Diplomatic say that the amnesty was purely cosmetic and that not only no important prisoners have been released but the army has continued arresting politicians, professors, lawyers and others by the hundreds. According to a number of reports, some from foreign observers, a number of persons have been arrested and shot.

Members of Sheikh Mujib’s family, while not accused of any crime, are held as virtual prisoners here.

Retd. Air Marshal Asghar Khan announced that he was withdrawing from the forthcoming by elections because his political program has not been allowed to appear in the newspapers. Political repression is extended to any politician or group considered likely to embarass the military regime. Government approved candidates, most of them strongly righwing and fundamentalist Moslems are all heavily escorted by troops.

The guerrillas are taking an increasing toll of the occupation army and medical circles report growing numbers of bodies of soldiers. Local reports usually tell of heavy losses of life when the army burns hamlets to the ground in reprisal. Hindus have been particular targets of the soldiers. Hindus communities and shops burned out by the army stand deserted, their temples smashed. The Pakistan Government has made it plain that Hinduism will no longer be tolerated in East Pakistan.

Discussing the Pakistan Govrnment’s refugee reception centers, a foreign relief worker said : “we no longer bother to visit the 60 or so refugee reception centers. It’s obvious they aren’t coming back in more than a tiny trickle—none in some areas”. He added : “At one place we discovered the Government had a staff of professional refugees that they brought out whenever visitors come to show that something was going on. After hearing as many deceptions as we do, it quickly reaches the point at which we cannot take the Pakistan Government’s word for anything, however trivial”.

October 15 :
N.Y. Times (Washington)
The Pakistan freighter SIPSAH recently unloaded crates of North Korean small arms and ammunition at Karachi. North Korea is about to open a consulate in Dacca. Officials here suggested that the USSR might
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be seeking to maintain friendly links with Pakistan by furnishing arms through North Korea. Other sources, however, suggest that China was a more likely source.

(Karachi)
Abdul Monem Khan, Governor of East Pakistan during Ayub Khan’s regime, has been assasinated. According to a Pakistan news agency, Mr. Monem Khan was regarded as the unofficial advisor of Dr. A. M. Malik, the present govern or of East Pakistan and “therefore he might have become a target” of Bengali separatists.

PLEASE NOTE

1. For bulk supplies of printed materials for campus distritbution (list of items will be supplied on request) contact :

Friends of East Bengal
Box 42, Sta B
Vanderbilt Univ
Nashville, TN 37203

2. A set of 25 slides on Bangladesh is available for supply ($12.00 per set). For campus speakers and slides contact :

Dr. J. K. Bhattacharjee
Dept. of Microbiology
Miami Univ, Oxford, Ohio 45056
Phone : (513)-4727)

3. Disc record of Bangladesh national anthem is available at the Defense League Office. Those who already oredered for copies will receive their records within a week. New Orders will be welcome ($2.00 each). The anthem has been recorded without any accompanying music. Another record, with music, will be produced by the later part of Novermber.

4. Write to your senators to support the Saxbe-Church Amendment. Come to Washington, if you can. Persuade your friends to write.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Michigan
A Large rally was held in front of the Ann Arbor City Hall in support of the Bangladesh Liberation struggle. Among the demonstrators more than one hundred participants carried placards demanding the complete embergo on U.S. arm shipment and economic aid.

A Teach-In was held in the University of Michigan on Bangladesh at the conclusion of the rally. Prof. Rhode Murphy, Director of the Chinese Study Center, Mayor Harris, Prof. R.C. Porter, Prof. Economics, Prof. Rod Huber, Mr. Mozammel Huq, Mr. Rashidur Reza Farooqui spoke in the Teach-In.

Governor Milikan of Michigan has declared a Bangladesh Day to be observed throughout the state of Michigan.
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University of Michigan has invited Senator Kennedy to speak on Bangladesh situation.

A Faculty Committee has been formed in the University of Michigan under thepresidentship of Prof. Howard Schuman, Chairman of the Departement of Sociology, to provide assistance to the educators of Bangladesh who have been forced to take refugee in India.

MADISON MARCH FOR BANGLADESH

The secretary of the Bangladesh Defense League visited Madison, Wisc. on October 7 & 8 and addressed the local high school students in connection with the Walk for Development project that is scheduled to take place in Madison on Sunday, October 17, 1971. This year the group has taken Bangladesh as a foreign project and would contribute a part of the funds raised to the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal. Last year they raised around $5,000. This year the proceeds are estimated to be over $100,000.

An important aspect of the walk is the education of the local public on the different projects for which the walk is undertaken. In this connection talks are arranged in every high school, college and university of the area, week-long radio and TV shows are sponsored.

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 (615)833-2064

No. 12 November 10, 1971

Editorial

“THE SMELL OF WAR”

For the last two weeks the air is filled with war cries. “Hate India” campaign has reached its peak in Pakistan. Screaming “Crush India” bumper stickers sprouted all over Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. It looks like this crushing game of the Pakistani warlords has got throughly into their blood. Their ‘disappointing’ performance in crushing the people of Bangladesh, despite the ultimate degree of ferocity and brutality, may be now forcing them to look for something else to go crushing about. They need to vent their frustrations somehow.

Nobody else knows better than the military junta of Pakistan what outcome awaits them in an armed confrontation with India. Even then they would not mind rushing to a sure disaster fighting against the professional army of India rather than to through the humiliation of a defeat at the hands of the student-peasant freedom fighters of the Mukti Bahini.

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Besides the ego of professionalism there arehard political calculations underlying the sudden outburst of war dances in Islamabad. Stream of dead bodies of the Pakistan Army officers flowing into Karachi and Lahore from Bangladesh has created a consternation in Pakistan. Already it has been reported, a protest march was taken out in Lahore by the widows of some of the killed officers. Parents and relatives of the soldiers killed in Bangladesh are getting restive about the nature of the war there. “Police action against miscreants” as an explanation does not find easy credibility. Some new explanation had to be invented. What can be better catch-all explanation than “a war with India?” The warlords of Pakistan are presently engaged in establishing the new line of explantion with full authenticity. All it needed is to replace the word ‘miscreant’ by Indian’ and attribute the credit to India for every shell fired by the Mukti Bahini. Massing of troops on the borders and making appropriate noise complete the picture.

There is smell war alright, but, at least at this stage, it is a synthetic smell. Pakistani generals want to make this ‘war’ 99 per cent authentic both for domestic reasons and diplomatic. But, at their frame of mind, we don’t think they will be too upset if it tills over to become hundred pec cent genuine.

HOPING FOR THE BEST….
(The following is a summary of a report published in the daily Guardian on October 14, 1971)

If major food shortages develop in East Bengal during the next two months the United Nations relief organization here in Dacca will be able to do little to relieve them. The U.N. East Pakistan Relief Organization, known as UNEPRO, has been aptly described by one critic as a “head without a body”. If serious food shortages do show before the middle of D.C. and nobody is convenced that they will not, then “we are all in trouble”, one senior U.N. official said.

Had the forcecasts made this summer about food shortages and local famines come true the U.N. would indeed be “in trouble”. Both Government and private stocks of rice and wheat are dangerously low in a wide belt of territory running from Dinajpur through Rajshahi, Pabna, Kushtia, Faridpur, to Northern Barisal. Many of these areas, to make matters worse, are more militarily active than other parts of the province.

Families are now flooding back into the urban areas, which are now less disturbed than the countryside. Their presence creates extra urban feeding problems.

An Oxfam survey of two normally rice surplus areas south of Noakhali twon earlier this year showed that the estimated yield from the winter rice crop would be only 35% of the normal yield. The survey does not augur well for the rice yield in other southern delta districts.

Of the province’s 5,000 trucks, 3,000 have “disappeared”, some across the border to India, some commandeered by the army. Basic decision taken by UNEPRO has been to replace the lost rail capasity by a combination of increased movement by water and by road, UNEPRO has made plans to bring in a fleet of medium-sized coaster and bulk cargo vessels plus some tugs and a fleet of 1000 trucks.

Even if by a variety of expedients a food disaster in some areas is avoided in the period until December when the winter rice crop begins to be harvested, that is by no means the end of the problem. The winter crop is not going to be a good one, although forecasts are now more sanguine than they were. In some areas like Jessore the winter crop may be 70 per cent down on normal yield due to flooding.

APPEAL FOR WINTER CLOTHINGS
With winter just round the corner the urgency for providing the freedom fighters and the suffering uprooted millions of Bangladesh with woollen and other winter garments needs no emphasis. Bangladesh
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Mukti Bahini is fighting the West Pakistani invaders to liberate Bangladesh against odds unparallel in the annals of history. To help the Mukti Bahini will be a sevice not only to the cause of Bangladesh but also to that of humanity and freedom in general.

To help protect against cold and for use during the onsuing winter season by the Mukti Bahini, Mr. M. Hossain Ali, High Commissioner for Bangladesh in India appeals to the philanthropic organizations, voluntary institutions, manufacturers and dealers of cardigan, pull-over, woollen blankets, wrappers and scarfs etc., to come forward to donate these articles for the above mentioned purposes.

The donation of winter clothings may be sent to the office of the High Commissioner for Bangladesh in India at 9, Circus Avenue, Calcutta-17.

RECOGNIZE BANGLADESH

New York, October, 14 : Paul O’Dwyer, former Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in New York, today called for U.S. diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, and for stopping U.S. military and economic aid to West Pakistan.

Speaking at the opening of the storefront headquarters of Americans for Bangladesh at 187 Lexington Avenue, O’Dwyer declared that Bangladesh is “a clearly separate geographical, linguistic and economic entity, it has at present a duly elected government supported by the massive majority of its 75 million people.

“Senventy-five million people deserve their own country”, O’Dwyer stated.

Also present at the ceremony were State Assemblyman Andrew Stein (D-62nd District) ; Robert F. Wagner, Jr., Chairman of the Youth Commission of the New York City Democratic Committee ; and Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, former justice of the Dacca high court who is leading a delegation from Bangladesh to present the issue before the United Nations General Assembly.

Demanding a complete halt to economic and military aid to West Pakistan, O’Dwyer said, “our support is now helping the Pakistani army to crush democratic forces in Bangladesh. It has helped to create the greatest refugee problem in modern history and caused untold misery to millions of innocent people”.

“Every bullet which has caused the death of a resident of Bangladesh has our name written on it”, O’Dwyer declared.

Stein stated that “American policy in Bangladesh has shown the same kind of irreverance for life as our policy in Vietnam…It is certainly not one we can be proud of as a people”.

Paul O’Dwyer and Justice Chowdhury later presented the case for recognition of Bangladesh in an hour long radio program over WMCA Radio.

MONSTROUS PUNISHMENT
Two workers of the Operation Omega, an international relief mission with headquarters in England, have recently been arrested by the occupation army of West Pakistan for “illegally” disrtibuting relief supplies inside the occupied Bangladesh. They were charged with “smuggling” and sentenced by a military court to two years in prison.

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Ellon Langle Connett, 27, of Dumot, New Jersey and another volunteer, Gordon Slaven, a British citizen, were distributing clothes and medicine about 10 miles inside the occupied Bangladesh when they were arrested on October 4.

Mrs. Connett was the second U.S. relief volunteer to be tried for illegally distributing relief supplies in Bangladesh, but the fisrt to be given a prison sentence. Daniol due, of San Fransco, also of Operation Omega, was tried last September and deported.

According to the officials of Operation Omega, the two volunteers are being treated as “class C” prisoners, the status given to common criminals, and denied an American lawyer.

In an editorial under the caption “Monstreous Punishment” British daily Observer (October 17.) wrote :

“Two young relief workers have been sentenced to two years” imprisonment by the Pakistan courts. The aim of their exercise was to demonstrate that the claims of charity should have priority over political reasons of state. They therefore illegally entered East Pakistan to try to help those suffering there from hunger and disease.

“The Pakistan authorities used a big stick and imprisoned them. This has secured publicity and support for their aims from people all over the world…A two year sentence in monstrously excessive and must bring discredit on the regime”.

MISS WORLD AIRWAYS MARRIES SPECTRE OF DEATH

Friends of East Bengal, Chicago, continue their campaign against the World Airways which leased two Bowing 707 airplanes to the military junta of Pakistan to facilitate their transport of men and arms to the occupied Bangladesh. On October 21 the Friends organized a “Wedding Ceremony” joining” Miss World Airways” with the SPECTRE OF DEATH. The wedding took place in front of the Equitable Building which houses the office of the World Airways. The wedding was attended by a large number of Chicago citizens.

The Friends organized a public meeting at the Equitable Plaza on October 28. Speakers included Dr. Eqbal Ahmed, a West Pakistani scholar associated with the Adlai Stevenson Institute.

JOAN BAEZ SINGS FOR BANGLADESH

Ann Arbor, October 24 : Twenty thousand listeners listened Joan Baez as she sang for two hours at Crisler Arena. Joan punctuated her singing with acerbic remarks thrust at the Nixon administration and establishment politics in general. Some of last night’s most moving moments resulted from original political works such as Bangladesh.

“When the sun sinks in the West
Die a million people of Bangladesh”

She appealed to the audience to help the Bangladesh refugees in every way they can and support the Bangladesh cause.

Ravi Shankar Gives
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Benefit Performance

Iowa Bengal Relief Committee of Iowa City organized a benefit performance by Ustad Ravi Shankar, the well-known sitarist, on October 21, 1971. Prior to the performence a massive publicity campaign was undertaken by the committee to acquaint the citizens of Iowa City the magnitude of human disaster that has befallen oin the people of Bangladesh and the events leading to this disaster.

BANGLADESH ACTIVITIES AROUND THE STATES
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friends of Bangladesh, an organization comprised mostly of the faculty members of the University of Michigan, has sponsored a day of fast in all the dormitories of the university to be observed on November 6, 1971. Prof. Rodrick Huber and Miss Deborah Bernhardt are organizing the program to raise funds for the Bangladesh relief.

On October 28, during the Homecoming celebrations Friends of Bangladesh sponsored a Bangladesh Float depicting the death, destruction and brutality brought over to Bangladesh by the Pakistan occuption army. Prof. Peter Hook and Miss Snehalata Deksheet designed the float which dramatized the man-made disaster and the role the U.S. is playing in it.

Dr. A.R. Malick, President of the Chittagong University and Dr. Ashabul Huq, member of the provincial assembly (both are members of the Bangladesh delegatiion to the United Nations) addressed a public meeting in East Lansing and appeared on the lacal TV program on October 26, 1971.

They addressed a meeting of the faculty members and concerned public in Ann Arbor the following day.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

International League for peace and Freedom and the YWCA. Peace Task Force jointly sponsored a Teach-In on Bangladesh on October 11, 1971 at the Central YWCA. Mr. Muzammel Huq, president of the Bangladesh Association of the University of Michigan was invited to speak in the Teach-in. At the conclusion of the Teach-in a Bangladesh Committee under the Presidentship of Mrs. Jenet Mair was formed to organize activities to educate the local citizens on the situation in Bangladesh and sponsor relief drive. Mr. Huq also addressed the students at the Grand Valley State College.

Bangladesh Association of Mid-West

Bangladesh Association of Mid-West informs that representatives of the organization are keeping a continuous vigil on the Capital Hill, Washington D.C. They, along with the representatives from the Friends of East Bengal, Columbus, Ohio, also participated in the Bangladesh Rally in Washington.

The Association in touch with Bangladesh campaigns now underway in various campus communities including Purdue, Ohio State, Miami-Western, Akron, Case-Western and Florida State. Campaign includes teach-in, distribution of literature, display in the University Center and fund raising.

The Association has sent a large consignment of winter clothes to the Bangladesh refugees.

Bangladesh Defense League

Bangladesh representatives to the United Nations, Dr. A.R. Mallick and Dr. Ashabul Huq attended the
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meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Defense League on Oct. 23, 1971 and briefed the meeting oin the current political and military situation in Bangladesh.

FAST A DAY TO SAVE A PEOPLE

On Wednesday, November 3, students in many high schools and colleges throughout the USA will go hungry. Their lunch money, snack change whatever they might normally spend to feed themeslves, will go instead to feed the hungry millions in the refugee camps of West Bengal. The project called “November 3 Fast to Save a People” is co-sponsored by a variety of organizations. All funds collected will be channeled through Oxfam-America, Inc.

Three thousand colleges and 30,000 high schools may participate in this project. Governors of Rhode Island and Arkansas have proclaimed November 3 as ‘East Pakistan Refugee Day’ in their states.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dr. Sajjad Hossain, vice-chancellor of Dacca University and an active collaborator of the Pakistani occupation army, has been shot and, according to an unconfirmed report, killed.
oooo

Saudi Arabia has recently supplied 75 American made fighter planes to Pakistan.
oooo

According to the daily DAWN of Karachi, whatever Construction is passed by the recontituted National Assembly it cannot claim to be democratic, because it will not be backed by the will of the people. According to the DAWN most of the members of the Assembly from East Bengal will not attend the session when the Assembly convenes in December.
oooo

The helicopter carrying Dr. Malik, Yahya’s ‘Governor’ for the occupied Bangladesh, was shot at by a youth while the helicopter was flying over the village Baorakhola of Comilla district. The shot missed the target. The following day Pakistan Air Force strafed the village.
oooo

After two days of fierce fighting Mukti Bahini has liberated the Kasba area of Comilla district. In this battle 60 enemy troops were killed.
Mukti Bahini have raised the Bangladesh flag over the Chhatak Cement Factory and Chhatak town after liberating them from the occupation army.
oooo

Mukti Bahini killed 25 enemy troops in Sadekpur of Comilla Sector and captured 6,303 rifles and a large quantity of ammunitions.
oooo

PLEASE NOTE

1. Mukti Bahini require large supplies of winter clothes, medicines, tents, and blankets. From your individual efforts in your local community you’ll be amazed how much of them you can collect.
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If you have an organization, all the better. Initiate the drive today. For arrangements for FREE AIR TRANSPORTATION to the Mukti Bahini contact :

Dr. Muhammd Yunus
500 Paragon Mills Rd. Apt B-7
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone : (615) 833-3064

2. Dotors can easily collect medicines by writing to the pharmaceautical companies and also urgin their colleagues to donate the sample medicines. Doctors in Nasville already sent 90 cartons of medicines to the Mukti Bahini hopitals. YOU can do it too. For free air transportation note the above address.

3. We have received a number of letters from our readers expressing their desire to contribute to the Bangladesh Newsletter by way of subscription. We sincerely appreciate your support to the Newsletter. We are not accepting any contribution separately for the Newsletter. But we strongly urge readers to contribute generously to the Bangladesh Defense League to support its program and activities. Won’t you sent us a monthly/onetime contribution?

4. For bulk supplies of printed materials for campus distribution (list of items will be supplied on request) contact :

Friends of East Bengal
Box 41, Sta B
Vanderbilt Univ
Nashville, TN 37203

5. If you’ve prepared materials for distribution or published articles in the newspaper/magazine please send copies to the Newsletter.

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

October 14 :
Daily Telegraph (Editorial :Yahya’s Blindness)
At monsoon’s end “refugees can move—either back from India to their homes, or in the other direction to increase the already terrifying total to nine million. Troops can move to bring food to tens of millions who have existed somehow, but are now at the end of their resources…Troops can move to chase independence fighters. Much depends on priorities in the allocation of men and transport…How much movement will return to East Pakistan, and whether it will be in the right direction, depends on the dispositions made by President Yahya…What is depressing is that President Yahya, instead of getting to the roots of East Pakistan’s troubles, blames them all on India in dangerously martial language. The only real solution is to come to terms with Sheikh Mujib, now on secret trial, and even for that time is running out”.

(New Delhi)
According to Indian newspaper reports crack Pakistani units had moved to forward positions all along India’s Western border. Significantly, much of the talk of a build up has been based on rumors, talk and other “information” emanating originally from Pakistan itself. In fact, the Pakistanis have been at pains to disseminate “disinformation” about their supposed military build-up. Pakistan is anxious to shift the blame for her crisis in East Bengal on India, and is therefore seeking to “internationalize” the issue.
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London Times (Geneva)
In appealing for 215 million pounds in aid for East Bengal refugees in India, Prince Sadruddin Agha Khan, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said that if the new funds were not forthcoming “there could be a terrible Human drama triggering off an already explosive situation”.

C.S. Monitor (Rawalpindi)
While prepublication censorship has been officially lifted, Pakistan news agencies and newspapers remain under a martial law regulatioin which amounts to virtually the same thing.

October 15 :
Daily Telegraph (Karachi)
Master Khan Gul and Kazi Faiz Mohammed, two West Pakistani political leaders said at a public function in Karachi yesterday that wihout the release of Sheikh Mujib there could be no national unity or democracy in Pakistan.

London Times (Delhi)
Accodring to a preliminary survey by the Indian Finance Ministry, the direct and indirect cost of keeping the Bengal refugees alive will have amounted to about 350 million pounds by the end of the financial year in March. Serious side effects of the refugee problem are apparent. The movements of large stocks of supplies to refugee camps has placed a tremendous strain on the railroad and road systems and prices are spiralling up.

(Moscow)
The USSR has greatly increased its attacks on the Pakistan Government and its statements of concern about the problem of East Bengal refugees in India. It is strongly demanding the release of Sheikh Mujib and a political settlement of the East Bengal crisis.

The difference between the Indian and Soviet positions on support of the Bangladesh movement is that the Indian Government wants to avoid war, but fears it may be unavoidable whereas the Russians consider that war must be avoided.

(Geneva)
Prevention of famine in East Bengal during the next four months hinges on whether food shipped to the ports can be distributed effectively, M. Paul-Marc Henri, head of the U.N. relief operation, said here today. He blamed guerrillas for harassment in the border areas.

October 16 :
Daily Telegraph (New Delhi)
Concentrations of Pakistan troops all along India’s Western border were reported in Delhi yesterday, including and armored division that could cut the link between India and dispurted Kashmir. A second armored division is somewhere in the vicinity of Lahore. An armored brigade group appers to be poised between the Punjab-Sind area and India’s vulnerable Kutch district. The exact strength of the troops that have been moved during the last weeks in not known, but must exceed four Army Corps. Every Pakistani move during the last few weeks has been closely followed, mapped and then responded to by a counter-balancing move.

(Washington)
The Nixon Adm. hopes to reverse some of the proposed cuts in American’s foreign aid bill. The Government is concerned that the action against Pakistan could hamper its carefully-balanced efforts to achieve peace and stability in that country.
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October 16 :
Economist (London)
“At first glance President Yahya Khan’s two announcements this week look like attempts to bring back civilian rule and constitutionally to Pakistan. But a closer look suggests some anxious window-dressing for external economic reasons and internal political cake ones…President Yahya seems not so much to be preparing for a restoration of civilian rule early next year as acting like a man desperately trying to hold the ring…the continued ban on the Awami League and the many qualifications in the president’s announcement makes the package look like an effort by President Yahya to have his political cake and eat it”.

N. Y. Times
Rev. Homer A. Jack, Secreatay General, World Conference of Religion for Peace, in a letter to the editor writes : “should not a human rights organ of the U.N. discuss these crimes (‘against humanity unequalled since Hitler’s time’), which incidentally are continuing, quite apart from other organs of the U.N. alleviating the hunger inside East Pakistan and the plight of refugees in India? It is not either/or, but both. With the massacre of, conservatively, 200,000 people in East Pakistan since March, there must be ‘recrimination over those it is too late to save’ or else why the continued world concern about the victims of Nazi Germany?”

October 17 :
Sunday Times :
A race between life and death has now begun in earnest in East Bengal ot save millions from what even the least alarmist experts, call the danger of “critical food shortages”. But Paul Marc-Henri, the newly appointed director of U.N. relief operations concedes that preventing “widespread famine” may be touch and go. The existing hazards are formidable : 1. Guerrilla activity is widespread throughout East Bengal, and is increasing 2. The Pakistan army adds to the confusion caused by the guerrillas. The army is continuing to shoot Bengalis in cold blood. It is still taking savage reprisals for guerrill actions. The Razakars have a special reputation for brutality. Officials of foreign relief organizations remain concerned about the danger that supplies will find their way to the army than to those who need them most. 3.The scale of need is staggering. Food shortage is between 2.5 to 3 million tons. In August the U.N. took delivery of 200 five-ton trucks from various sources, and according to one U.N. official 175 of these have already been “put out of action, lost or destroyed”. Christian Aid believes that there are substantial stores of Russian-bult tractors, lorries and machine tools around Dacca. It has asked for access to this equipement, if only to keep it greased and rust-free : no answer has been received.

Observer (London)
A petition signed by 20,000 people pressing for a political settlement in East Bengal was handed to Mr. John Stonehouse, MP, at an Oxfam and Omega rally in Birmingham yesterday. Mr. Stonehouse will give the petition to the Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home.
oooo

India and Pakistan are strengthening their military forces along the borders between them. Five Pakistani Army Divisions have been arrayed along the Indian border with West Pakistan on a war footing. The approaching end of the monsoon is likely to increase the fighting inside Pakistan between the Bangladesh guerrillas and the Pakistan Army. This could also lead to more incidents along the border where the main guerrilla training camps are situated.

Wash Post (U.N.)
According to U.N. sources, there has been some progress on humanitarian relief in the East Bengal crisis but none on the political and military sides. They characterize the present situation as “desperate”.
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According to diplomats here and foreigners in Dacca, pre-requisites for the return of refugees are a representatives governmemt in Dacca, an end to police and military terror in East Pakistan, and more effective efforts by the Pakistan government to repair the damage of the crisis. The same sources say these pro-requisites have not been met despite promises of amnesty and the revival of political life by Yahya Khan.

Both civil military Pakistan authorities refused permission to the U.N. relief operation to bring in portable radios for communication with field agents and to keep track of relief supplies. Grounds of refusal were fears that the Mukti Bahini would capture the radios.

Only 14 of the 90 U.N. personnel permanently in East Bengal have been put in the field. Despite U.N. claims to the contrary, a report from Dacca suggests that only part of the relief vessels have reached East Bengal.

Wash Post
A Pakistan official announcement in Dacca claimed Indian artillery shelling on the East Bengal border. Indian officials reported 3 shooting incidents along the U.N. ceasefire line in Kasmir. According to Western sources there was a heavy Pakistan troop concentration at Sialkot facing the main Indian supply route to Kasmir.

N.Y. Times (Delhi)
From a disorganized, confused band of freedom fighters that moved into action when the pakistan Army struct in late March to try to crush the Bengali autonomy movement, the Mukti Bahini has become, if not a well-oiled fighting machine, at least a reasonably co-ordinated and more than reasonably effective guerrilla force.

A growing number of the Bengali troops have been operating from “liberated areas” just inside East Bengal. Those areas, though not large, have been expanding. Some of the new recruits are being trained as regular troops and others as guerrillas. The latter adopt village dress and mix into the local population. There are many more volunteers however, than the Mukti Bahini can absorb, primarily because of a shortage of weapons.

The Mukti Bahini has effectively harassed the Pakistan army, pinned it down in some areas and stretched its lines thin all over East Bengal. Reliable reports indicate that Pakistan casualties are increasing.

October 18 :
Guardian (Dacca)
New guerrilla groups infiltrated into the Dacca area in the past three weeks have begun a vigorous offensive. The new groups tried to shell Dacca airport. At Dacca’s satellite port they exploded bulk gas pipes and burnt a huge quantity of jute awaiting shipment. The most worrying incident for the military authorities, was the attempted attack on the airport. Outside the immediate Dacca area, other groups in the past few days have attacked road and rail links to Mymensingh. Four days ago guerrillas blew up a railway bridge between Tungi and Narshingdi. The engine and some carriages tumbled into a river. Sources here say the new groups are made up largely of students. They are assigned to areas where they used to live. Some, indeed, have never left the city since March except for two weeks of training. Money to support them is collected from sympathizers by political groups. Reports about continnuing army brutality reinforces public sympathy for the Mukti Bahini effort. Elsewhere in the province, the Pakistan Army seems to have made little progress in eliminating areas of Mukti Bahini strength.
oooo

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Unemployment is becoming a graver problem in West Pakistan, trade union sources say. In Karachi, largest industrial center in the country, about 35 per cent of a work force of 400,000 is reported out of work. Police arrested 67 workers under martial law regulations earlier thie month in Karachi for portesting against the dismissals of their follow-workers.

London Times (Teheran)
According to well-informed sources, the USSR may be attempting to mediate between India and Pakistan. President Podgorny is know to have met both General Yahya Khan and President Girl of India at the celebrations here. His visit with Yahyalasted? hours.

(Delhi)
India’s Defense Minister. Mr, Jagjivan Ram, announced that if a war was thrust on India she will not withdraw from captured Pakistan territory. He also declared that Indian troops will not be withdrawn from the borders until issue of East Bengal was resolved.

October 19 :
Daily Telegraph (Editorial) : “Indo-Pak. Tensions”…
It is tompting fortune to assume that war by accident or design can be staved off indefinitely. Nor is it likely, if it came, that it could be localized in one of the world’s most crucial strategic areas…In 1966 Mr. Kosygin ended that Indo-Pak. war., and vastly boosted Russian prestige, by his mediation at Tashkont.This time Russia, backed by immensely expanded military power, seemed at first inclined to exploit the situation. She has, however, been brought up sharply by her Arab friends, who support Pakistan. Attempts to placate them led to difficulties with India…All must show the greatest restraint, and President Yahya, instead of blaming India for the mess in East Pakistan, should clear it up speedily and thus remove the cause of the tension”.

Guardian (Bombay)
On her own, Pakistan cannot logically be anxious to resort to arms because Chinese intervention in an Indo-Pak. conflict can no longer be taken for granted, and India has a defence treaty with the Soviet Union. Unless the hawks in the Pakistan Army are pushing Pres. Yahya on a suicidal course—and Indians think some generals in Islamabad are spoiling for a fight as the only way out of their difficulties with Bangladesh and with Mr. Bhutto—the President’s brinkmanship may have limited diplomatic-objectives. As all manueuveres, in the U.N. and elsewhere, to inject an international presence into West Bengal have failed, Pakistanis may feel that the bringing of both nations to the verge of war could lead to niternational intervention. Pakistani generals are obviously at the end of their together over the guerrillas. The Soviet commitment to peace in the subcontinent, and the prevention of war there, borders on obsession. Moscow rules out war, even if the refugees are unable to go home. Moscow has left I India and Pakistan in no doubt that they have no conditions for a political settlement. This means that anything rigged by Pres. Yahya might be acceptable to Moscow. In a these circumstances nothing would suit Pakistan more than a second Tashkont. Pakistan might try to achieve this by brinkmanship short of war. But, as India sees it, the tension that has erupted along the borders can degenerate into war because of a minor accident, or the foolishness of any local commander.

Daily Telegraph (Silchar, Assam)
New Delhi fears that the military regime in Islamabad, unable to mount an offensive to quell East Bengal guerrillas, will launch an attack on kasmir in an effort to re-unite the nation. The Indians have redeployed their armor and much of their fighter force in readiness for an attempt by Pakistan to repeat their tactics of 1965 and attack the disputed province.

(Karachi)
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Highly placed Goverment sources in Karachi believe there is a growing likelihood that India will provoke a war with Pakistan before the end of the year. There is a mounting conviction that the Government of Mrs. Gandhi has manoeuvered itself into a dilemma from which war is the only escape.

London Times (London)
An additional 8.5 million pounds is being given by the British Government for relief in India and East Bengal. Of this 7.5 M pounds will to to help refugees in India. This brings the total contribution of Britain to about 14,75 million pounds for relief in India and 2 million pounds for relief in East Bengal. Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Foreign Minister, said that distribution of supplies in East Bengal was the main bottleneck. He said that river transport was being supplied by Britain to help. Speaking in Parliament, he said : “The President of Pakistan slowly begun the process of civilization of the government and the administration of East Pakistan but we cannot judge whether this is going to be acceptable to the people of East Pakistanvfrom here. The proof must be on the ground”.

T Globe & Mail (Delhi)
A news agency in India reported that Pakistan asboteurs blew up four empty cars of a freight train in the northeast Indian State of Assam. It was the third report of rail sabotage in the past 2 months in Assam.

Wash Post (Paris)
In an interview with Le Monde, President Yahya Khan said that Soviet President Podgorny had assured him that the Soviet Union was not aligned with India against Pakistan and did not want to see a war on the subcontinent Yahya said he “was ready to discuss with no matter whom, no matter where, no matter when and to accept no matter what mediation” in order to solve the whole background of grievances with India. He said the trial of Sheikh Mujib was “continuing” and that once concluded and “as soon as circumstances allowed, I will publish all the details, but not in the immediate future”. On possible talks with Sheikh Mujib he said “I cannot talk with a rebel unless the military court judging him declares him not guilty”.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
According to the official Associated Press of Pakistan, President Yahya Khan proposed to Soviet President Podgorny that both Pakistan and India withdraw their forces from the borders if India was willing to cease what he termed infiltration and other hostile acts.

Charles Bray, State Dept. spokesman, said that the U.S. was urging restraint on both India and Pakistan, and was holding consultations with the USSR, France and Britain. He indicated that the U.S. had no specific peace plan for the area and “would support any measures that would have the effect of reducing tensions”.

October 20 :
Daily Telegraph (Gauhati)
The opening of a Bangladesh guerrilla offensive against the Pakistan Army is imminent, and Col. M. Osmani, the guerrilla leader, has alerted the 30,000 men under his commad. He forecasts that “the campaign will be over” and “Bangladesh a free country by March, 1972”. Major “softening up” operations are already in progress at key points along the frontier. Near Comilla, Pakistan Army posts were so hard pressed by the guerrillas that air strike were called up in an effort to disperse the guerrillas. But despite many local successes it will be virtually impossible for the guerrillas to “liberate” their country by next spring, although there is increasing evidence that President Yahya’s allies in Peking are giving material as well as moral support to the guerrillas. Indian officers are concerned, with reason, about the extreme Leftist tendency the guerrillas are developing, but Chinese help is only one of the factors which is causing it.
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London Times
Officials and villagers said no general evacuation had been ordered and there was no sign of panic on this
border town. But about 25% of the population of 40,000 have left.

T Globe & Mail (Editorial)
“…The consequences of war would be devastating beyond description. Can nothing be done to stop this tragedy?…The flow of refugees continues, and virtually none of them will contemplate returning to Pakistan under present conditions. India grows desperate and moves steadily closer—formore general foreign policy reasons as well—to action aimed at dismenbering Pakistan and establishing in independent Bangladesh in the East. President Yahya Khan of Pakistan has plainly got his Government into an impossible position with his misguided attempt to use military force to suppress the auonomist movement in the country’s eastern province…It remains doubtful whether the solution can be found that will both restore peace and security in East Pakistan, and preserve some semblance of integrity of the country as a whole…”

London, Special (Editorial)
“What U.N. Secretary General U Thant called a ‘potential’ threat to peace last August has become too imminent a peril to be ignored by the world organization. The source of the brouble is clearly the continuing military repression in East Pakistan which has already sent more than nine million refugees into India…

Sources inside East Pakistan indicate that mass political arrests continue and the the army is pressing its policy of harsh reprisals against “miscreants”, especially the Hindu minority in East Bengal. The imprisonment and secret trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bengali leader, and the suppression of his Awami League, which swept the election in East Pakistan last December, make a farce of the new elections President Yahya has called.

So far, U.N. intervention has been confined to inadequately financed humanitarian efforts to alleviate the sufferings…But it is increasingly apparent that on real relief can come without an end to the repression and to Pakistna’s political crisis.

To prevent his man-made catastrophe from becoming compounded in a wider Indo-Pak war, it is essential that the U.N. come to grips with the central problem—the suppression of human rights in East Pakistan.

Lewis Simons Column
“The real winners of an all—out war between India and Pakistan would be those who stand at the heart of the hospitality, the Bengali rebels…While the guerrillas have achieved some notable success, particularly in sabotagin ships, bridges and roads, and claim to have killed 20,000 Pakistan soldiers, it is clear that the Bengali leaders recognize that an Indo-Pak war would work to their advantage, at least in the long-run. The Bengalis deny this. “This is impossible”, a senior Bangladesh representative said this week. “If this were even remotely possible we would not be fighting as we are now. We would not exchange one set of masters for another. We will be independent…”

October 21 :
Daily Telegraph (New Delhi)
President Tito and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in a joint commnique warned the Pakistan military junta to cease “their attempts to by pass the so-clearly expressed whishes of the people” of Bangladesh. President Tito’s recent meeting with Yahya in Parsia has apparently given him some slight hope that the Pakistan government will release Mujib. This view si not shared by observers. But here is no doubt
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President Yahya is increasingly worried by the help and encouragement Communist China is giving the Bangladesh guerrillas who grow more efficient in their attacks on the Pakistan Army supply lines between Karachi and the ports of Chittagong and Dacca.
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India and China are to exchance ambassadors. They reached agreement on the improved diplomatic ties this week, and only a formal announcement is awaited.

London Times (Ottawa)
Appearing before a joint meeting of Canadian MPs and Senators, Soviet Prime Minister Kosygin warned that the situation between India and Pakistan “is becoming more and more aggravated and more and more acute”. He disclosed that President Podgorny had demande401d of President Yahya Khan—when they met last week at the Iranian celebration—the restoration of democracy in East Bengal, the freeing of Sheikh Mujib, and arrangements for the return of refugees from India.

C.S. Monitor (Karachi)
Mr. M.A. Ali Khan, a West Pakistani immigrant to Canada, recently visited Pakistan. He writes :
“The revolt of the police in East Pakistan left the province without a police force, and policemen have had to be imported from West Pakistan or recruited from the Urdu-speaking people of East Pakistan. The desertion of the civil servants has meant that civil servants at all levels had to be imported from West Pakistan to keep East Pakistan administration going. And the desertion of East Pakistan labourers from their mills and other jobs has meant that even labourers have had to be imported from West Pakistan. The near unanimity displayed by the East Pakistan in the last election has meant that almost all East Pakistan are under suspicion. Where they have stayed in their federal jobs, they have been transterred to posts where they can do little damage. All Pakistan. International Airlines crew members from East Pakistan, for example, have been grounded…Many West Pakistan openly agreed that ‘now it is an occupation’ and no one is certain how long it can last…”

N.Y. Times (Karachi)
There is a feeling here that Pakistan and India are shadow-boxing, partly to impress each other with their respective fighting spirit, and partly to alarm the outer world into providing more material assistace in heading off war.

Popular enthusiasm for war with India seems both widespread and genuine. Some political figures here have openly called for a “Jihad” a Moslem holy war against India and have urged, without effect, that political factions unite in the face of the Indian enemy. But, in private, few people seem to believe war will actually come, or, if it does, that the great powers will permit it to continue for long.

Foreign and Pakistan military observers agree that if war comes it will be “because one side or the other has made a very deliberate decision to start it, and I cannot conceive of that happening”, as one said.

October 22 :
C.S. Monitor (Islamabad)
Mr. Ali Khan reports, “As tensions mount along the India-Pak. border, so does the possibility of war. It is a grim situation indeed…But with the spectre of Russia and Communist China hovering over the subcontinent, the picture becomes grimmer still. Any Indo-Pak war could conceivably suck in these two Communist superpowers…It is a situation fraught with as much irony as tragedy. Six years ago the East Pakistan Rifles and the East Bengal Regiment fought on the Lahore front, and fought creditably. And an East Pakistan pilot, M.M. Alam, was credited with downing more than a dozen Indian planes. But now the EPR and the EBR are in India, having revolted against Pakistan and sought sancturay in Indin. Mr.
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Alam is probably grounded—all East Pakistan pilots and crew members are…”

N.Y. Times (Putkhali)
In late March Pakistan troops moved into the village of Putkhali, terrorizing and torturing and forcing the people to cut down their rice and jute and their banana and mango trees so insurgent Bengali guerrillas would be denied ambushes. Three months later, in early July, Mukti Bahini pushed back into the area and forced the thinly stretched Pakistan troops to withdraw to safer areas. Putkhali is one part of several “liberated areas”. The Bangladesh forces sany that this piece of liberated ground, in Jessore district, encompasses about 100 sq. miles and that it is attached to another stretch in Khulna district of about 200 sq. miles, with a total population of perhaps 150,000. An educated guess is that all the liberated areas together comprise perhaps 1000 sq. miles. The combat commander of the 158-men company that defends the immediate area is 2nd Lt. Akhtar Uzzaman, a 25-year-old college graduate who is a recent graduate to the military academy at Kakul, West Pakistan. His troops and their wapons looked ragtag but morale was high even though most of the men are non-professionals. “We have no discipline or morale problems” he said. “All are have for sacrifice. All are motivated”.

October 23 :
Guardian (Bombay)
Two days before Mrs. Gandhi’s departure for a number of Western countries, New Delhi was the scene today of intense diplomatic activity. The Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Nikolai Firyubin, flew into the Indian capital this afternoon with a team of high ranking adivsers. The Soviet Union is as interested as the USA in avoiding war on the Indian subcontinent, but the tactics the two countries have been following in the Indian capital make a remarkble study in contrast. Russian line of argument usually is that both they and the Indians have common objective and that this can be best be achieved by avoiding war.

M. Guardian (Analysis)
John Grigg recently returned from India. He writes : “To suggest that India enticed the refugees across the border, or is now preventing their return, is the most preposter ous calumny imaginable. It is also false to accuse India of working for the breakup of Pakistan….India has not yet recognized Bangladesh and would prefer a solution, at this stage, within the framework of the status quo. Whereasmany believe that India is arming the Mukti Bahini to the teeth, in the hope of forcing a solution of the refugee problem that way, in reality the Bangladesh partisans are recieveing extremely limited support from India and know very well that India’s aim is quite different from theirs. They want to win their own independence struggle…But even the most optimistic of them do not suppose that a guerrilla war could be won in less than two years.

N.Y, Times (Delhi)
Foreign relief officials have concluded that although there will be pockets of food shortage, these will be no awesome starvation and hunger in East Bengal, whatever happens among the Bengali refugees in India.

A number of foreign officials are concerned that surplus food could be used by the Pakistan goverment to feed its occupation troops and local collaborators. The officials also fear that boats and trucks purchased with foreign relief funds for the distribution of food may be used for military purposes. Much of the relief equipment donated after the devastating cyclone last November has been taken over by the Pakistasn army.

Amongst the reasons for revising fears of mass starvation it is mentioned that the flight of refugees has reduced food needs correspondingly. Shortages are admitted in the cyclone-struck areas : Another reason given is the historical ability of Bengalis to be able to survive on very little in hard times and by eating, in the worst times almost anything that grows except grass.
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Some relief officials feel that the money being voted for food aid in East Bengal should be going to refugees in India.

October 24 :
Sunday Times
In Faridpur district alone there are at least 3,000 armed guerrillas fighting Yahya’s army, reports Freer Spreckley, a British relief worker who spent 17 days with the guerrillas. On October 1, he crossed the border with 120 Mukti Bahini and 70 porters from Taki camp. He reports that 60 per cent of all the freedom fighters are students, the rest mostly ex-servicemen of East Bengal Rifles or former police-men, because the Mukti Bahini will recruit men over 25 only if they have already had some military training. Spreckley claims that the group with which he crossed had remarkably little difficulty in reaching their destination. At border, be says, only the metalled roads are controlled by the Army. He also says that, in each village of the interior, there are at least 10 Mukti Bahini or Awami League supporters. The group walked 50 miles through the paddy fields and rest of the journey was made across flood waters in 40 ft. boats to arrive at Goparang. Two days after their arrival all the local Mukti Bahini commanders came to Captain Mohammad who told them that in future they were not to kill the Razakars they captured, but instead try to indoctrinate them. The Awami League has forbidden the planning or harvesting of jute : all efforts must be given over to the rice crop. Soon after his arrival, Dr. Mullik (political commissar) increased the penalties for breaking this decree in his area. Spreckley expresses the view that the flow of recruits to the Mukti Bahini is practically inenxhaustible.

B Globe (Boston)
Returning from a lengthy visit to the refugee camps in India, Bishop James K. Matthews, of the United Methodist Church, warned that unless new, massive international relief action is implemented, millions of East Bengalis—inside Indian refugee camps and still in their native land—may die of starvation and disease this winter. He asked : “Just imagine if 10 million Mexicans flooded over the border into our country. How long would it take us to gear up to house, clothe, feed and doctor that many people?”

A major concern for Bishop Matthews and his colleagues in the World Council of Churches is whether distribution of relief supplies will be allowed in East Bengal, if a saflicent amount were moved to the border. Most church agencies shy away from working directly with the U.N. becomes of control by West Pakistan officials but the Bishop feels they may have to accept thisw control to get relief to the starving millions.

October 25 :
London Times (Delhi)
Denzil Peisis writes that Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Firyibin is today meeting the Awami League leaders to persuade them to accept autonomy for Bangladesh within a single Pakistan. The main object of his visit to the leaders is seen to be to get the Bangladesh government in exilt to scale down its dmand for independance.

Peter Hazelhurst analyses the current crisis and writes that if war between India and Pakistan comes it will be because “the East Bengali guerrillas, operating and assisted from Indian bases, begin to harass the Pakistan effectively. President Yahya Khan might be forced to initiate a military action—most likely in Kashmir a with two objectives in mind. First, to focus the world’s attention on Kashmir and secondly, action in Kashmir would certainly force the U.N. Security Council to meet and, at the ensuing ceasefire negotiations, President Yahya would demand a package deal : peace in Kashmir provided that India assures the world she will no longer assist the Bengali guerrillas”.

(Karachi)
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Pakistan claimed that 53 people had been killed by Indian shelling. it added that Pakistan troops had repulsed two big attacks by “Indian agents” in the Comilla area.
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FORTY MILLION PEOPLE FACE STARVATION
Large number of refugee children are dying every day from malnutrition and the diseases that accompany it. As many as 500,000 children in camps will die before December.
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Issued by
BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 (615)833-2064

No. 13 November 25, 1971

Editorial
THE US AND BANGLADESH
Seven moths too late, with a million dead and tem million in flight, the U.S. has blocked the shipment of Americal military equipment to the aid of Yahya’s fascist regime. That this signals a change in U.S. policy toward Bangladesh seems most unlikely : the State Department insists that the decision was taken after mutual consultation with Pakistan ; White House spokesman Roanald Ziegler has affirmed the faith of U.S. officials in leverage by working behind the scenes with Yahya. There has been no indication that the U.S. will stop economic aid to Pakistan. Unless the Saxbe-Church amendment to the Foreign Aid bill becomes last, economic aid in the pipeline, which is sizable, will remain available to Pakistan. The U.S. appears to be favorable to the idea of extending the unilateral moratorium on foreign debts declared by Pakistan. Such continuing aid toi Pakistan will enable a continuing flow of American can military equipment.

The U.S. appears unwilling to grant the very simple proposition that any aid to a country releases its own resources and the donor can in no way control the use to which these latter resources are put, regardless of the restrictions it may place on the use of the aid funds. There is every indication that Pakistan intends to continue its repressive occupation of Bangladesh. Despite Chinese assistance to the Pakistan army, the military remains overwhelmingly dependent on American equipement : almost exlusively, according to the former Pakistan Ambassador Agha Hilaly (Washington Post, September 1). The Ambassador underscored the continuing need for spare parts, pointing out : “if we do not buy from her (U.S.), we can get them elsewhere but that would cost us ten times more”.

As long as the U.S. makes no real effort to deny Pakistan the means to keep its American arms active against Bangladesh, as long as the U.S. continues to enable Pakistan to buy arms elsewhere, we remain perplexed by U.S. attempts to alleviate the misery of the refugees and to save Bangladesh from faminc.

ARMS FOR PAKISTAN
While U.S. military assistance has been getting wide publicity, there is a less widespread awareness of military assistance from other countries. Based on reports in Toronto Globe & Mail, Sept. 25 ; Le Monde Weekly, Oct. 14 ; Economist, Oct. 23 ; Sunday Times, Nov. 7 ; Der Spiegel, Nov. 8 ; New York Times, Nov. 9 :
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China remains the major supplier of new weapons. At least 50 Chinese—built MIG jet fighters and 110 55-J main battle tanks have been sent. Mortars, small arms and ammunition have been going regularly both to Karachi and Chittagong. Chinese assistance has been announced in restoring the Dacca-Chittagong line, a crucial logistics link rendered useless by the Mukti Bahini.

Norht Korea and Romania are known to be selling arms. France has continued to supply Mirage jets, helicopters, subs, and other military equipment. Helicopters would be of great importance against the guerrillas.

Arab support has extended beyond purchase of textiles that used to be sold in the captive market of Bangladesh. Prince Feisal of Saudi Arabian has sent a check for $50 m. Persian Gulf Sheikhs have promised “unlimited” financial aid. Old U.S. tanks and bazookas have been supplied by Turkey. Libya has acted as the go-between for French Mirage jets. In return for Pakistan training of its pilots, Jordan has loaned several Starfighter jets. Neighboring Iran has offered its facilities for refueling and repairs in case of war with India. Since the Iranian armed forces are almost exclusively U.S. equipped it is able to offer the necessary spare parts for U.S. military equipment used by Pakistan. Iran has also acted as go-between for F-86 jets from West Germany. During his September visit Yahya signed and assistance agreement with Iran, one provision of which calls for Iran to lend to Pakistan, in case of war, 10 of Iran’s Phantom jets.

While some of this assistance is obviously intended for use in the event of a Indo-Pak war, much of it serves to bolster the Pakistan occupation in Bangladesh.

WEST PAKISTANI LEADERS DEMAND SHEIKH MUJIB’S RELEASE
Forty West Pakistani leaders have sent an appeal to President Yahya Khan to release Sheikh Mujib, the undisputed leader of Bangladesh. Signaotires include political leaders, educators, writers, poets and trade union leaders. In this appeal they urged General Yahya either to release Sheikh Mujib immediately or try him in public.

The appeal has been signed by, among others, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, former Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Chaudhury Aslam, leader of the Pakistan Socialist Party, Mazhar Ali Khan, former editor of the ‘Pakistan Times’, Mirza Mohammad Ibrahim, President of the Pakistan Trade Union Federation and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Lenin Prize winner poet and journalist.

It may be recalled that General Yahya in a recent interview given to Newsweek Senior Editor Arnaud de Borchgrave told him : “I cannot release him (Mujib) on a whim. It’s one hell of a responsibility. But if the nation demands his release, I will do it”.

Immediately after the publication of the report of this interview the release appeal has been made.

BOYCOTT PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Bangladesh Government in a recent appeal urged all Travel Agents and schedule Airlines of the world to completely boycott the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Bangladesh Government has sent a memorandum to the Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) drawing his attention to the activities of PIA which clearly contravene article III (i) of the Article of Association of the IATA. Mr. A. Razzak, Bangladesh representative in Stockholm, presented an aide-memoire to the Executive President of the Scandinavian Airways System to initiate measures to review the conduct of PIA under article V (2) (i) of the IATA.

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PIA, which has obtained its membership from the IATA to operate as a commercial revenue-earning airline, has collaborated with the military junta of Pakistan and crossed all limits of decency to become a party to the annihilation of a vast segment of humanity in Bangladesh. PIA transported two divisions plus two brigades of the Pakistan Army up to the 10th April and is presently carrying troops from Karachi to Dacca on a regular cyclic order. It operated shuttle services during March and April between Dacca/Canton and Shanghai to bring in tons of arms and ammunitions from China. It dismissed over 1400 Bengali employees within one week. Bengali pilots have been grounded. Some Bengali pilots, notable among them are Chief Secotr Pilot Captain Sikander and Captain Islam, have been handed over to the Army. To date, the fate of the unfortunate pilots is not known.

It is interesting to note that the Pakistan Government at no time proclaimed “state of emergency” in the country. And yet, under a torrent of falsehood, hypocrisy and distortion of facts, PIA pressed its Boeings and Fokkers to facilitate the killings of Bengalis.

Bangladesh Government also appealed to the people of the world to disassociate themselves from the PIA in every capacity.

A SAVAGE OCCUPATION ARMY
David Loshak of the Daily Telegraph was in Dacca when the army struck on the night of March 25. He returned to find that the “reign of terror” has “only marginally abated since the excesses of the summer”. Dispatches have continually borne him out. We quote an eyewitness report from Der Spiegel, October 11 (our translation) :
“On the airport road leading to the center of Dacca there are West Pakistani soldiers playing soccer. A dozen robust guys in Khaki green kick a whimpering man—a Bengali. On Dacca’s Green Road soldiers search cars for explosives and suspicious persons. In a taxi they discover two young Bengali girls. A dozen soldiers grab at the two, shouting while loading their bounty to the jeep. With imploring raised arms, the starving rickshaw driver throws himself to the grounde, begging for mercy because he had overlooked the stop sign. The constable smashes the man’s face with the butt of his gun until the man can no longer move.

“Bengalis only whisper when they mention the “cantt” because the stronghold of the soldiers is not only the commanding headquarters of the occupation regime but at the same time jail and torture chamber. 6000 Bengalis vegetate there, tortured and hungry, left to the arbitrarincess of the guards. No one knows how many die there, thousands have disappeared without a trace in the Cantt…
“No relative knows whether a prisoner is still alive”. Questions remain unanswered or lead to the arrest of the questioner. Nobody believes in the promises of the government anymore. “What can we do?” asks a village chief. “If we are passive and loyal, the Punjabis come and and rob us and take our women. If we destroy the bridges to keep them from our throats, the soldiers come burn our villages and shoot the people that fall into their hands. If we must die, we want to die as men”…

“Almost more gruesome than the soldiers are the poliec. Each passengers flight from West Pakistan brings a new landing of Punjabi constables. They roar their commands and orders in the language of the West, Urdu. The Bengalis do not understand them, but they know their curses. Even a six-year-old Bengali child minics their crics : “Tu bahin chood, idhar ao, goli khao”—“Come here you motherfucker and eat a bullet”. …on all the rivers they frisk all of the passengers and rob them. Even the Bishop of Dacca was relieved of thirty-five rupees when the man of God claimed abroad a river boat. Whoever tries to defend his baggage or refuses to pay will be shot as a “Mukti”…as a rebel…“From the Biharis the government has recruited a willing militia. The ‘Razakars’ (volunteers) are paid a monthly stipend of ninety rupees and the freedom to rape, to rob, to murder.”
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Another recent report comes from the Associated Press in Dacca, published in the Daily Telegraph, October 27 : “About 50 unarmed civilians have been killed by Pakistan Army, police and volunteers in the Dayaganj residential district of Dacca.

“Fifty more civilians were wounded in the raid which took place a week ago just after two men, believed to be members of the Mukti Bahini, shot six Pakistani soldiers, killing four of them.”

“As a reprisal the Army, aided by police and Razakars, went from house to house firing into rooms and setting buildings alight, according to eye witnesses. At least 60 homes occupied by shopkeepers, workers and Government officials were burned down. The incident was one of a series of exchanges of fire which are said to occur almost nightly throughout the capital city.”

“These reprisals are being taken despite the military regime’s persistent denials. According to authoritative sources in Dacca, President Yahya Khan denies shootings take place and does not even concede that they might have happened accidentally.”

“But a spokesman in the Dayaganj area said : There was no Mukti Bahini when the Army came. I’m a government servant and I tell you no person had a weapon”.

Senior Editor Arnaud de Borchgrave of Newsweek visiting East Bengal wrote (November 15) : “They (Yahya and Malik) are both convinced that the Pakistani Army is effectively and honorably fighting the guerrillas. Yet a highly knowledgeable foreign observer accuses the soldiers of atrocities. Ostensibly in pursuit of a band of rebels, army troops recently surrounded the village of Dmora (where the Mukti Bahini had never been), raped all the women between 12 and 25 and shot all the men older than 12. Only days later, Pakistani gunboats swept up the river at Chalna, sinking fishing boats and shooting the fisherman as they swam for safety. All this accomplishes is to make resistance in East Pakistan more extreme, more dedicated than ever”.

BANGLADESH REFUGEE CAMP AT THE UNITED NATIONS
New York : A refugee camp made of sewer pipes was set up at Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations Building on the first Navember to dramatize the conditions of Bengali refugees in India. The camp, organized by the Bangladesh Action Coalition, to simulate the conditions of refugee camps in India which house an estimated tem million Bengalis who have fled from the rapacious Pakistani occupation army in Bangladesh, continued its existence for one week.

Volunteers lived in the camp for the entire week, subsisting on rice and dahl (pulse), the refugee ration at the Indian camps. According to the organizers of the U.N. refugee camp, the inmates of the camp were not threatened with death by cholera, typhoid and above all, a brutal army unlike their less fortunate counterparts, but they attempted to point out to the well-fed and comfortably clothed diplomats at the United Nations the harash realities of Bangladesh. Igal Roodenko, the chairman of the Bangladesh Action Coalition said, “The camp was a protest against the inexcusable inaction and mute complicity of the world community during the past seven months when an entire people has been subjected to the most barbarous genocked”. The camp was also “a protest against the arms aid and economic assistance which the U.S. government has continued to give to the Pakistani military regime. Ignoring the obvious nature of the conflict in Bangladesh, where a democracy is pitted against the most reactionary of dictatorships, the U.S. government continues to control and manipulate international relief efforts in a way that has only recreased oppression”.

Roodenko pointed out that all United Nations relief aid is being sent through the military regime of West
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Pakistan and that U.N. officials admit to the diversion of past aid for military purposes.

Sponsoring groups in the Coalition include Americans for Bangladesh, Bangladesh League of American, Save East Bengal Committee, War Resistors League, Quaker Social Action Program, The Catholic Peace Fellowship and more than a dozen other groups of concerned citizens.

Poets Allen Ginsberg and W.S. Morwin participated in the poetry reading session of the week-long program. The program also included refief fast, memorial service, peace march along the sixth avenue and a protest march to the Pakistani consulate.

FRENCE COMMITTEE FOR BANGLADESH

French Committee of Solidarity with Bangladesh has recently been formed in France. It encompasses political activists and citizens of all political shades. It has published a statement asking the Government to place an immediate and total embergo on the delivery of all arms, military material, helicopters, and submarines—as well as spare parts—for which contracts had been signed before the Pakistani invasion of Bangladesh. The committee pointedly drew attention to a statement by General Yahya Khan in which he thanked the French Government for the military equipment supplied to his country.

BANGLADESH ACTIVITIES IN EAST LANSING

Lansing Area Committee for Emergency Refugee Fund has been formed to raise money for helping the refugees. A target of $100,000 has been fixed. The collection drive is in progress.

A booth was set up by the Bangladesh Association during MSU registration for three days. Literatures on Bangladesh were distributed and ‘Joy Bangla’ buttons were sold. An educational campaign on Bangladesh was also launched by the association in various churches and schools. A public meeting was organized at the Union Building, Michigan State University, which was addressed by Dr. A.R. Mallick and Dr. Ashabul Huq, the members of the United Nations delegation from Bangladesh. The visit of the Bangladesh delegates to East Lansing was highlighted by a series of radio and TV interviews and panel discussioins and a press conference.

THE WORLD OF YAHYA KHAN

Asked by Gerard Viratelle of Le Monde if a solution to save Pakistan exists, Yahya Khan replied : “There are 70 million Bengalis who are ready to save Pakistan. The Bengalis who were exploited by the British and by the Hindus were the first to proclaim the formation of Pakistan. They remain good Pakistanis. They were only deceived by a leader. Certainly they are proud to be Bengalis, like the others to be Pathans or Sindhis, but Pakistan is in the heart of each…

Upon any misgivings of the Army’s violent repression of the autonomy movement, Yahya Khan had this to say : “I am not a brute who would want to crush his own citizens. But when I understood that Mujibur Rahman intended secession, then I acted as a soldier. The question of misgivings never even arises. The interest of the nation demanded that I act thus. This was not an agreeable decision for me. I don’t know what made you think that I could have had qualms about what I did”.

In an interview with Newsweek’s Arnaud be Borchgrave (November 8), Yahya Khan spoke about Sheikh
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Mujib : “Many people might not believe me, But I think that if he went back (to East Pakistan) he would be killed by his own people who hold him responsible for all the suffering. In any case, it is an acadimic question”.

MORE BENGAL DIPLOMATS DEFECT

Members of Pakistani diplomatic missins in Switzerland, U.A.R., India and Japan recently announced their defection. In New Delhi, 10 non diplomat members of the Pakistani mission and 33 dependents walks out of its building under a hail of stones from West Pakistani employees. Witnesses said several appeared badly cut and one required hospital treatment.

In Bern, Waliur Rahman, deputy head of the Pakistani Embassy in Switzerland announced his alleegiance to Bangladesh. In Tokyo, a press attache of the Pakistani mission to Japan, S.M. Maswood, said that he and his family and a third secretary, Muhammad Abdur Rahim, had defected to Bangladesh.

PLEASE NOTE

1. Mukti Bahini require large supplies of winter clothes, medicines, tents, and blankets. From your individual efforts in your local community you’ll be amazed how much of them you can collect. If you have an organization, all the better. Initiate the drive today. For arrangements for FREE AIR TRANSPORTATION to the Mukti Bahini contact :

Dr. Muhammad Yunus
500 Paragon Mills Rd. Apt B-7
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone : (615) 833-3064

2. Doctors can easily collect medicines by writing to the pharmaceautical companies and also urging thier colleagues to donate the sample medicines. For free air transportation note the above address.

3. Bangladesh Newsletter is mailed to our readers every second Tuesday. This issue is being mailed on Tuesday, the November 16th. If you think it takes too long a time to reach you as a fourth class mail please send us (Editor, Bangladesh Newsletter) $3.00 and we’ll send you the Newsletter by first class mail.

4. For bulk supplies of printed materials for campus distribution (list of items will be supplied on request) contact :

Friends of East Bengal
Box 42, Sta B
Vanderbilt Univ.
Nashville, TN 37203

5. If you’ve prepared materials for distribution or published articles in the newspaper/magazine please send copies to the Newsletter.

MUKTI BAHINI ACTIVE IN DACCA
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(The following is a partial reproduction of a report appearing in the Sunday Times on October 31, 1971)

On October 19, a bomb explosion at 10.57 a.m. outside the Habib Bank building in Motijeel, the city’s main business area, killed five people, injured 13 others and wrecked seven cars, one taxi and two cycle-rickshaws. Next day, another bomb exploded on the fourth floor of the State Bank building down the road. No one was killed but the explosion rocked the building, which also houses the local offices of the World Bank. On October 10, there were several explosions in the Demra area where the jute warehouses are located, causing a big fire. Two nights earlier, mortar boms landed on the administration block of the cholera hospital. It is also reported that Pakistan army losses in East Pakistan have risen from 18 to 129 per day. Carpenters are employed full time in the cantonments making coffins for officers who, presumably, get shipped home to West Pakistan for burial.

Reports reaching Dacca suggest that 100,000 Mukti Bahini guerrillas are currently operating in East Pakistan. In recent months they have blown up 165 bridges, damaged five ships in Khulna and Chittagong, destroyed a 1,600-ton barge with 4,000 bales of jute at Narayanganj, and destroyed a power substation at Dacca. On August 27, eight razakars were killed and 15 wounded when the Mukti Bahini mined their Gulshan parade ground. PIA Boeings, once used to come in to land majestically flying over the InterContinental Hotel with all lights blazing. Now they have changed their approach pattern to take them as much as possible over water and fly in without navigation lights.

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

November 1 :
Daily Telegraph
…“By frustrating their own scheme for the transfer of political power to a civilian government, President Yahya and his martial law junta have manoeuvred their nation into a morass of intractable problems. The civil democracy that President Yahya now proposes in the sickly stepchild of what he once promised. The new National Assembly will be hardly more than a handpicked body.”

…“The coming by-elections, therefore, will be a walkover for the Rightist and obscurantist alliance forged by the discredited and outmoded Moslem League parties…Given the current reign of terror in the East Wing, which has only marginally abated since the excesses of the summer, by-elections polling is sure to be pitiably low and unrepresentative. Such an Assembly will hardly be woth the convening.”

…“For reasons of State there can be no doubt of the verdict (of Mujib’s trial). But what is President Yahya then to do? He is not so crass as to have Mujib executed and, indeed, has specifically undertaken, in a personal communication with President Nixon, not to do so. But he has publicly labelled Mujib a traitor and is too deeply committed to climb down.”

…“The President himself show disquieting signs of losing grip. As the nation hovers near the edge of war, as the political problems mount still higher, as the enconomy crumbles, vital decisions are ducked or taken irrationally, impatiently, viscerally.”

…“The economic damage is not yet mainfest, if only because government statistics are palpably fraudulent…China, Persia and Pakistan’s Arab friends, however sympathetic, are not in the charity business, hard currency reserves are almost exhausted…Vital revenue earners like jute, still in the pipeline, are not being replenished. The immense cost of stationing an army in East Pakistan is being met simply by printing money—the road to ruin. In manufacturing, discontent is simmering : a third of the nation’s textile workers have been laid off because machinery, dependent on foreign spares, cannot be maintained. Even wheat production, mainstay of the West wing’s agriculture, is in grave difficulties due
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to shortage of imported fertilizers”.

(New Delhi)
Although diplomatic sparring has lowered tension on the West Pakistan border the situation is different of the eastern border where Mukti Bahini are increasingly active and successful against Pakistan Army. It is the 52,000 West Pakistan soldiers in East Bengal who pose big problems for Pakistan government. Their minimum requirements amount to 600 ton of supplies daily, a logistics problem of nightmare proportions as merchant ships now shun the voyage round India which terminates in Chittagong where the guerrillas are extremely active.

November 2 :
Guardian
…“(Mrs. Indira Gandhi) treated the offer of the good offices of the U.N. with scorn. She recalled with some heat that during the last war Britain did not agree to have talks with Hitler. ‘Perhaps it did not matter of Jews were being killed in Europe. But then Britain did not talk with Hitler. You fought…hard years’.”

London Times
Speaking before the Foreign Press Association, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi told that of the over 9 million refugees, about 2.5 million were Muslims, the rest being Hindus, Christians, or of other religions.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
Senator Kennedy urged the Nixon Administration support efforts to bring the East Bengal situation before the U.N. General Assembly in the interests of reaching a political settelment. He also recommended that the Administration help arrange an immediate visit by the International Red Cross mission to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to ascertain his welfare and state.

Wash Post (Editorial)
Commenting upon Mrs. Gandhi’s expected arrival in the U.S. the paper urges Mr. Nixon to halt “the direct supply of American arms to Pakistan”,…suggesting that “whatever supplies might still be necessary could be routed through third countries”. The also suggest that Mr. Nixon listen to “a perspective closer to relity, namely, that the humanitarian and political desasters are chiefly of the Pakistan government’s own making and that their resolution will require the kind of changes in Pakistani policy which only American urging can help bring about”.

(London)
Indira Gandhi disclosed that the Soviet Union has urged India to avoid a military conflict with Pakistan. Her statement reinforces the view that the recently signed Indo-Soviet treaty was partly designed to strengthen Delhi’s doves.

(Calcutta)
Correspondent Jin Hoagland recently visited areas of liberated Bangladesh. He writes : “Major Najmul Huda, who said he had been a captain in the Pakistan Army, asserted that he controls as area of about 150 square miles. He has a company of about 100 regular soldiers who defected to the rebel cause, and 7000 villagers trained by his forces.

The guerrillas claim to have implanted such headquarters throughout East Pakistan and say they are intensifying and insurgency that will drive the regular Pakistani army from the territory. ‘I think it will take a year or so, if we can continue the progress we have made recently,’ Huda said…
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“impartial analysts outside credit the guerrilla organization with having expanded within seven months from zero to a force of 80,000 to 100,000 men, a figure roughly equal to the number of regular Pakistan soldiers deployed against them.”

“Authoritative reports circulating in the diplomatic community here also support Majro Huda’s assertion that the Mukti Bahini has become more aggressive and effective within recent weeks.”

“Asserting that his forces keep two Pakistan battalions tied down in the border region, Huda said that in the last 10 days his troops had complelely disrupted the key rail link from Jessore to Benapole, forcing the Pakistanis to use road transport to supply the Battalion at Benapole.”

C.S. Monitor (Islamabad)
“Some West Pakistanis argue that it is cheaper, easier, and better to withdraw from East Bengal than to hang on doggedly to it through military pressure. Those few who are willing to assess the Pakistan crisis unemotionally, candidly, feel that Pak should face the probability that it is already split irrevocably by the bloodshed, continued discrimination, military repressions, and massemigrations of the past seven months. They say it is only a question of how soon and under what circumstances the split becomes publicly acknowledged”.

November 3 :
Daily Telegraph (Dacca)
Claire Hollingworth reports 20 Pakistan military casualties a day as the Mukti Bahini increase their activities inside the towns. In the first street fighting since March, two Pakistan soldiers, one policeman, and a guerrilla were killed in a noon gun fight in Chittagong. A garage and a gas station were destroyed in Dacca yesterday. The Election Commission building in the centre of Dacca was blown up Sunday. A few nights earlier, the TV Studios building was bombed. In Dacca there are prolonged exhanges of fire and 3 or 4 explosions every night. Several bodies, generally unidentified, are found each morning.

One thousand guerrillas held a conference last weekend near Barisal. Banners proclaiming independence were flying only three miles from the nearest Pakistan outpost.

One Pakistan officer said to Hollingworth : “open support for the Mukti Bahini has risen during the past two months like a gigantic tidal wave sweeping over the country”.

London Times (Delhi)
There is ample evidence to prove that at least 6000 men have been lost by Islamabad at the hands of the Mukti Bahini.

N.Y. Times (Dacca)
The Pakistan government announced that 53 of the vacated NA seats would be filled without contest. Candidates for the remaining 25 vacated seatd have been carefully screened to exclude any politician subscribing to the views of the Awami League. Other potential opposition candidates have been denied acess to the press.

Of the 53 seats the Jamaat-e-Islami is reportedly to get 14 seats. The religious party had failed to win any seats in December’s elections.

November 4 :
C.S. Monitor (Karachi)
Correspondent Henry Hayward believes that the danger of widespread famine this winter in Bangladesh
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has recorded. Pockets of severe food shortages may still appear and the food situation is still “serious”. The brighter prognosis is attributed to (1) a smaller population due to the mass exodus and the large numbers of Bengalis slain or missing ; (2) U.S. shipments of wheat and vessels ; (3) higher, revised, estimates of the new rice crop.
Reports from refugee camps in the Calcutta present a grimmer picture. Estimates of the infants and young children facing death or disease due to malnutrition range between 100,000 and 300,000. The mere dimensions of the problem of getting enough of the highprotein foodstuffs to the camps in time are gigantic. About 5 million infants and youngsters need much more than they receive today to survive much longer. The standard daily diet of 400 grams of rice and 100 grams of pulses, with occassional vegetables, is inadequate.

November 5 :
Daily Telegraph (Dacca)
British engineers at the Dacce power station at which Bangladesh sobateurs, disguised as Pakistani soldiers, wrecked three of the four generators, say it may be six months before the plant is fully repaired. The sabotage has brought Dacca’s industry almost to a standstill.

N.Y. Times (Dacca)
Sharp increases in guerrilla activity over the past 24 hours were reported by the Pakistan Government Included were the sinking of a large oil tanker in Chittagong, the assasination of Mudabbir Hassain, a leading Dacca lawyer, and the robbing of two banks.

Sabotage of electric power has resulted in at least half a dozen stoppages each day. Daily skirmishing is evident between the Pakistan troops or policeman and guerrillas. Razakars, used outside Dacca, are armed with bolt action rifles and little ammunition to prevent the guerrillas from capturing machine gun or other automatic weapons.

(Washington)
$250 million for East Bengal refugees was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Part of this is to go to the Pakistan government.

Senator Muskie called for an end to an U.S. aid to Pakistan and for immediate aid to refugees in India. He also asked for U.S. assurances to discontinue supporting Pakistan until a settelment was reached in East Bengal.

Wash Post (Calcutta)
Correspondent Jim Hoagland writes : “In the refugee camps of West Bengal’s Dinajpur District the fear of death at the hands of West Pakistan soldiers has faded. Terror has gradually given way to exhaustion and exhaustioin has hapsed into hopelessness. When they stumbled into Dinajpur, some refugees were already so hungry and dehydrated that doctors were forced to cut into boney arms to locate veins for saline solution needles. Those with enough strength to remain out of the makeshift hospiatal wander aimlessly through the muddy camps in placeslike Malan and Boyru, just yards inside India from the East Pakistan frontier. Whe ther is food those who get some simply sit down in the mud, in the rain, to eat it.

November 6 :
Economist
“If the refugees remain unwilling to return to Pakistan because of the continuing civil war, President Yahya’s offer (to allow the U.N. to ‘control’ the return of the refugees) may have no impact at all. But—to reduce an issue of tragic proportions to the level of a propaganda war—the President’s appeal for U.N. intervention may give him a temporary propaganda advantage”…
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“(that) the Pakistanis are taking no steps towards a true resolution of the Bangladesh problem was supported by reports from Pakistan this week that most of the by-elections…will not be elections at all. More than 50 of the seats have already been awarded to representatives of right-wing parties on the ground that they were unopposed”.

London Times (Peking)
In a surprise visit the Pakistan delegation headed by Z.A. Bhutto arrived for talks with Chou En-lai. The mission met Chou three hours after its arrival. The delegation includes the chiefs of navy, army and airforce.

N.Y. Times (Cambridge)
More than 350 American scholars have signed a statement uring President Nixon to withdraw U.S. military and economic support from Pakistan until there is a “political settlement with the elected Awami League leadership of East Pakistan”. The statement is signed by five Nobel Prize winners and many of the country’s leading specialist on Asia.

(Washington)
The UNICEF is coordinating the gathering of 4.5 million blankets for refugee camps in northern India. The U.S. is planning to send over 1 million blankets soon.

Speaking at the Washington Press Club, Mrs. Indira Gandhi reiterated that the solution to the East Bengal crisis must be reached through Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman.

In separate actions, Senator Fred Harris of Oklahoma introduced a resolution urging that the U.N. hold an emergency session on the Indo-Pak issue. Representative Peter Freling-huysen, of New Jersey, called on the Administration to halt all military aid to Pakistan.

Wash Post (Peking)
Diplomatic observers, who have talked to Chinese officials in recent days, believe that the Chinese are engaged in a major effort to head off a war. Some observers believe that China does not relish an early showdown with India at the Security Council nor have the door shut on an eventual rapproachment with India, which would be prevented by an outbreak of war.

Bhutto’s leadership of the delegation is regarded as significant for he holds no government position. He is considered a strong supporter of the Pakistan decision to use troops to crush the independence movement in East Bengal.

(Washington)
Commenting on talks between President Nixon and Premier Gandhi, White House spokesman Ronald Ziegler made it plain that the U.S. has no intention of taking an open stand against Pakistan. The administration continues to believe in the possibility of leverage by working behind the scenes with Yahya.

November 7 :
Sunday Times (Hong Kong)
Already the Chinese have been sending mortars, small arms and ammunition regularly along the new highway linking Sinkiang with Karachi, and other consignments have been shipped to Chittagong. New mortars are being supplied with a 10,000-yard trajectory which permits a pullback of shorterrange artillery on the Indo-Pak border.

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Observer
Correspondent Colin Legum writes : Pakistan is staking most of its hopes on the current talks in Peking. Its delegation is pursuing two objectives : (1) a declaration of solidarity (2) a commitment by China’s new delegation to the U.N. Security Council to support a Pakistan attempt to indict Indian policy.

A Peking spokesman yesterday confirmed that the final communique at the end of the Sino-Pak talks will be of unusual siginticance.

In Moscow Politburo member Vicktor Grishin called for a peaceful solution of the conflict that would allow the refugees to return home. He demanded that Pakistan ‘stop repressions against the people’ and accused China of persisting with it ‘spliting anti-Soviet line’ despite Soviet efforts to improve relations. After the attack, the Chinese Ambassador, who was present during the speech, walked out.

Wash Post (Delhi)
There have been recent U.S. initiatives in probing for a possible basis of negotiations between the Pakistan govt. and the Bangladesh representatives.

The initiative by the U.S. is apparently viewed by the Bangladesh movement here as an attempt to split their leadership by exploring for willingness to negotiate for something less than complete independence.

The increasingly self-confident military men of the Mukti Bahini are said to be even more adament on complete independence than are the politicians, who are thought to be gradually losing their pre-eminence as the guerrilla war escalates.

(Dacca)
According to the Pakistan Election Commission, 86 candidates were elected unopposed to the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly to fill some of the 193 seats ordered vacated by the Pakistan govt.

According to diplomatic sources one of the purposes of the Pakistan delegation to China was to counteract the effect on the population of recent visits by the Soviet Air Force chief to India and to drive home the message that Pakistan has a powerful ally.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
An opinion increasingly discernible here among junior and middle-grade U.S. officials is that East Bengal never again would willingly accept the rule of the West Pakistan military junta headed by Yahya Khan. If senior policy makers—Nixon, Kissinger, Rogers, Sisco—share this appreciation, however, it is not evitdent. As Mr. Sisco remarked not long ago : “Our policy is to preserve the territorial integrity of Pakistan.”

President Yahya’s bloodletting in East Bengal has been viewed here more in sorrow than in anger. Policymakers tend to agree that Yahya has been clusmsy, that he should have defused the Awami League’s drive for autonomy with less adverse publicity. They complain that U.S. plans for economic development in Pakistan have been set back. There is virtually no moral indignation evident among them.

November 8 :
Toronto Globe & Mail (Peking)
Speaking at a banquet in honour of the visiting Pakistan delegation, Chi Peng-fei assured Pakistan “resolute support” in the event of Foreign aggression. Observers here believe that these and other remarks indicate chinese willingness for increased military assistance rather than direct intervention. This storpretation is borne out by Bhutto’s desertion at a later press conference : “it should primarily be our
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own effort,” should fighting break out.

Mr. Chi said that the situation in East Bengal was one the Pakistan people should settlement themselves. He did not detail the kind settlement acceptable to China but indicated that Peking supports the determination of the Pakistan government to prevent the possession of East Bengal. Mr. Chi said that Peking believed that the broad massesing Pakistan are “patriotic and want to safe-guard national unity” and added that “it is our hope” that they will achieve their aim”.

At this press conference Bhutto declared that the timing of the visit had nothing to do with the departure of the China delegation to the U.N. Pakistan officials later confirmed that no member of the Peking delegation to the U.N. had participated in the talks with the visiting Pakistan delegation.

London Times (Rawalpindi)
No joint communique was issued leading ot some signs of disappointment here. Mr. Bhutto said that the two sides had not found the need for one.

No promise of Chinese diversionary action seems to have been given and this plus the vagueness of the new Chinese statement suggests that China will do nothing to risk the threat of Soviet retaliation under the Indo-Soviet Treaty.

Mr. Chi strongly condemned India and Praised Yahya’s proposal of mutual pullback from borders. China is expected to support Pakistan at the U.N.

(London)
The International Red Cross in Geneva is to be asked to intervene in East Bengal to provide a cover of neutrality for an international relief effort. A deputation from Britain is expected to go to Genevalsoon to argue that the present U.N-Pakistan relief programme does not have much chance of succeding.

The U.N. presence in East Bengal is officially there to “help” the Pakistan government to distribute its relief supplies with the unspoken purpose also of supervising and policing it.

Mr. Eric Jensen, head of bureau at the U.N. office in Geneva responsible for UNEPRO has said : “The idea is that Pakistan should do as much as possible itself”.

(Editorial)
“That Peking should be the only capital to which a Pakistan mission was sent is a sign of how weak Pakistan’s case is, that Mr. Bhutto should have left Peking without a communique in his briefcase suggest that the Chinese are still unwilling to commit themselves”.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
The U.S. has decided to cancel licenses for the export of more than $3 million worth of military equipment to Pakistan. Official announcement is expected tomorrow. The action will shut the contorversial arms pipline that continued to supply Pakistan with spare parts and other military goods despite the arms freeze imposed in early April.

State Dept. officials emphasized that the action was being taken with the consent of the Pakistan government. The officials also said that Mrs. Gandhi had been informed of the cancellation decision shortly before she arrived in Washington.

The proposed cancellation would exempt $160,000 worth of spare parts awaiting shipment in New York
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when the dock strike ends.

(Dacca)
A right-wing politician recently named by the Pakistan govt. as a member of the future provincial assembly was assasinated yesterday. He was identified as Sultanubdin Khan a member of the Qaiyum faction of the Moslem League, a party that has no political base in East Bengal. Ahmed Hossain, a member of a local “peace committee” was slain at the same time. Another politician was killed in downtown Dacca and several areas were killed in country areas.

There are fears here that the Mukti Bahini is about to mount an all-out campaign of assasination and sabotage in East Bengal that may involve foreigners as well as the occupation army. Several consulates, including that of the U.S, have been reviewing emergency plans over the last few days.

C.S. Monitor (New Delhi)
“Nobody really knows what policy Yahya Khan will ordain until it’s actually handed down for action”, grumbled a European diplomat. “The Paks don’t know, which is why we don’t know either”. Many of Yahya Khan’s cabinet ministers are said to operate in a virtual vacuum on policy matters and, therefore, to make no major decision until told to do so.

(Rawalpindi)
A new and potentially ominous window sticker is beginning to appear here. “Hang the traitor,” it says. It features a noose running through the slogan. There is no mystery who the “traitor” is. He is the arrested Bengali leader Sheikh Mujib. It is hard to say who starts these Pakistan slogan campaigns. Some think it is the government itself.

November 9 :
London Times (Rawalpindi)
Questioned on Chinese willingness to undertake diversionary action if war boke out, Z.A. Bhutto replied that such action was a “superficial matter”. He said that Pakistan was not interested in diversion and that it wants and cherishes peace. Bhutto descripbed his visit as a “complete success in the complete sense of the word” but would not elaborate. He alluded to the possibility that Pakistan had won promises of acceletated arms deliveries from China.

(Paris)
Pres-Georges Pompidou, in his welcome speech to Premier Gandhi, emphasized the need for a political solution to the East Bengal crisis, which presupposed the consent of the population cocerned. He feared that otherwise the whole subcontinent might be swept into a conflict with incalculable consequences.

(Delhi)
Analysing the prospects of war in the subcontinent, Peter Hazelhurst believes that there are factors which indicate that the onset of hostilities will be influenced only marginally by climatic conditions this winter. He writes : “It is not hard to determine the logical sequence of events which will lead to war. If and when the West Pakistan begin to believe that they are losing their grip on East Pakistan because of pressures from the guerrillas, President Yahya Khan, in desperation, will obviously have to strike at the rebel’s source of strength, India. Under the circumstances, he would (favor) fighting on the western front and particularly in the disputed territory of Kashmir…President Yahya Khan might be forced to take a desperate risk to save the eastern wing…in subsequent cease-fire negotiation. Pakistan would hope to bargain for a package deal : Pakistan would maintain peace in Kashmir provided India refrained from assinting the guerrllas in East Pakistan.”

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(Dacca)
Pakistan military morale is understood to have declined as increasing numbers of officers and troops from West Pakistan come to realize that their assignment here is likely to last a long time. The increasing number of Army casualties has apparently made it impossible to continue a former policy of flying the bodies of officers back to West Pakistan for burial.

Police morale has also suffered. The Pakistan government sent over a force of West Pakistan Police officers and men in June to replace the East Bengal police force which ahd defected in its entirely. The were told that their duration would be short but they are still here and the emergency appears more serious than ever. A highly placed source said some policemen staged a one-day strike last week in protest against their contiuned tour in East Bengal.

Wash Post (Peking)
The surprise visit by the Pakistan delegation here is seen as a sharp gambit in Pakistan’s war of nerves with India. At the same time, China served notice that it believed that disputes between Pakistan and India should be settled without force—a posture likely to be adopted by their delegation to the U.N.

(Washington)
Sen Edward Kennedy said that the U.S. decision to cut off military equipment still in the pipeline for Pakistan should be followed by other steps to end the tension in East Bengal. He urgued the President to appoint a special representative to deal with the situation in East Bengal and to communicate with Yahya Khan and other leaders in the area. He also called for the U.S. to help arrange an immediate visit by the International Red Cross to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

C.S. Monitor (Peking)
The Chinese press, which took note on several occasions earlier this year of the stand taken by Islamabad on the question of national unity of East and West Pakistan, has fallen silent on the subject in the past two months. This is not believed to represent a weakening of the ties between Islamabad and Peking to create as much leeway as possible for diplomatic initiatives to resolve the Bangladesh crisis.

Boston Globe (Washington)
According to U.S. and Indian sources, President Yahya Khan has bowed to U.S. pressures and is prepared to initiate a political reconciliation with the Bangladesh movement. But he has refused to negotiate with Sheikh Mujibur. President Nixon is reported to have asked Mrs. Gandhi’s cooperation by pressing the proposal on Bangladesh leaders in exile in India. Her response was that the proposal will not work since the demands of the exiled leadership have hardened.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
The State Dept. indicated that Congressional pressure had been a major factor in the decision to cancel outstanding military licenses. It also said that the action was taken with the “mutual consent” of the Pakistan government to limit any emberrassment to the Pakistan government.

(Delhi)
According to independent reports from Washington and other capitals, Pakistan has lately been buying arms from North Korea and Rumania but with China still supplying the biggest consignments.

The new Soviet commitments to India are believed to be one reason for the Pakistan mission to China.

November 10 :
London Times (Rawalpindi)
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Censorship on news from East Bengal was partially lifted a fortnight ago and since then West Pakistanis have also read of a gloomy round of bomb attacks, sabotage and political assasinations for which the claims of Mukti Bahini killed do not compensate.
The economic costs of holding down East Bengal are being felt now in rapidly rising prices and unemployement. Enough soldiers have been lost to have made a human impact in the villages and cities of West Pakistan.

Sultan Mohammed Khan, Pakistan Foreign Secretary, leaves today on a round of visits to western countries in order to counter the effects of Mrs. Gandhi’s tour.

N.Y. Times (Dacca)
The Pakistan government has announced that collective fines will be imposed on entire communities in East Bengal when guerrilla actions against the government occur.

Collective responsibility has been the government policy since March. Houses with painted slogans have been demolished, villages in which Pakistan troops were resisted have been burnt to the ground and the army’s typical operations are of the search—and—destroy land.

Houses, shops or important buildings that fail to display the Pakistan flag are subject to demolition. As a result, it is easy to distinguish between govrermnent held territory and areas held by the Mukti Bahini.

Political assasinations by the guerrillas have reached a rate of at least half a dozen a day and bomb explosions are heard in Dacca during the day and night. Most of the explosions seem intended to keep up a war of nerves.

C.S. Monitor (New Delhi)
30,000 new arrivals are still coming across each day. Once the tide of humanity was overwhelmingly Bengali Hindus. Now a slightly higher percentage of Muslims is noticeable among the new comers.

Foreign correspondents who have visited some of Pakistan’s 29 reception centers set up to welcome returning citizens, report that camps are well-equipped with everything but a population of returness. Pakistan argues that Indians are deliberately preventing refugees from returning. The Pakistani position is that any genuine Pakistan citizen is completely free to return. Only one stipulation is made—namely that each returnee will be subject to routine checks to ensure their Pakistani nationality. In short, even if they want to return, some refugees may find they cannot get bcak. Pakistan will say who qualifies.
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NBC PROGRAM ON BANGLADESH

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NBC TV network will present a program on Bangladesh on
November 26 (6:30 PM EST) as a part of their news-magazine
Toronolog.
Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 (615)833-2064
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No. 14 December 10, 1971

SOME RECENT EDITORIAL

Newspapers of international repute have been repeatedly urging the world to take note of the continuous repression of the people of Bangladesh by a savage occupation army. So far governments big and small, either found it convention to keep their attention away from the horrifying events or saw it a suitable occasion to sequeeze out a better bargain in the global configuration for their own comforts. We are presenting in this column extracts from some recent editorials.

The New York Times, commenting on Mrs. Gandhi’s search for ‘some wise impulse’, wrote on November 13… “What the subcontinent desperately needs is a strong international pressure on Islamabad to reach a political settlement in the rebellious eastern province a settlement that will facilitate the speedy repatriation of the refugees, now threatening India’s economic, social and political stability”…

The Washington Post urged the same policy in its editorial on November 18 : “The key to ending the violence, repression and refugee exodus in East Pakistan has always been for Pakistan to free Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A Bengal from the East, he led the Awami League to victory in national elections last March, only to be arrested as the Pakistan regime prevented him from taking power. It’s a genuine misfortune that as far as anyone could see, President Yahya Khan has not had the insight or political leeway (both are essential) to free Mujibur and to undertake to make a political settlement with him”…

Again in another editorial the New York Times wrote (November 22) :…“There is no question that the humanitarian needs of the East Bengalis, both those who have fled and those who have remined behind despite brutal military repression, have a heavy claim on the conscience of mankind…In order to deal effectively with the humanitarian needs of the Bengalis it will be necessary to attack the root of the problem—the political crisis in Pakistan. It is essential to press for a political solution in East Pakistan that will put an end to the fighting there and permit the refugees to return in safety…If the U.N. is to play an effective role for peace and rehabilitation on the subcontinent, the world organization must throw its weight behind mounting international pressures on Pakistan’s President Yahya Khan to reach an accomodation with the elected leaders of East Pakistan, especially the imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman…”

In its November 23 editorial the New York Times wrote :..“The basic cause of the war threat to the subcontinent remains, however, the action of Presiden Yahya Khan to suppress the elected leaders of East Pakistan and to rule that province by armed terror. It was this brutal action that provoked the hoadling flight into India of East Pakistani refugees now said to number more than nine million…”

Washington Post editorial of November 24 :..“It’s (India Pakistan confrontation) a tragedy. But who can look at its immediate underlying cause, the Pakistan government’s repression of the East, and contend that it’s that worse than what came before? By the standard rules of the game of the nations, countries which practice atrocities on their own citizens are pretty much left alone to do it. It is only when they commit violence that spreads into anther country that the world community is enabled, or forced, to get into that act. The real wrong committed by the Pakistanis was to declare war on a group of their own citizens…”

In the editorial of November 25 the New York Times worte :…“Admittedly India is reacting to provocations that most other nations long ago would have found intolerable. The Yahya Government’s repression of a democratically endoresd autonomy movement in East Pakistan, resulting in a flood of nine
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million refugees into India (most of them Hindus), has posed a direct threat to India’s own democratic institutions and national security. The international community—and most conspicuously the United States Government—has been slow to recognize the extreme dangers of this situation, let alone to take steps to meet them. The United Nation has studiously side-stepped the central issue of Pakistani repression despite repreated warning from the Secretary General U Thant…

BANGLADESH INFORMATION CENTER

Because of the increased number of lobbyists who have come to Washington and the rapid expansion of the activities Bangladesh Info Center has moved to new larger quarters at 423 5th St. SE, Washington D.C. 20003 (202) 547-3873.

BANGLADESH CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON

A national conference, under the title “Consultation on the American Response to Events in East Pakistan” was held in Washingto D.C. from November 10-12. The conference, organized primarily by the representatives of church groups (including the National Council of Churches, the Friends and the Unitarian Universalist Association) attracted about 100 interested public figures from many parts of the U.S. and Canada.

The lead speech was given by Senator Kennedy. In his brief address Kennedy criticized the U.S. policy and decried the terror which has reuslted in the daily deaths of 4300 children (Kennedy’s figure) in the refugee camps in India.

Another important address was delivered by Prof. Edward Dimock, Director of the South Asia Language and Area Center, University of Chicago. (Copies of Prof. Dimock’s scholarly address are available at the Bangladesh Information Center, 423 5th Street SE, Washington D.C. 20003).

State Department Director for Pakistan and Afganistan Bruce Laigen spoke extensively on U.S. policy but failed to provide any convincing defense for the administration policy. He gave strong assurances that the U.S. embassy in West Pakistan has convincing reason to believe that Mujib remains alive.

Mr. Mujahid Hossain, First Secretary of the Embassy of Pakistan, was scheduled to speak at the conference but after arriving in the hall he abruptly walked out after noticing the name of Mr. S.A.M.S. Kibria of the Bangladesh Mission on the program. (Pakistan Embassy later issued a condemnation of the conference.)

Mr. Enayet Karim addressed the conference on behalf of Bangladesh, following an address by Mr. Mahrajakrishna Rasgotra, Minister for Political Affairs, Embassy of India.

Rep. Peter Frelinghuysen, who recently returned from a tour of the refugee camps in India and the war-stricken areas of Bangladesh, made the final presentation of the conference. The conference, which was presided over by Dr. Homer Jack, Secretary General of the World conference of Religion for Peace, was co-sponsored by Harry Applewhite, Director for International Relations, Council for Christian Social Action, United Church of Chirst ; Robert Jones, Executive Director, Washington Office, Unitarian Universalist Association ; Dr. Allan Parrent, Department of International Affairs, National Council of Churches ; Edward Snyder, Friends Committee on National Legislation.

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A LETTER FROM BANGLADESH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The following letter, dated November 4, 1971, had been addressed to all doctors by the general secretary of the Bangladesh Medical Association, U.K. (9A Wotton Road, London NW2, UK) after his return from Bangladesh :

Dear Colleague :
Conditions are very bad. There is a great shortage of drugs and warm clothing. In September the Commander-in-Chief visited the Hospital, and in October we had a visit from the Acting President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. A letter from the C-in-C to our President is enclosed. The C-in-C has endorsed our plan to set up 3 more hospitals, and even requested that we set up 10 more instead. The sooner we are able to do this, the greater will be our contribution to the fight for our country.

During the last two months we have given :
—medical and other help to the Mukti Bahini
—medical supplies (5,000 1 bs.)
—clothing (2,000 1 bs.)

We urgently request your help on the followin projects :
1. Dr. Mobin has been doing a treamendous job in establishing the first Bangladesh Hospital. He has been working there for almost six months. He must soon be replaced. We urge you to give three months time to serve in our Hospital. Contact us as soon as possible if you are willing to undertake this vitally needed work.

2. Please try to give us 10% of your salary. This can be easily arranged by bankers order.

3. As to drugs. Contact your local GPs and ask for donations of the free samples they receive regularly. Aspirins, cough mixtures antibiotics, tetanus toxoid, and anti malarials—all are needed.

4. The response to our appeal for clothing has been moderate. If the Mukti Bahini are not to die of cold, they must have the basic necessities. These can easily be supplies from the U.K. Knitted woollen squares, joined together, make very good blankets. Please help us with this.

5. Our mailing list does not include all the Bangladesh doctors in the U.K. and abroad. We would like to have complete support. Please make a personal effort to find out the names of doctors not already in the Bangladesh Medical Association and send them to us. We would also appreciate your notifying us immediately of changes in address.

Yesterday I received a letter from Bangladesh giving news of the Liberation Army. The Mukti Bahini have captured Chhatak and the Pakistan army has been forced to retreat to Sunamganj. Below is a confidential report of the Combined Military Hospital in Dacca giving details of casualties sustained by the Pakistani forces until July.

Combined Military Hospital, Dacca Casualties up to 26.7.71.
Total no. dead soldiers brought to hospital 7,493
Total no. soldiers fatally wounded 5,643
Total no, soldiers wounded 4,830
Total no. soldiers dead from snake bite 147
Mentally disabled soldiers subsequently transferred elsewhere 246
Total 18,359
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We have been vary active in arousing interest in the British community in our projects, and may establish a medical aid committee along the lines of “Medical Aid to Vietnam”. We will try to be in touch with you every 4-6 weeks.

It is essential that Bengalis not directly involved in the Liberation Struggle help in their individual capacities. Without physicians and drugs our fighters cannot survive. We can and must help them.

Yours Sincerely,
A. T. M. Zafrullah Chowdhury
General Secretary

A LETTER FROM THE MUKTI HABIHI COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TO THE PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

To
Dr. A.H.S. Rahman
President,
Bangladesh Medical Association
Oct. 13, 1971

Dear Dr. Rahman,

I am taking the opportunity of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury’s temporary return to U.K, to write and thank you and, through you, the Bangladesh Medical Association for making Drs. Zafrullah and Mobin available to organize hospitals in the field for the Bangladesh Forces (Mukti Bahini) and for the Medical equipment and medicines. So far they have organized one hospital in the Field which I was very impressed with. It promises to be a good hospital even though accommodated in bamboo huts.

I need hardly add that we look forward to your sustained interest and efforts in providing us with medical facilities and equipment which I have no doubt will be properly utilized, under Dr. Zafrullah’s dedicated care.

Yours sincerely
M.A.G. Osmany

PARTICIPATE IN THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE : HELP MUKTI BAHINI

If you are a doctor, Mukti Bahini need your experience and skill. You can serve in the Mukti Bahini hospitals for three months. Dr. Zillur Rahman Athar M.D. (808 Hillwood Blvd., Nashville, TN 37209, Phone : (615) 356-3912) is coordinating the medical efforts in North America and maintaining liason with the Bangladesh Medical Association in England. Write to him to facilititate the preparation of a rotating roaster of doctors available for Mukti Bahini hospitals. You may also establish direct contact with the Medical Association in England (9A Wotton Road, London NW 2, U.K.)

Please send medicines, winter clothes and/or cash to Mukti Bahini. For information regarding free air transportation of medicines and the channels to send money to Mukti Bahini contact Dr. Muhammad Yunus (500 Pargon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211, Phone (615) 833-3064).

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POETRY READING BY GINSBERG AND VOZNESENSKY

New York : For the fisrt time, Allen Ginsberg and Andrei Voznesensky, the distinguished Russian poet, will give a poetry reading together. The reading to be held on Saturday, November 20th, at 7 p.m., at St. George’s Church, 207 E. 16th Street, is intended to raise the public level of consciousness about the problem of Bangladesh and what the American people can do to alleviate it.

To quote Mr. Ginsberg, who has recently returned from a tour of the refugee camps in India :

Millions of brothers in woe,
Millions of sisters nowhere to go,
Millions of children in the rain,
Millions of mothers in pain—
September flood over Jessore road.

Joining them will be Kenneth Koch, Ed Sanders, Gregory Corso, Peter Orlovsky, Anne Waldman, Michael Brownstein, Dick Gallup, and Ron Padgett.

The reading is sponsored by Americans for Bangladesh, a group of concerned citizens working to educate the public about Bangladesh and to raise relief funds for Bangladesh.

POETRY READING IN ENGLAND

Glenda Jackson, the actress, read a Bengali poem as well as passages from Shakespeare and Yeats at s Sadlers Wells Theatre concert on November 14, 71 to raise funds for refugees from Bangladesh. Bengali artists included wellknown folk singers and Birender Shankar, nephew of Ravi Shankar, the eclebrated sitar player.

BANGLADESH ALL ACTIVITIES AROUND THE U.S.

San Fransisco Bay Area

Dr. A.R. Mallick and Dr. A. Hoque, members of the Bangladesh delegation to the U.N, spoke to a gathering of approximately 250 students and faculty of Stanford University on November 2. The American League for Bangladesh organized an elaborate publicity campaign for the rally in the community and on campus. The Stanford Daily and the local Palo Alto Times gave good coverage of the event. Immediately preceeding the rally the visitors addressed a group of local newsmen. In the news conference the visitors explained the nature of the liberation struggle in Bangladesh. Repeatedly they stressed the fact that the 75 million people of Bangladesh are fighting to be free from an enemy whose nature is facist and whose tactics are medieval. The rally was opened by Joan Baez’s song on Bangladesh followed by opening remarks by the chairman of the American League for Bangladesh. He pointed out to the gathering how another poor and populous country in South Asia become the victim of Mr. Nixon’s generation of peace.

In this opening speech, Dr. Mallick dealt with the background of the genocidal war in Bangladesh. He told the rally that the 75 million Bengalis of Bangladesh are fighting a true and genuine liberation struggle. Their struggle is for life against death. He exposed the brutal and medieval character of the Pakistani regime. The enemy is waging a war for the extermination of a people.
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Following Dr. Mallick, Dr. Hoque spoke to the assembly. He gave an eyewitness account of his experiences and told the rally that despite heavy odds, the liberation struggle is forging ahead and the victory of the Mukti Bahini, Bangladesh peoples army, is inevitable. At the end of the rally, Mrs. Hubert Marshall, spokesman for the Stanford Women for Peace, made a scathing attack on the Nixon administration for its complicity in the genocide in Bangladesh.

In addition to Stanford campus the visitors also spoke in U.C. Berkeley and Santa Cruz. They appealed to the citizens to help stop all aid to the repressive and brutal regime in Pakistan.

Santa Cruz, California :

At a meeting of the students and faculty of the University of California at Santa Cruz on November 10, it was decided to organize a campus group called “Friends of Bangladesh,” with Chris Maier and Evelyn Lee as coordinators and Professor Dilip Basu as advisor. The group intends to educate the campus and local communities on the Bangaldesh issue, through leafleting, lectures, teach-in, filmshows etc. Students were urged to mail some pertinent literatur to their parents, asking them to contribute toward refugee relief and write to their congressmen and senators. Two hundred and fifty students signed up to fast on Novemebr 18 as a gesture of soldarity with Bangladesh and contribute their meal tickets to refugee relief.

East Lansing, Michigan

Arrangements are in progress for fast on December 1, 1971, in 16 Dormitories, 20 sororities, 30 fraternities and 13 coop housing. Proceeds from the fast will go to help the refugees. Educational campaign on Bangladesh is continuing rigorously. Speakers from Bangladesh Association addressed meeting in several Darms and high schools on Bangladesh issue. There was a short TV appearance in the local TV appealing for funds for the Bengali refugees. On November 14, Rev Warren Day and Mr. S. Poddar from Lansing Area Committee for Emergency Refugee Fund had 15 minute radio Program about the conditions of refugees and causes leading to this gravest human disaster. All Lansing area Presbyterian Churches collected funds in their churches on November 21, to help the refugees.

Dewitt, Michigan

The Lions Club of Dewitt—Lansing invited the Presdent of Bangladesh Association, Michigan State University to speak to its meeting on November 18, 1971. He spoke in the meeting on the Bangladesh issue and appealed for funds and winter clothes. Literature and leaflets were also distributed.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

On the 22nd of November about 1000 students of the South Quadrangle of the University of Michigan observed a fast to donate their money for the Bangladesh refugees. In the evening a mass meeting and a cultural show was organized for the fasting students. Mr. Rod Huber and Mr. Hank Haitowit spoke on the situation in Bangladesh. Miss Sheron Lower and Miss Indu Malini performed Bengali dances to the tune of Tagore songs presented by Miss Beth Lingdberg, Mr. Ashok Talwar and Mr. and Mrs. Raza. The program was produced and conducted by Mr. Peter Hook and Miss Sneholata Deeksheet. The fast was organized by Mr. Bart Taub.

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A weekly Bangladesh information desk at the university, center distributes materials on Bangladesh situation under the management of a sub-committee chairman Miss Terry Cline.

Urbana, Illinois

Bangladesh Association at the University of Illinois took part in a panel discussion sponsored by the local cosmopolitan club. Mr. Mohammad H. Mondal and Mr. Rabbani of the Association and Dr. M. Rahman of Eastern Illinois University at Charleston, Ill. spoke on the background of the tragedy in Bangladesh and the future of Bangladesh. The association is presenting a film in the fisrt week of December to raise funds. A drive for collection of winter clothes for the Mukti Bahini is in progress.

ARMS FOR PAKISTAN

Two recent reports from the daily Telegraph (November 10, 13) reveal a flow of British and German arms through illegal channels. British equipment has included tanks, air-craft and guns ; it was shipped by way of Las Palmas through Pakistan ships. Britain officials expressed puzzlement. These secret shipments may have originated from weapons ostensibly discarded as scrap. Spare parts for U.S. M-47 tanks are involved in the West German leak of arms. There are suspicions that bribes have been paid to officials to camouflage deliveries of live equipment and spare parts as ‘demilitarized’ equipment sold by the Bundeswehr at scrap prices.

BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST

November 11 :
N.Y. Times
Reporting from a “guerrilla hamlet” in East Bengal, Malcolm Browne sends a detailed dispatch : “This guerrilla hamlet, in common with many rural communities in the deltaic flood plain of East Pakistan is a good 20 miles from the nearest road or footpath. It is accessible only through a maze of shallow canals clogged with water plants and offering innumerable positions for ambushing intruders…Guerrillas in ‘liberated zones like this one feel completely secure display Bangladesh posters and portraits of the imprisoned Bengali leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman…As a rule of thumb, foreign diplomats and military observers consider that about a quarter of the region is controlled by the guerrillas, who claim a force of at least 100,000 men. But even in the heart of army occupied territory Pakistan Control is tenous…(End) guerrilla officer explained that local units were organized in 40-men platoons comprising 4 squads of 10 men each…”

“Communications between guerrilla districts are said to be rapid and reliable…‘Broadly speaking’, a guerrilla surgeon said, ‘we are organized in three levels, we have a sabotage unit which works mainly against power lines, bridges, railroads, vital services in cities and, of course, all military and police organizations. Second, we have the guerrillas, who ordinarilly confine themselves to small-unit actions. Each liberated village trains its own guerrilla force, and usually we have instructors from the former East Pakistan police, the East Bengal Regiment or the East Pakistan rifles. Third, we have the front fighters—our divisional units, which will fight the final battles with large units of the Pakistan Army. So far, the guerrillas have done most of the work…”

“Generally speaking the officers and men show little interest in politics and reply vaguely when asked about their objectives. A Captain gave a typical response, saying : “Bangladesh will be a democracy. We
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hear talk about Maoist leaders taking over the movement, but as far as we are concerned that is nonsense. For all of us the idea is to create an independent, democratic Bengali State. The details we can work out after the victory.

November 12 :
L Times (Rawalpindi)
The Chinese seemed to have pressed caution on Yahya. Evidence suggests that the three main points put across to the Pakistan delegation were : (a) find a political solution to the East Bengal crisis : (b) on no account should India be attacked : (c) this was not the moment to raise the Indo-Pak conflict in the U.N. Security Council.

Guardian (Karachi)
Speaking at Lahore, Z.A. Bhutto asked India to exercise patience for two months until it could negotiate with a civilian govt. in Pakistan.

(Bonn)
The West German government is to give the U.N. a further 50 million marks to help East Bengal refugees and aid to India will be increased.

Daily Telegraph (Dacca)
Some units of the Pakistan Army who are not actually engaged in border warfare are showing signs of strain. Soldiers have been harassing shopkeepers and demanding goods for exceedingly low prices if not as gifts. The behavior of the troops is certainly worse than it was two months ago.

N.Y. Times (Agartala)
In the Kamalpur conflict the guerrillas have occupied a 12 sq mile area. Guerrilla sources also said that they had seized control of a 5 sq mile area at Salda Nadi and a 16 sq mile area that includes Kasba. In 3 weeks of fighting Kasba has changed hands five times. In the last engagement, a key guerrilla leader, Khaled Musharoff was wounded severely.

(Washington)
Alarmed by what one U.S. official called a “dramatic escalation of fighting” along the Indo-Pak border in the last few days, the U.S. has called on the two sides to avoid allout war.

Novemeber 13 :
Daily Telegraph (Karachi)
Addressing supporters at Karachi, Z.A. Bhutto warned that he would not tolerate any attempt to form an East Pakistan dominated govt. after next month’s by-elections. He declared : “we will topple it within 40 days”. Bhutto expects to head the government to be formed after the elections.

(Dacca)
Nurul Amin expects to be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. He has played a key role in forming a coalition of the 6 small perties which oppose Mujib. Because of his age and health, he is expected to have a dynamic deputy, either A.M. Malik or Mahmud Ali. Few observers expect Amin’s cabinet to satisfy Bangladesh supporters.

(London)
Guerrillas fired upon a Britain ship near Chalna, less than 48 hrs after a similar incident when a British freighter had been damaged forcing it to berth at Calcutta.
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London Times (Bethberia)
Fred Bridgland reports that he watched about 400 refugees cross into India in about three hours across this area. According to his guide, the town is part of a liberated area of 100 square miles. A batch of 48 young Mukti Bahini said that they had led a group of over 1000 refugees on a trek from Barisal, taking 13 days to cover 155 miles.

Mafizul Islam, leader of the group, said that the Razakars and the Pakistan Army were making sweeps on villages in Suder sub-division at intervals of about three days. He said : “They are killing all the young men. They don’t ask questions whether you are Hindu of Muslim. What matters is whether you are a Bengali”.

Prafulla Nag, a refugee, said the Razakars and Pakistan Army were “taking away our women and looting and burning the villages”. Refugees from other districts also spoke of villages being burnt, women being abducted and young men killed, sometimes by being burned alive.

(Delhi)
According to informed sources, Indian contingency plans provide for complete isolation of East Bengal and West Pakistan by a naval blockage if war breaks out. This would imperil the supply line for the Pakistan Army in East Bengal since Pakistan ships would have to run a dangerous gauntlet around Indian naval bases along the western and eastern coastline.

(Rome)
M.H. Sufi, advisor to Yahya Khan, said that even though the agric. situation in East Bengal was “rather dismal, the food situation had been “under control and all talk of a disaster on the food front has been proved to be wrong”.

Wash Post (Delhi)
One effect of the anti-Hindu nature of Pakistan military occupation in East Bengal has been that extreme Hindu groups in India are demanding retribution to be taken of the Moslems in India.

Officials here stress a limit to how long India can bear the economic and social coasts of the present refugee situation. Most speak of a breaking point around January, at the latest in April.

N.Y. Times (Agartala)
Kasturi Rangan writes from Sector 3 head quarters of the Mukti Bahini, located on the border between East Bengal and Tripura : “Talking to the commandand and other leaders of the Mukti Bahini one gets the impression that their group in now fairly well organized along the lines of the Indian or Pakistani armies. Each sector commander is assigned a specific area to be liberated Sector 3 has jurisdiction over an area that stretches as far as Dacca. Among the recent guerrilla exploits in this sectors was the seizure of the town of Kasba, about 15 miles SW from here. The credit for liberating a 40 mile wedge near Belonia goes to Sector 1. So does the credit for the guerrilla activities in Chittagong port…Neither the rebel government nor its military commanders seems to direct the operation of the troops in the field. The sector commanders make all decisions. They draw up all plans and strategy”.

(Washington)
U.S. Secretary 01 State William Rogers urged “maximum restraint” on both India and Pakistan. He also said that in case of war, the U.S. “will do everything to stay out”.

November 14 :
Observer (Rawalpindi)
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People are apprehensive, defiant, mournful. Awareness of the magnitude of the human disaster in East Bengal has penetrated West Pakistan by now, in spite of strict Press censorship.

A talk with Z.A. Bhutto showed that Pakistan can probably hope for little help from Peking in the event of war. Bhutto is an old hand at talking sympathetically to the Chinese, but he does not seem to have brought back the goods—if one is right in expecting them to include a defense paot, immediate military aid, a promise of air cover and manoeuvrings on India’s no border.

(Dacca)
U.S. aid officials said that guerrillas had damaged a U.N. ship carrying relief food grains. 4 Pakistan Army collaborators were reported shot dead by guerrillas as the latest victims in a series of killings during the past 24 hrs.

N.Y. Times (Delhi)
Both Pakistan and Indian troops have crossed into each other’s territory, with Indian troops entering in force on at least two occasions this month. Casualties on both sides are reported heavy.

Bengali guerrillas are making large-scale attempts to seize and hold sizable areas in East Bengal. They already hold some strategic areas but Pakistan has counterattacked with heavy artillery and mortar and with starfing by jets. Each time time guerrillas launch a major assault on Pakistan positions, the Pakistan shell their base camps, some in India. Pakistan in reported to have shelled civilian population centers on the Indian side.

Chicago Tribune (Calcutta)
Dr. John Seaman estimates that 500,000 children refugees may die from protein malnutrition by the end of the year. At least 100,000 are estimated dead already. Dr. Nevin Srimshaw, U.S. nutrition expert, estimates that 200,000 bebies will die unless prompt steps for relief are taken.

November 15 :
Daily Telegraph
Claire Hollingworth writes from a liberated zone 80 miles inside East Bengal : “On a tour of the area by boat and on foot—there are no roads in the region—no attempts were made to hide the presence of Mukti Fouj guerrillas. Everywhere the atmosphere was extremely relaxed and in 48 hours I did not hear a sound of a single shot fired in anger. Obviously, the 15,000 inhabitants have tremendous confidence in Bangladesh because they are reconstructing the ‘basha’ houses and repairing the damage to the embankments caused by the recent flood. Some schools are open and there is a clinic where minor ailments can be treated…The guerrilla’s morale is high despite a shortage of modern weapons and a chronic lack of ammunition. About 2,000 guerrillas are alreadey deployed in surrounding villages in readiness for decisive action. Much will depend on the supplies of ammunition they can obtain within the next few weeks.

London Times (Delhi)
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed flew to Delhi on a secret mission. There is talk of an Indo-Bangladesh friendship pact amounting to a defense pact.

Wash Post (Delhi)
For all the talk of increased world sympathy, Mrs. Gandhi returned with no commitments that hold the possibility of easing the crisis and the threat of an Indo-Pak war has not diminished. “In fact, Mrs. Gandhi’s trip may spell the enf of India’s belief that the problem can be solved through international diplomacy, “one will-informed source said.”
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Christian Science Monitor (Dacca)
Writing about his travels within East Bengal, Henry Hayward says : “We saw no burned villages, no slain villagers. But then this is the secret war of East Pakistan. Officially it doesn’t exist. It’s always somewhere else. You don’t see it. You just hear about it—from ordinary frightened people with no reason to lie…”

“The evidence may be flimsy, hearsay, or far away. But too may humble people of East Pakistan risk great trouble for themselves to make sure you know…”

“A whisper, and a flat denial. Worried city men and toil-worn farmers with no organized program, against theword of urbane officials with a policy to pursue and statistics to back up what they say”.

“You take your choice in accepting or rejecting the very existence of this internecine war. Somehow you can’t help believing the little people. Their tale of terror is told too often to be always wrong.

Boston Globe (Boston)
Dr. Nevin Scrimshaw, Chairman of the U.N. Protein Advisory group and internationally know nutrition expert, asked the U.S. to stop all military and financial aid to Pakistan and to give greater assistance to India for refugee relief. He said that U.S. arms shipments had encouraged Pakistan to continue military repression and the continued flow of refugees into India.

November 16 :
London Times (Delhi)
Indian Defence Minister, Jagjivan Ram, hinted that the decision to recgonize Bangladesh had already been taken. He added that the announcement would be made at an appropriate time.

Toronto Globe & Mail (Karachi)
7 right-wing political parties agreed to form a United Coalition Party in the national assembly under the leadership of Nurul Amin. The coalition is expected to be the largest with 120 seats. Nurul Amin demanded that the Prime Minister be from East Bengal. Z.A. Bhutto, has said that an East Pakistani could be a Prime Minister only if a West Pakistani is President.

Wash Post (Dacca)
A U.S. missionary and 2 West German consular officials were killed in separate incidents near Dacca. The priest was shot and the diplomats were killed when their car hit a road mine.

Christian Science Monitor (Dacca)
Bengali guerrlla activity is hard at work spreding industrial and economic chaos, attacking power and communications facilities, harassing the army. The jute industry depends upon a remaining highly vulnerable power line. Jute farmers are being discouraged from sowing, shipping or selling their important expert crop. Loss is estimated at $130 million for fiscal 71-72 if the security situation grows noworse. Twenty million 1bs of tea are stuck in Sylhet district with the rail line being cut.

Urbanesupport for the Mukti Bahini is probably stronger than in the countryside where peasants are sympathetic with objectives but anxious not to get involved personally. With only a few Army battalions remaining in Dacca after dispersal of main forces to the borders, the city could swarm with Mukti if the organization so decreed, but they have apparently not yet been told to operate in strength. Included among liberated areas are said to be portions of Dacca district, Noakhali, Faridpur, Patuakhali, and Dinajpur.

N.Y. Times (Delhi)
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A clash between Pakistan and Indian troops was reported at Shikarpur, where the guerrillas have a large base camp. India said that 4 Pakistan battalions had crossed into India for the raid.

November 17 :
London Times (Delhi)
According to the Indian Express, if the East Bengal crisis remained unsolved in the near future the Indian govt. would declared a national emergency, recognize Bangladesh, enter into a defense treaty with its government, and openly support the Liberation Front.

Informed sources confirm PM Tajuddin’s visit to Delhi. The meeting is understood to include discussions on a treaty incorporating a defensc pact. Impartial observers point to one remaining chance of breaking the deadlock : If Yahya can be persuaded to hand over power to a West Pakistan like Vice-Admiral Ahsan, former naval chief. Ahsan resigned as Governor of East Pakistan when told of the military plans in March.

Wash Post (Delhi)
Reports arrived here of Pakistan shelling of Agartala, fourth time in three weeks. Pakistan shelling and firing was also reported from Mahendraganj area of the Garo Hills district in Meghalaya.

N.Y. Times
In an interview here Rehman Sobhan has reported that Sheikh Mujib was seen about four weeks ago, “listless and feeble”, in a prison courtroom in Lyallpur, West Pakistan. The informant was a Bengali sent to Lyallpur to testify against Mujib. Sobhan also reported some resentment by Bangladesh leaders against U.S. efforts to seek a compromise between the Pakistan government and them. He said that the mission in Calcutta had been warned by the leadership against contacts with Americans who were said to be seeking to split the independence movement through elements willing to compromise on a complete breakaway from West Pakistan. The U.S. has approached both sides, according to U.S. govt. sources, but that no mediation was likely in the near future.

(Shekharnagar)
Malcolm Browne visited this town and writes : “A task force of West Pakistan troops visited this town of 8,000 on October 27 and destroyed it. Apparently informed—mistakenly, according are dying at a rate of 4,300 a day from malnutrition and other causes. Still another 10 million persons are homeless within East Bengal according to the staff.

The burden of 10 million refugees produced by West Pakistan’s “policy of genocide” has led India into thecurrent war with Yahya Khan’s regime, according to Kennedy.

A protracted war would perpetuate the “total distruption” of East Bengal’s transportation system, Kennedy said, leading to massive famine. Kennedy’s staff estimates, based on reports from United Nations and private agency observers, that a full-scale famine in East Bengal might take 10 million to 20 million lives. In 1943, wartime disruption of food supplies produced a famine that killed 5 million in East Bengal. Kennedy finds the United States heavily implicated in the potential tragedy, particularly because the United States continued until last month to ship military supplies to the Yahya Khan government.

“United States support of Pakistan during the crucial period materially contributed to the lack of international support for India’s attempt to cope with 11 million refugees”, Kennedy said. “And so, the situation has deteriorated”.

“He charged, “The bitter irony is that here we’ve talked so long about ‘self-determination’ in Vietnam
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and the rest of Southeast Asia, while in Pakistan we are supporting a regime that is attempting to suppress and repress the process of self-determination”. Kennedy said that the “inevitable outcome” in Pakistan is victory by the Bengalis” either through a political settlement or through bloodshed”.

Kennedy said that the Bengali guerrilla force, the Mukti Bahini, “has on its side the real, constitutionally elected leaders. They are highly committed and dedicated. They have been bloodied. Their families have been victimized by the violence and terror. They have the manpower, the resources and the support to do the job”.

If there is no political settlement, Kennedy and his staff foresee not only millions of deaths due to famine and war, but an eventual bloodbath perpetrated by victorious Bengalis against their West Pakistani oppressors Potential victims of Mukti Bahini vengeance include 70,000 Pakistani troops stationed in East Bengal ; several thousand razakars, home guards drawn from right-wing religious parties and responsible for widespread atrocities, and some 1 million Bihari moslems, ethnically and politically related to the Punjabis of West Pakistan and separate from the Bengalis.

Kennedy said that the United States should “deplore the repressive acts of the Pakistani Army, exercise whatever influence we can to bring about a political solution and work to alleviate the humanitarian problem in India and East Bengal.

“The East Bengalis have only asked for our neutrality. I’d give them that and our sympathy. And I’d give the efforts of the United States government to end the violence”, he said.

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE A PEOPLE

An urgent strategy session of the active individuals and organizations to discuss national strategy to launch the people-to-people campaign was held in Lansing, Michigan December 3-5. The goal of the campaign is to find ten million Americans who will agree to give 33 a day for the next six months or $10 per month for six months to “adopt” one refugee child, mother or father and make the commitement to save just one life.

The conference, organized and hosted by the East Pakistan Emergency Relief Fund, was attended by the representatives of the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal, Bangladesh Defense League, Bangladesh Information Center, OXFAM, Action Pakistan, Student World Concern, Project Relief and International Rescue Committee. Rep. Paul N. McCloskey (R-Calif.) addressed the conference and pledged his support to the campaign. He announced that he and his family of four children will omit one meal a week for the next six months and contribute the money saved to the Bangladesh refugees. McCloskey, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, said he will send a letter to all other members of Congress inviting them to join in the fast on one meal every Wednesday.

AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS PAKISTAN

The 70th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association held in New York from November 18-20 in a resolution condemned “the Government of West Pakistan and her act of unprecedented tyranny on the helpless masses of Bangladesh”. The meeting also declared “the mass killing of the West Pakistani Government as a genocide” and appealed “to all peace-loving people of the world to bring it to the notice of their own governments and to advise their governments to come forward in aid on humanitarian grounds to help the suffering millions”.
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PLEASE NOTE

1. “Recognize Bangladesh” buttons and “Help Bangladesh” bumper stickers are available at the Bangladesh information Center, 423 5th St. SE, Washingto D.C. 20003. Also available : Bangladesh slides and Greeting cards.

2. Please write to your congressmen and senators to support the resolutions introduced in the Congress to extend U.S. recognition to Bangladesh. Also urge your friends to do the same.

3. Bangladesh will require enormous amount of money for the reconstruction of its economy and rehabilitation of the refugees and the uprooted population. Please continue your efforts to this end.

4. Keep you local citizens informed about the situation in Bangladesh. For distribution materials write to :

Friends of East Bengal
Box 42, Sta B
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37203

5. This issue of the Bangladesh Newsletter is being mailed on Tuesday December 14. If it takes too much time to reach you send us $3.00 (Editor, Bangladesh Newsletter, 500 Paragon Mills Rd #B-7 Nashville TN 37211)
we’ll send it to you by first class mail.

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 (615)833-2064

No. 15 December 25, 1971

WORLD MUST RECOGINZE

REALITY OF BANGLADESH IS WITH US

Editorial

REALITY OF BANGLADESH

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On March 25, 1971 the Pakistan Army unleashded a brutal campaign of terror against the people of Bangladesh. The savagery of this occupation has been grim : over a million and a half have been killed, ten million have fled to India, many million remain homeless and hungry within Bangladesh. In recent days it has become clear that the Pakistan occupation is at an end.

Eight months of leverage-by-arms over Yahay Khan led to nothing but death and destruction in Bangladesh, but the U.S. continues to join China in ardent support of Pakistan. We are told that the U.S. remains interested in avoiding further bloodshed on the subcontinent. Despite the deliberate indifference that it revealed toward the massacre of the Bengali populace we are told that the U.S. remains interested in minimizing further blockshed on the subcontinent.

The position of the Pakistan Army has become untenable in Bangladesh. The longer Pakistan takes to recognize the reality in Bangladesh the greater the loss of life will be while the fighting continues. What chances there are of avoiding large-scale reprisals against army collaborators will gradually tend to disappear. Notwithstanding recent loans from Arab countries, West Pakistani’s economy is tectering on theedge of total collapse. Yahya and his generals may prefer to die fighting and to sink West Pakistan in the process. If the U.S. retains any leverage with Yahya, we suggest that it be used to force reality on him.

There has been enormous devastation in Bangladesh. The problem of famine becomes once again one of immediate urgency. Recent fighting has led to the evacuation of the UNEPRO team. Millions of refugees will be returning to Bangladesh. Their rehabilitation requires immense resources given the destruction during the Pakistan occupation. The entire road and rail transport network needs urgent repair so that Bangladesh can even begin to sustain, let alone improve, the life of its people. We urge the U.N. team to resume operations for distribution of food and other relief supplies. All governments are urged to aid the reconstruction of Bangladesh ; at the very least by fulfilling the commitments they have made in the past eight months.

IN LIBERATED JESSORE

The following is extracted from a dispatch by Sydney Schanberg in New York Times, December 9.

Jessore, December 8 : The Bengalis danced on the roofs of buses. They shouted independence slogans in the streets. They embraced, they cheered, they reached out in spontaneous emotion to clasp the hands of visitors from other lands.

For Bengalis, today was “liberation day” in Jessore—the stratgic city in East Pakistan that for eight months, until yesterday, had been under the control of West Pakistani troops, who had come last spring to put down the Bengali rebellion…

Joyous reunions were taking place in the town of Jhinergacha between friends and relatives who had fled at different times and in different directions to escape the Pakistani Army and are now slowly returning. Some had gone to refugee camps in India, others into hiding in villages in the interior of East Pakistan.

This correspondent also had a reunion, standing on the one intact span of the old bridge. “You remember me?” a voice asked in English. I did. He was Lieut. Akhtar Uzzaman, a 25-year-old commander of a company of the Mukti Bahini (Liberation Forces)—thd Bengali insurgents. Lieut Akhtar had first turned up in an enclave held by the guerrillas southwest of Jessore a month ago.

As a jeep carrying foreign newsmen rode from Jhinergacha to Jessore “Joy Bangla!” (“Victory for
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Bengal!”) and reached out to try to touch the hands of the foreigners. The atmosphere in Jessore was even more exuberant, Buses filled from seats to roofs exploded in shouts of “Shadhin Bangla!” (“Independent Bengal!”) and “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”, the leader of East Pakistan who is imprisoned in West Pakistan. The green, red and gold flag of Bangladesh was fluttering on many buildings and houses.

AT A GLANCE

The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has set up its temporary headquarters at Mujibnagar, Jessore District. In a public ceremony, amidst thunderous roars of “Joi Bangla”, the acting President of Bangladesh, Syed Nazrul Islma, appealed to the nations of the world to recognize the reality of Bangladesh and extend full suppoprt and coordination in the enormous task of reconstruction of the war-ravaged Bangladesh. Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed declared amnesty for the collaborators of the Pakistani occupation army.

A Joint Defense Pact has been signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the Government of India. Under the pact, a joint allied command has been established to direct the allied forces.

According to the reports reaching here, the Commander of Pakistani occupation army in Bangladesh, Lt. General Niazi, left Dacca for West Pakistan at the initial stage of the allied march on Dacca.

Major-General Forman Ali, ‘military advisor’ to the ‘Governor’ of occupied Bangladesh sent an urgent appeal to the Secretary General of the United Nations to arrange repatriation of the Pakistani troops in Bangladesh While the Secretary General was about to move the appropriate U.N. body to discuss the appeal, a message from General Yahya Khan reached the Secretary General, instructing him to disregard the appeal from Major-General Farman Ali.

Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, with an assignment from General Yahya, arrived in New York on Dceember 11. Confused by the appeals and counter appeals of Major-General Farman Ali and General Yahya he cancelled all his appointments (one with the Chinese delegation to the United Nations and another with the Secretary General U Thant) under the pretext of sudden illness.

On December 10, Pakistan blamed India for bombing an orphanage in Dacca and killing about 300 children. Later foreign sources in Dacca reported that it was a Pakistani plane which bombed the orphanage to embarrass India putting the blame on her.

Senator Church of Ideho disclosed on December 11 that he had information that the Pakistani military regime sent an urgent request to President Nixon to send substantial amount of military supplies to Pakistan and the State Department is considering the request. He warned the administration against any kind of military involvement in this crisis.

Resolutions have been introduced in both the houses of Congress to extend U.S. recognition to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. (Write to your congressment and senators to support the resolutions)

BRITAIN MOVING TOWARD RECOGNITION OF BANGLADESH

Britain Labour Party came within a hairsbreath of recognizing an independent state of Bangladesh when the Party’s international committee unanimously passed an emergency resolution strongly critical of Pakistan on December 7. There was support for recognition at the meeting, but in the end it was decided
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that the wisest course would be to exercise caution at this stage so as not to make the British Government’s move on the war more difficult.

Some members, including Mr. Walter Padley and Mrs. Judith Hart, expressed strong views that the political reality of the situation had to be recognized. This was that the state of Pakistan, as it had existed was now finished. The Committee’s view is that its resolution went at least half-way towards recognition of Bangladesh and that a decision may well be taken at the next meeting of the party’s national executive committee later this month.

John Stonehouse, the leading advocate in Britain for Bangladesh, has taken the initiative in setting up a parliamentary group to press for formal recognition of Bangladesh by the U.K. Hugh Fraser, Tory MP, Reg Prentice, former Labor Minister of Overseas Development, and John Pardoe, Liberal MP, are among the prime movers.

Stonehouse hopes that the group will gain the immediate backing of at least 210 MPs—those who signed his motion in June condemning the widespread muder of massive scale” in East Bengal and calling for temporary recognition of the provinsional Government of Bangladesh. In August 350 MPs, among them many former Labor and Tory ministers, signed a supplementary motion calling for the release of Sheikh Mujib.

Stonehouse did not ask Tory MPs to sign his first motion—he did not want to embarrass them—and he expects to pick up additional conservative support for the parliamentary group.

SENATOR KENNEDY CONDEMNS US BACKING OF PAKISTAN

Senator Edwar Kennedy denounced the Nixon Administration for faveuring Pakistan in the war with India.

The Senator, recently visited refugee camps in India, criticized the Administration for condemning military action by India while failing to condemn atrocities by West Pakistan troops in East Bengal.

Mr. Kennedy, Democratic Senator forMass., said in a speech to the Senate that “war did not begin last week with military border crossings or last month with the escalation of artillery crossfire.

“This war began on the bloody night of March 25 with the brutal suppression by the Pakistan Army of the results of a free election”.

Senator Kennedy claimed that “throughout this period our national leadership watched the tragedyin silence. At no time has any official of our Government, including the President, condemned the brutal and systematic repression, a repression carried out in part with American guns and bullets and aircraft”.

He added : “Now the Administration tells us, eight months after March 25, that we should condemn not the repression of the Pakistan Army, but the response of India towards and increasingly desperate situation on its eastern border situation which our nation calculatedly ignored.

“Certainly condemnation is justified, but…we should condemn the silence of our leaders. We should condemn the world silence and apathy toward the mass of human suffering caused by refugee flow into India”.

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Mr. Kennedy said that the Administration had justified its refusal to condemn Pakistan on the grounds that it wanted to “maintain loverage” with the Yahya Khan regime. There is little record that many lovers were pulled he said. “I urge the Administration to turn its policy around”….

THIS TIME IT IS THE PATHANS!

In a move evidently aimed at crushing a potentially dangerous source of opposition to his regime, General Yahya Khan banned the National Awami Party on November 26. He said that the NAP has “for a long time been acting against the interests and security of Pakistan”. Leaders of the NAP have been arrested. Wali Khan’s NAP, popular among the Pathans, is basically a Pathan nationalist group. Pathans have been campaigning off and on in recent years for creation of an independent Pathan state to be known as Pushtoonistan. The NAP won 6 seats in the National Assembly in last year’s national election and 12 seats in the 40 seat provincial assembly ot the North-West Frontier Province, 8 seats in Baluchistan’s 20 seats assembly.

In recent weeks several Pathans have been arrested on charges of spying for India and bringing their information to the autonomous tribal territory along Pakistani’s westernmost flank to convey to Indian Agents.

COMMENTS

(In this column we are reproducing excerpts of editorial and other comments published recently on the situation in Bangladesh.)

December 5 :
N.Y. (Editorial)
…For months the United States resorted to ineffectual secret diplomacy that bypassed and served to paralyze the world organization. The Nixon Administration adopted a public posture of mock even-handedness which had the effect of exacerbating the India-Pakistan conflict. It ignored the fundamental threat to India posed by Yahya Khan’s harsh repression in East Pakistan.

The United States Government is still sidesteping this central issue and is responding with flagrant injustice in attempting to pin the “major responsibility” for the present conflict on India. If Security Council intervention is to have any chance of restoring peace between India and Pakistan, the United States and the United Nations must recogize and deal with the basic problem in East Pakistan…

Wast Post (Joseph Kraft)
…The PRICE of doing so much business so secretively in the White House becomes apparent when the going gets serious in areas that are not high on the agenda of Kissinger and the President. For example, it has been clear for months that India and Pakistan were heading toward war. It has also been that trouble could be averted if President Yahya Khan of Pakistan opened negotiations with the insurgent leader, Mujibur Rahman. But nothing was done because the White House was not disposed to put pressure on President Yahya…

Chicago Tribune (Clayton Fritchey)
…At the moment, the biggest and most dangerous threat to peace centers on Pakistan, for religion no only aggravates the struggle with India, but also plays a deadly part in the civil strife between East and West Pakistan.
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As everyone konws, over 9 million refugees have fled to India since the West Pakistani army set out to crush the democratic rebellion in East Pakistan. But what is not widely known is that nearly all of the refugees are Hindus who, until they had to flee for their lives, were an important minority in Moslem Pakistan.

Thus, the Moslem army leaders have not only imposed a crushing burden on India, but at the same time got rid of a Hindu minority that might have become a “fifth column” if they had been allowed to stay in East Pakistan. What is India, one of the poorest of nations, to do in the circumstances?

Important voices are being raised in America for U.N. intervention and a cease-fire based on the status quo. That, in effect, would be to intervene on the side of the West Pakistani military junta against the people of East Pakistan, who were militarily overpowered as they voted overwhelmingly for autonomy.

General Yahya Khan, the head of the junta, now has his back against the wall because East Pakistani guerrillas, aided by India, are chewing up the West Pakistani army. His only recourse is to attack India, and that would be military suicide.

The only viable solution is independence or autonomy for East Pakistan, along with the safe return of the millions of refugees who have had to crowd into an already overcroweded, hungry India. Any intervention by the great powers, must not perpetuate General Khan’s vicious, genocidal domination of East Pakistan…

December 6 :
N.Y. Times (Anthony Lewis)
…London, December 5 Suppose that Britain, in the 1930’s, had responded to Hitler’s savagery by the early threat or use of military force instead of appeasement. If the Nixon Administration had been is power in Washington at that time, it would presumably have sent some official out to writing his hands in public and charge Britain with “major responsibility for the broader hostilities which have ensued”.

So one must think after the American statement over the weekend blaming India for the hostilities with Pakistan. Few things said in the name of the United States lately have been quite so indecent. The anonymous state department official who made the comment matched Uriah Heep in sheer oleaginous cynicism about our own moral position.

Consider first the immediate origins of this dispute. They are exceptionally clear as international relations go.

The military junta that rules Pakistan under President Yahya Khan held an election. The largest number of seats was won, democratically, by a Bengali party that favored effective self-govrnment for East Pakistan. Yahya thereupon decided to wipe out the result of the election by force.

Last March West Pakistan troops flew into the East in large numbers and began a policy of slaughter. They murdered selected politicians intellectuals and professionals, then indicriminate masses. They burned villages. They held public castrations.

To compare Yahya Khan with Hitler is of course inexact. Yahya is not a man with a recist mission but a spokesman for xenophobic forces in West Pakistan. But in terms of results—in terms of human beings killed, brutalized or made refugees—Yahya’s record compares quite favorably with Hitler’s early years.

The West Pakistanis have killed several hundred thousand civilians in the East, and an estimated ten
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million have fled to India. The oppression has been specifically on lines of race or religion. The victims are Bengalis or Hindus. not Czechs or Poles or Jews, and perhaps therefore less meaningful to us in the West. But to the victims the crime is the same.

This record has been no secret to the world. First-hand accounts of the horror inside East Pakistan were published months ago. The refugees were there in India to be photographed in all their pitiful misery.

But President Nixon and his foreign policy aids seemed to close their eyes to what everyone else could see. Month after month the President said not a word about the most appalling refugee situation of modern times. Private diplomacy was doubtless going on, but there was no visible sign of American pressure on Yahya Khan for the only setup that could conceivably bring the refugees back—a political accommodation with the Bengalis.

Pakistani’s argument was that it was all an internal affair. Yes, like the Nazi’s treatment of German Jews. But even if one accepts as one must that Pakistan was bound to defend its territorial integrity, this issue had spilled beyond its borders. The refugee impact on India very soon made it clear that the peace of the whole subcontinent was threatened.

It was as if the entire population of New York City had suddenly been dumped on New Jersey to feed and clothe—only infinitely worse in terms of resources available. Yet when Indira Gandhi went to the capitals of the West for help in arranging a political solution in East Pakistan, she got nothing…

December 7 :
Wash Post (Joseph Kraft)
…A bizarre combination of moral blindness and political unrealism has characterized the handling of the Indo-Pak crisis by the Nixon administration. Even so, the United States is relatively immune from the consequences of this folly.

For with the Communist world divided, almost nothing that happens in South Asis can adversely affect American security in a serious way. But similar folly in other areas could well blow the President’s hopes for a generation of peace. The present round of trouble in the subcontinent goes back to the decision made by the Pakistan government in mid-March to suppress by force the separatist movement in East Bengal. The result of that decision was moral crime on the grand scale. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people were murdered by Pakistani troops, and millons were froced across the border into India as refugees. Moreover, the decision was not only crime, it was a blunder. With its government and forces centered in the western part of the country, Pakistan was unable to sustain repression a thousand miles away in East Bengal. Among the refugee in India, there began to grow up an insurgency force—the Mukti Bahini—determined to separate East Bengal from Pakistan in a new nation to be called Bangla Desh. This country is the mainstay of the international groups that provide foreign aid critical to the development of both India and Pakistan, and there was a way to avert the developing trouble. That was to have President Yahya Khan of Pakistan open negotiations with the West Bengali leader, Mujib Rahman, who had been jailed back in March.

But Washington was never sensitive to the moral enormity of Pakistan’s behavior. Hence, the willingness to let military spare parts go there for months after the massacres of East Bengal got under way. Neither was the administration alert to the coldblooded logic driving the Indians towards war. Thus the administration did not apply truly heavy pressrue on Pakistan for an opening of negotiations between President Yahya and Sheikh Mujib—not even after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India visited Washington and named that as a price for peace.

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With Washington going less than all-out on the negotiating front, Mrs. Gandhi had little reason to control the Indian hawks. Slowly and deliberately, they applied pressure around Pakistan’ borders. In the end, Pakistan felt obliged to respond with what is now open warfare. There are some hard questions the Nixon administration should be asking itself. Wasn’t the administration blind and deaf to the moral crimes committed by Pakistan? Didn’t the administration miscalculate what India would do? Weren’t both these judgements an expression of President Nixon’s personal prejudices and preferences? Weren’t these personal inclinations enormously weighted because of the emasculation of the State Department? More important still are some long-range questions. Couldn’t such a woeful performance yield serious trouble in coming encounters with the Communist giants? Even if the United States is insulated from the worst difficulties by the division in the Communist world, what role should this country be playing in the southern continents of the Third World? Does this country want forever to be the patron of regime in Asia, Africa and Latin American that make up the pillars of the unfree world?

Wash Post (Editorial)
Suppose President Nixon had deliberately set out : to aggravate tensions in South Asia ; to identify the United States with a military regime almost universally condemned for its abuse of its own people ; to shared American ties with the most populous and powerful nation of that region, a demcracy and a traditional friend ; to help drive that dominant state into a waiting Soviet embrace ; and, once war had erupted, to diminish possibilities of political compromise and undermine what moderate might remain. What would he have done differently with respect to the developing conflict between India and Pakistan over the last eight months? In our view not much.

The whole rationale of American policy eludesus. Some payment was owed Pakistan for helping arrange Henry Kissinger’s first trip to Peking. And Mr. Nixon evidently has long had a soft sopt in his heart for Pakistan, at one time a model military anti-Communist regime. But at some point as the tragedy grew, cold calculations of power politics should have overtaken these largely sentimental considerations. Sound policy dictated and effort to maintain friendship with both India and Pakistan ; if that were not possible, why put all the American chips on a discredited failing regime in much the smaller and more trouble-ridden of the two nations involved? If the answer lies somewhere in the political geometry of the Moscow-Peking-Washington triangle, we fail to perceive it. The source of the present crisis is Pakistani policy in East Pakistan. Only there can a solution be found That the United States should not only be failing to contribute to such a solution but could be making on more difficult to attain is a measure of how far we in fact have traveled under the much trumpeted Nixon Doctrine toward a new foreign policy. In South Asia, we have moved backward—if we have moved at all—toward those early postwar cold war attitude that gave us CENTO and SEATO and the heavy-handed employment of foreign aid a bludgeon or a bribe.

December 8 :
Wash Post (Editorial)
Within the confines of its open and full political support for Pakistan, what constructive steps might the Nixon administration take to actually help Pakistan and case the crisis in South Asia? We say “actually” help because so far Mr. Nixon’s support has merely made it easier for the government in Islamabad to get into terrible trouble : in the East its sway is shrinking and in the West it is under siege from what seems superior Indian force. Whether Yahya Khan would have powerfull Pakistan into this fix wihout American support is a fair question.

But what can the U.S. do now? Any answer must start here with the assumption that the Nixon administration, by its faithfulness to Islamabad especially in the latest stage of its travail, should have earned much influence. If in earlier stages American influence was not wisely applied or heeded, whichever obtains, it is not too late to try to recoup. In public statements and United Nations resolutions,
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Mr. Nixon may wish to stay in a tough anti-India posture but it should be possible at the same time to help Pakistan. On his part, President Yahya can hardly remain impervious much longer to a friend’s good advice : he has all but lost half his country and the other half is far from completely secure.

Though doubtless directed first of all at Americans, Mr. Nixon’s pledge not to get “physically involved in any way” in the war surely was an important contribution to President Yahya’s political education. Mr. Nixon should now go on to say that Pakistan’s cause in the East is lost, that the beleaguered Pakistani garrison there cannot possibly endure, that Islamabad should use the Indian invasion as a facesaver to avoid the humiliation of defeat at the hands of Bengali insurgents, and that Pakistani soldiers should surrender to the Indians while they can rather than face slaughter by vengeful Bengalis.

Mr. Nixon could also tell President Yahya that, just conceivably, if he produced the Bengali leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he could win back much world favor. More important, the political authority to be set up in former East Pakistan would be freindlier to Islamabad than if other Bengalis take over.

If Pakistan heeded this advice, then Mr. Nixon would be in a better position at the Security Council to work for a cease-fire resolution that would at once prevent the further spilling of Pakistani blood and ensure that Pakistan would suffer territorial losses in the West. For it is plain enough that Moscow would not veto a resolution which acknowledged a Bengali political authority as well as called for a cease-fire. The divisions which have reduced the United Nations to importence in the past week would be removed. This approach would not give Pakistan the grim emotional satisfaction it received from the American resolution that failed, but it would be a real political boon all the same. Incidentally, it would allow President Nixon to appear before the world as an effective peace-maker.

We continue to have serious reservations about Mr. Nixon’s pro-Pakistan policy. But if he is determined to pursue it, let him do so in a way that is more likely to help Pakistan and the cause of Asian peace.

December 8 :
N.Y. Times (Editorial)
President Nixon’s declaration of “absolute neutrality” in the Indian-Pakistani conflict fail to conceal Administration policies, which have, in fact, been obviously biased in favor of the Government of President Yahya Khan in Islamabad.

During the eigth months of repression in East Pakistan which led to the present international conflict on the subcontinent, Wahsington’s “neutrality” consisted of maintaining silence while Yahya’s troops suppressed a freely elected autonomy movement in East Pakistan, were responsible for the death of thousands of Bengalis and forced millions more, mostly Hindus, to flee to India where their presence has posed a growing threat to Indian political, economic and social stability. For many months the Administration actually gave material support to this unconscionable repression by continuing to ship small amounts of military supplies to Islamabad.

Administration officials argured that their public silence and the continuance of aid were designed to strengthen quite efforts to promote a political settlement in East Pakistan that would bring peace and the return of the refugees. But there is no evidence that President Yahya has tried to reach any accommodation with the imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the other elected representatives who command the confidence of the overwhelming majority of Pakistan Bengalis. Having failed to condemn the repression in East Pakistan or to press for a genuine political solution, the United States has now faltly charged India with “major responsibility” for the resulting international conflict ; having waited months to suspend arms aid to Pakistan, the Administration has promptly suspended military and economic aid to India…United States efforts at the United Nations, first in the Security Council and now in the General
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Assembly, have been aimed at bringing about a simple cease-fire and withdrawal of forces. Urgent and desirable as such action surely is, it can not be practically effective unless the United Nations and its leading—areprpared at the same time to recognize and attempt to deal with the root cause of the problem in Pakistan.

December 9 :
New Statesman (Editorial)
London—On the Indian subcontinent a state is dying and a new nation has been born.

The theorcratic state of Pakistan is struggling to avoid dismenberment, though it has but one unifying force within its boundaries : the Islamic faith of the majority of its citizens. Now thenationalism of the Bengalis has shattered Muslim unity, set an example for the disaffected Pathans and reduced the loyal area of Pakistan to the two provinces of Punjab and Sind. The supply lines of the Pakistan Army are hopelessly stretched and they are being harassed by the Mukti Bahini in East Bengal. Since the Pakistanis also face trouble in the North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan, they cannot long sustain Indian military pressure. At the chances of Chinese help recede their plight is desperate. Pakistan has little claim upon our sympathy. From its foundation this artificial state has been militaristic and bellicose and for two decades has spent 80 per cent of its budget on defense. Its present rulers are as stupid as they are brutal. Instead of working for a compromise with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his Bengali Awami League, President Yahya Khan unleashed General Tikka Khan and the Pakistan Army upon the hapless Bengalis in a campaign of indiscriminate slaughter. Last week, as if to confirm the fact that he has very little political judgement, he banned the West Pakistan National Awami party and arrested some of its leaders. In so doing he has disfranchised the North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan, which are now diaffected and may require watching by the already very much over-committed Pakistan Army. Perhaps the Pakistanis calculated that all internal risks were manageable because of the assured support of China. If so, they have been outmaneuvered by India and badly served by the U.N. vote that administed China to membership…

Not that it is very likely that the Chinese have considered sending help. It would be a bad start to China’s U.N. membership for her to become involved in an Asian land war that might well involve not only India but also the USSR The Chinese have more important aims than the maintenance in power of Yahya Khan. The Sind-Pakistan alliance has always been an opportunistic deal between utterly dissimilar societies who believe they have common enenmies. China will not wish to be saddled with an ally who cannot maintain internal peace and so threatens to embroil the Chinese in conflicts which do not affect their national interests…

N.Y. Times (Editorial)
India’s support for full Bengali independence may have been made inescapable by the incredibly shortsighted and brutal policies of the Pakistani Government. But no one—especially the Indians—can ignore the new dangers and problems that will be posed by the emergence of Bangladesh…

To avert further impoverishement, fragmentation and conflict throughout the subcontinent it is essential that leaders in Delhi, Dacca and Islamabad thrust aside present divisions anf acrimony and join in a search for newties and institutions that will enable them to attack overriding common problems in dignity and peace. As the emerging dominant power, India has a special responsibility to assert the moral leadership for reconciliation that has been so sadly lacking in the present conflict…

N.Y. Times (John P. Lewis)
The Nixon Administration’s South Asia policy, which had been edging toward disaster for the last eight
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months, finally, in a cloud of pious inanities, plunged over the brink this last weekend. Presumably for the time being the policy is beyond redemption…For eight months he has remained officially blind to the most massive calculated savagery that has been visited on a civil population in recent times. He has been faithful to his good friend, the chairman of the savagery, Yahya Khan. Neither his hand-holding of nor any hidden leverage on the Pakistan regime has had evident effect in advancing a political solution in East Bengal.

Historians are bound to boggle at the cumulative ineptitude of this performance. In one series of strokes we have managed to align ouselves with the wrong side of about as big and simple a moral issue as the world has seen lately ; we have sided with a minor military dictatorship against the world’s second largest nation which happens also to be the stanchest of all developing countries in its adherence to our own deepest political values ; we have joined the sure-fire loser in a subcontinental confrontation ;…

I would like to emphasize one point that tends to be skirted, because on one wants to be caught these days suggesting that any good—even relative good, wighed against the alternative—can come of a war. The point, and it is pivotal, is that the only possible basis for a stable, peaceful East Bengal to which a large protion of the ten million refugees can return and help rebuild their nation is an independent East Bengal. Such is the effect of the program of terror since March 25 ; the senario cannot be wound backwards. Hence (1) the promise of undivided Pakistan’s sovereign integrity upon which American policy has rested, for at least five months, has been a nonstarter, and (2) India’s support of the insurgency by the previously elected Bangladesh regime has not been merely human and understandable ; lacking alternatives, it has been the only constructive policy available…

December 10 :
Wash Post (Stephen S. Rosenfeld)
The crisis in South Asia has revealed a measure of ineffectiveness in Congress that must thoroughly dishearten anybody who had hoped that out of the last four or five years of Executive-Congressional jousting over the making of foreign policy some change in the old ways of doing business would have come.

Unlike Vietnam, South Asia is not a situation where the Congress came to consciousness late, after the Executive had already established a policy line it felt committed to. Nor is it a situation where serious opposition to the President was limited to a minority or a flabby majority. Nor is it a situation where the Executive had a monopoly on background understanding or current informantion. Nor is it a situation where the President could justify his policy by appeal to any of the great principles or great stakes or great publics (“the silent majority”) that have been invoked in respect to Vietnam.

On the contrary, Congress awoke early to the significance of the South Asian tragedy. A majority in both Houses formed and expressed opposition. The Congress could fairly claim to have as good an understanding of the scene as the Executive bureaucracy. And the President lacked gaudy bannaers to take above his chosen course.

Yet Mr. Nixon has dominated South Asia policy all the way. In the subcontinent a crisis unfolded that is bound to have major consequences for the American world position, and the Congress never got significantly into the act…

KENNEDY RIPS US ‘SILENCE’ ON PAKISTAN ‘REPRESSION’

December 4. The staff of the Senate refugee subcommittee estimated that war and famine in East Bengal
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may cost as many as 25 million lives, which Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) termed “the greatest human disaster of modern times”.

In an interview, Kennedy charged that the U.S. has been “unconscionably silent” in “refusing to condemn the repression that the Pakistani army is perpetrating in East Bengal”.

The Subcommittee projection of deaths does not include potential casualties from a war between India and Pakistan. It refers strictly to victims of Pakistani repression.

Chairman of the refugee subcommittee, Kennedy said he has received information that West Pakistani atrocities in East Bengal continued unabated following the initial bloodbath of March 25.

Kennedy’s staff said estimates are that 200,000 persons were killed initially when the West Pakistani military government of President Agha Muhmmad Yahya Khan moved to suppress the newly elected Bengali government.

Since then, according to staff estimates the toll in East Bengal has risen to at least a million, and information from the former head of the Pakistani mission in Geneva, who defected, is that 1.5 million have died. In addition, 10 million persons fled East Bengal camps where children along to residents—that a guerrilla group was here, the army attacked without warning in motor launches. Toward the end of the 20-mile trip from Dacca the launches engines alerted the population, most of which fled into nearby ponds, cannals and paddy fields.

“Shooting into houses and huts as they advanced, the troops set fire to nearly every building. Surviving residents pointed to the fresh graves where 19 villagers were buried. The concrete schoolhouse was stripped of its furniture and doors, which the troops burned to cook their evening meal, and a rice mill was destroyed. The villager’s stock of freshly harvested rice was burned for the most part, and some 300 cows and sheep were slaughtred. “A large quantity of wheat that villagers said had been sent under a U.S. aid progrm was reportedly loaded into the boats by the troops”.

“A warehouse filled with bags of phosphate fertilizer was burned and most of the bags were destroyed. Several buildings belonging to the mosque were burned down, and the Hindu temple was burned and sacked, and its idols were smashed by gunfire…”

“It is widely charged that the army is used relief aid more as a political lover than for genuinely humanitarian purposes, withholding it from rebel areas…”

“According to officials, the guerrillas control only about a fourth of the land area of East Pakistan. On the other hand, it appears to many people who regularly travel in the interior of the country that the guerrillas in fact control a much larger proportion of the land area and most of the Bengali population”.

Novemeber 19 :
C.S. Monitor (Dacca)
East Bengal’s need for food is genuine, but supplying it 20 million destitutes is a problem. Whenever the objectives of the military machine and the humanitarian operation happen to conflict, the military needs threaten to take precedence. There is the obvious probability that the Army will take over U.N. trucks along with any others it needs. With the present trucks regarded as a writeoff, the difficult decision for U.N. officials is whether or not to bring in more vehicles to do the job, knowing they also may be confiscated. In addition, officials worry that U.N. food itself might be diverted for govt., political or
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military use. As yet there is no indication of this on a massive scale, but recent interference by Razakars with food distribution causes concern. The Razakars, meanwhile, regard looting as one of their main functions. They are known to operate as gangs in some areas. Some suspect they have instructions from the Pakistan Army to prevent fooe distribution in sectors where anti-govt. activities has been reported.

November 19 :
Boston Globe (Dacca)
This usually bustling city of three million persons turns into a ghost town at sundown—the streets empty as if by magic and an uneasy quiet settles over the city. In an attempt to cut down on the bombings, West Pakistan officials started a house-to-house search through the metropolitan area of the city today, looking for Bengalis. Officials said 138 suspects were arrested and four armed rebels were killed trying to escape.

Guerrillas swim in a vast, warm, hospitable sea of people…They are winning and they know it. They are being careful not to destroy too much of what they hope to inherit shortly. They have only to keep on gently shaking the tree and the fruit will fall without breaking the branches one Western diplomat said.

November 20 :
Wash Post (Calcutta)
Mukti Bahini are gaining in their guerrilla war, and it has become less likely that they could be reined in even if any political leader wanted their fight for independence curtailed. Thousands of Mukti Bahini guerrillas finished their training and entered East Bengali in combat units. It appears that the Mukti Bahini are now preparing for a major military push in an attempt to accelerate their success by a series of coordinated attacks with Dacca as a main target.

November 21 :
Daily Telegraph (New Delhi)
Bengali leader Maulana Bhashani, 89, is in New Delhi for talks with the Indian government. It is impossible at this stage to assess the significance of Bhashani’s presence in Delhi. It is almost certain that Mrs. Gandhi will continue to resist pressure to recognize Bangladesh or go beyond strictly limited support for the Bangladesh guerrillas.

N.Y. Times (Washington)
Officials at the Agency for International Dev are weighing a multi-million-dollar program to try to woo the Bengali refugees to go back in return for material benefits. Congressional sources said that a program involving U.S. funds to induce Bengali refugees to return home might be approved, but only after close scrutiny. The sources said the Pakistan government might be expected to welcome any such program as an indirect form of economic aid that would relieve the heavy drain on its own resources. Aid officials conceded that no final plans could be formulated until the Senate and House agreed on the foreign aid authorization bill.

(Karachi)
It is clear that the Pakistan Army in the Eastern province is being led by officers who have learned nothing from Vietnam. Perhaps political warfare is just too difficult and untidy for the world’s regular military, who prefer to believe that politics is bunk and God is with the big battalions. In East Bengal the big battalions are fighting a desperate battle of survival. There is an overwhelming impression in the cities and the hamlets that the Bengali people want independence and are prepared to fight the Pakistan Army to the death for it.

November 22 :
London Times (Karachi)
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Pakistan radio reported a major clash with Indian troops northwest of Jessore. It said that Indian forces and their “agents” had attacked Pakistan positions. It also said that information had been received of similar attacks from Comilla, Chittagong Hill tracts, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur districts.

(Dacca)
The police said that Dacca and Narayanganj had come in for heavy strafing from guerriallas last night. Shelling over the city was reported, apparently from the Buriganga and Sitalakaya rivers.

November 23 :
London Times (Dacca)
Pakistan claimed that India had launched an allout offensive, concentrating on the Jessore sector. Fierce fighting was reported continuing.

(Rawalpindi)
Pakistan admitted that Indian forces were making “dents” in Pakistan territory. Fighting in Sylhet and Chittagong hill areas was continuing. The areas east and north of Chittagong port were also reported under attack.

(Delhi)
India denied any incursions into Pakistan territory. It acknowledged that border clashes were increasing and the situation was tense and dangerous. According to Indian reports, border clashes are spreading from Agartala to the Assam border, Cooch Behar in North Bengal, and Dinajpur in West Bengal.

N.Y. Times (Calcutta)
According to reports here, a major offensive by Bengali guerrillas is apparently under way on the western side of East Bengal. Capture of Jessore seems to be a key initial objective First hand details are non-existent because of tightening security here. One newsman who did make it to a Mukti Bahini headquarters near Taki reported that the commander there said that most of the railroad and road to Jessore were under his control. According to other reports guerrillas had pushed 20 miles into East Bengal on the northwest corner.

November 24 :
London Times (Rawalpindi)
Claiming threat of external aggression, Yahya declared a national emergency yesterday. According to Western sources, the fiercest fighting has been in the Jessore area and in the Belonia bulge in the Noakhali district. Parts of the bulge and of the Chittagong hills were thought to be held by the guerrillas. The guerrillas were also thought to be pushing toward the Jessore railway line which is the main connecting link from Khulna to the north.

(Debhata)
Mukti Bahini guerrillas in this area described the fighting as a “do or die” battle to liberate their country and establish an independent Bangladesh. M.A. Jalil, a guerrilla leader, told the correspondent that the most immediate objective was to capture strategic towns in S.E. Bangladesh, eventually giving them control of the area on the Bay of Bengal, which hinder the Pakistan Army supply link from West Pakistan.

(Delhi)
In spite of allegations and counter allegations it is now obvious that Indian and Pakistan armour units have been locked in a serious and fierce tank battle north-west of Jessore during the past few days. It would appear that the Indian government has several objectives in mind. India certainly does not want to
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make a formal declaration of war and it would seem as though troops disguised as guerrillas have been sent across the border to provoke Pakistan into war. If Pakistan strikes on the western frontier India will recognize Bangladesh, and then on the invitation of the Bengalis would formally enter East Bengal.

Wash Post (Dacca)
Over half of the U.N. force has been ordered to leave for Bankok on Wed by U.N. officials because of the Jessore fighting, the state of emergency, and the sinking of two U.N. ships by guerrillas early today. 6 U.N. trucks were taken over by the Army yesterday.

Chicago Tribune (Rawalpindi)
Senior Army officers said that Pakistan has lost 8 planes in the fighting and has suffered heavy casualties on the ground, military attaches reported.

(Washington)
Pakistan Ambassador A.M. Raza told newsmen that “the war is on”. He added that he did not know whether a formal declaration of war was imminent. Raza said that there were “certain bilateral agreements” between the U.S. and Pakistan but that he was not certain what they were. Pakistan had “no agreement of a any kind with China”, he said. He also asserted that there were no refugees flowing into India and that the totao number was only 2 million.

New York Times (Washington)
U.S. officials said that information available indicated that Indian regular forces had crossed into East Bengal and were closely collaborating or spearheading the guerrilla attacks against the Pakistan army there. U.S. officials disputed Pakistan charges of an Indian full-scale invasion as having occurred. Charles Bray of SD conceded that the U.S. had little independent information from the area. He said the U.S. was in touch with Soviet Union and other powers, but not China as yet.

(Bagda)
Large numbers of Indian troops pushed near by toward the East Bengal border yesterday and, according to officers, crossed into East Bengal. None of the officers attempted to deny that their troops were headed to support the Bengali guerrillas who had opened and offensive.

November 25 :
N.Y. Times (Calcutta)
Mrs. Gandhi acknowledged that Indian troops had crossed into East Bengal to battle Pakistan forces, but that they had done os only on Sunday and “in self-defense”. There were now no troops in East Bengal, a spokesman leter said. Reliable reports indicated that heavy fighting was continuing in the district of Jessore, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhel. Sources in the Bangladesh government said that Indian tanks were supporting a big battle around Meherpur. Details of the fighting remain sketchy with foreign correspondents being barred from border areas.

(Islamabad)
Military reserves are being called up. Pakistan reported that Chanderpur had been retaken by Pakistan but that Chuagacha (Jessore) and Atgram (Sylhet) were still in Indian hands. Accredited diplomats seem, for the most part, uncertain as to the seriousness of the situation in the absence of first hand reports from foreign observers on the border.

A 12-member delegation from China arrived, partly to inaugurate a large industrial comples built with Chinese aid and also due to discuss Pakistan’s needs during the current emergency.

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(Washington)
President Nixon was reported to be contemplating a personal appeal to Yahya to release Sheikh Mujib and to seek by personal negotiations a peaceful solution of the East Bengal crisis. Informants also said that a request to the Security Council was also under consideration. Charles Bray of SD declined comment on whether there were any secret commitments binding Pakistan and U.S.

(United Nations)
Pakistan, uncertain whether she would get the necessary support from big powers, was still reluctant to call for a meeting of the Security Council.

FOURTEEN YEAR’S RIGOROUS IMPRISONMENT FOR PROFESSORS

According to a press release issued in Dacca on November 9 four professors of Dacca University and 55 civil servants have been sentenced to 14 year’s rigorous imprisonment by the martial court. The sentences were passed in absentia.

The four professors are : Prof. Mozaffar Ahmed Choudhury, Prof. Abdur Razzak, Prof. Sarwar Murshed and Prof. Mazharul Islam. Among the civil servants are : Khondkar Asaduzzaman, Hasan Taufiq, Abdus Samad, Nurul Kader Khan, Syed Abdus Samad, Qndrate-e-Ilahi, Khashruzzaman Choudhury, Rakibuddin Ahmed, Waliul Islam, Akbar Ali Khan, Kamal Siddiqui, Taufiq Ilahi and Sadat Hossain.

HOLIDAY CARD

A painting by the well-known Bengali artist Qamrul Hasan, called Composition I, has been selected as the design for Bangladesh holiday card. The painting depicts three women wearing saris. The inside of the card bears a verse from the Gitanjali by Tagore. The cards are available at the Bangladesh Information Center, Washington D.C. at a price of $1.50 for a box of ten.

PLEASE NOTE

“Do you support the proposition that the United States should support the independence of Bangladesh?” That was the question asked in the Public Broadcasting system TV-network program called “Advocate”. Send them a card today stating that you do support the proposition. Address : Advocate, P.B. NO. 1971, Boston, Mass.

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 (615)833-2064

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No. 16 January 10, 1972

Editorial

JOI BANGLA : LONG LIVE BANGLADESH

Bangladesh is free. Long dark night of occupation is over. Liberation of Bangladesh has been achieved at a cost with parallels in history. By the time the occupation army laid down their weapons in surrender they reduced the entire Bangladesh inot rubble. Today the whole country is a mass grave. With each passing day our worst fears about the Pakistani occupation are confirmed : that savage regime used torture, rape and murder systematically and cold-bloodedly to terrorize the people of Bangladesh into submission. Their last days were spent in a final splurge of bloodletting : killing villagers as they retreated towards Dacca. We have all read the news of the mass murder of more than 200 intellectuals in Dacca, a massacre that was perpetrated only a day or so before the surrender. Dispatches have identified 3 of the mutilated bodies so far : Dr. Rabb, Chief Cardiologist, Dacca Medical College ; Dr. Munier Chowdhury, Head of the Department of Bengali Language and Literature, Dacca University ; Nizamuddin Ahmed, journalist, Consistent to the end, the Pakistan regime was determined to destroy the resources of Bangladesh in every way they could.

In the nine months that the Pakistan army ravaged our land and our people, there were some who collaborated with the Pakistan army. The army used them as a para-military force to carry out the most vicious of its directives. As was to be expected, the Pakistan army has now deserted them. Reprisals against these collaborators and their families appear to be easy. We call upon our countrymen to desist from taking revenge. The cold-blooded torture and murder of four men that occured a few days ago must not be repeated. It is a matter of immense shame and sadness to us that those responsible for this atrocious conduct were Bengalis who claimed to be part of the Mukti Bahini.

The destruction of Bangladesh has been massive. But our liberation will be a hollow triumph if our oppressors have succeeded in transforming us into their barbaric image. Enough blood has stained the Golden Bengal. Let it not be said that those who fought to secure justice and dignity for their people denied it to their defeated enemy.

Bangladesh is free. But at this moment in our history, hardly we have time and hardly we are in a position to rejoice over the accomplishment of the dearest of our objectives. We have ahead of us an enormous task of reconstruction of Bangladesh. It needs equal tenacity of purpose and dedication as we have brought to bear upon our struggle for the liberation of our homeland. It does not require us to be reminded that it is time for all of our techincal persoinnels and professionals who are working abroad to return to Bangladesh and dedicate themselves to the rebuilding of our economy and the national institutions.

Liberation of Bangladesh will not be complete until the leader of the seventy-five million people of Bangladesh returns to his country. We do not expect to discover a reservoir of goodwill and friendship toward the people of Bangladesh in Mr. Bhutto, the new dictator of Pakistan, The hat which he is now wearing will not hide the fact that it was he who advised, supported and led Yahya into unleashing the brutal army in Bangladesh to liquidate the majority party in the National Assembly. But we hope Mr. Bhutto will see the writing on the wall more distinctly than his predecessor did and let Sheikh Mujibur Rahman return to his people immediately. We shall watch with great interest how much ‘leverage’ the U.S. administration excercise over their new found friend and admirer in Pakistan in this regard.

AMERICAN SCHOLARS CRITICIZE NIXON POLICY
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Twenty-nine professors of the leading U.S. universities issued the following statement criticizing the policy of the Nixon administration in the South Asia. The text of the statement is given below :

American policy in South Asia, based on several crroneous assumptions and factual errors, is fixed on a tragic course. At stake are the U.S. capacity to play a constructive role in South Asia and the very future of this vitally important area. The administration admits that the vital national interests of the people of West Pakistan, East Bengal, and India are involved ; but denies that the United States has the ability to significantly influence the course of events. It publicly proclaims a desire to play n neutral role ; but both by word and deed, we have intervened in a manner which is clearly partisan.

This intervention has resulted in destroying the legacy of a quarter century of good will in South Asia. It has needlessly heightened India’s dependence on the Soviet Union. It has also encouraged those in Pakistan who have sought to stifle the legitimate aspirations of the majority of their own population through through brutal and repressive measures. While professing concern for the preservation and extension of democratic institutions, the United States has also placed condiderable strain, through economic pressure, on the continued functioning of democratic institutions in India.

We still have the opportunity, as well as an obligation, to play a constructive role in South Asian affairs. We urge the President to reconsider our present policies and to take into account the vastly changed circumstances in South Asia. Our old policy, predicated upon maintaining a balance of power between India and Pakistan was never valid. Bangladesh is a reality and will have to be recognized as such if American policy is to be effective. Economic and humanitarian aid, to the entire region, must be restored and enhanced in order to meet the compelling needs occasioned by the events of the past nine months. In addition, we should seek to play a constructive role in the repatriation and rehabilitation of all persons displaced during the current conflict. Only in this way will we able to implement our professions of neutrality and humanitarian concern.

LAST MINUTE EXECUTIONS OF BENGALI INTELLECTUALS

Over two hundred Bengali doctors, professors writers and teachers were found murdered in a field outside Dacca. All had thier hands tied behind their backs, garroted or shot, apparently just before the Mukti Bahini and the Indian troops swept into Dacca. They were rounded up in the last days of the war.

They lay in pools of water stained with blood, almost unrecongizable from their wounds. Sobbing relatives were among thousands of people who went to a deserted brickyard to identify the murdered men and women. Razakars, holed up in a mosque, fired at the mureners trying to identify score of bodies strewn across fields within rifle range. Family members identified three bodies as those of Dr. F. Rabbi, Chief Cardiologist of Dacca Medical College ; Dr. Munier Chowdhury, Head of the Department of Bengali Language and Literature, Dacca University ; Mr. Nizamuddin Ahmed, Associated Press correspondent in Dacca.

PLEASE NOTE

1. This issue of Bangladesh Newsletter is being mailed on Tuesday, December 28.

2. Notify us your change of address. Undelivered copy cost us additional postage.

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WHITE HOUSE VERSION OF US ROLE AND THE TRUTH

The Bangladesh Information Center, rerpresenting a group of Americans concerned about the crisis in South, issued the following statement in response to Dr. Henry Kissinger’s December 7th White House press briefing. (The entire text of Dr. Kissinger’s briefing was placed in the December 9Th Congressional Record be Senator Barry Goldwater.)

Presidential adviser Henry Kissinger at a December 7th press briefing presented for the first time the White House version of the role played by the Unitet States in South Asia crisis.

In pointing to seven “accomplishments” which he claims the U.S. involvement helped bring about, Kissinger displays not only a shocking misunderstanding of the facts of the crisis but reveals the shortsighted bias of the United States diplomatic effort on the subcontinent. Kissinger claimed that U.S. involvement helped achieve the following results :

KISSINGER CLAIM #1 : All of the relief supplies in East Bengal were distributed through international agencies.

REALITY : As of the middle of November and less than one week before ist entire force was withdrawn from East Bengal, the United Nations East Pakistan Relief Operation (UNEPRO) had not yet even started any actual distribution of relief supplies, according to a press release issued by the U.N. on November 19th .

Most of the aid contributed by the United States was in the form of PL 480 food grains sold to the Government of Pakistan which in turn distributed the grains mainly to those loyal to the martial law regime. (See New York Times, November 17th and 20th, Baltimore Sun, November 11)

No food gaains or other assistance was distributed in areas controlled by the Mukti Bahini freedom fighters.

KISSINGER CLAIM #2 : The Government of Pakistan announced a timetable for the return to civilian rule.

REALITY : In the new “election” scheduled for late December 1971, a majority of seats won by the Awami League in the December, 1970 election was declared invalid because the holders were charged with treason against the Government of Pakistan. John E. Woodruff of the Baltimore Sun reported from Gopalganj, East Bengal on November 12, that of the 78 Natioanl Assembly seats that were to be at stake “only about 20 will probably be decided in voting contests”.

A coalition of six right-wing splinter groups was planning to divide among itself all of the remaining seats by uniting on the candidacy of one man in each district who would then run unopposed.

KISSINGER CLAIM #3 : Although Dr. Malic did not have the fear-inspiring repatation of his predecessor, he possessed few qualifications for holding office in a democratic society : Dr. Malik, a) had never held an elected office in his life, b) was hand-chosen by Yahya Khan, c) was governing East Bengal under martial law and d) was denounced by his own daughter as a traitor to his Bengali countrymen.

KISSINGER CLAIM #4 : The Government of Pakistan announced a declaration of amnesty.

REALITY : In the continuing atmosphere of terror the announcement of amnesty was an empty gesture
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which inspired few, if any, refugees to return and contributed nothing toward easing the tensions inside East Bengal. Pakistan Army soldiers did not cease burning villages and committing the innumerable atrocities which by now have been exhaustively documented by the world press.

KISSINGER CLAIM #5 : The Government of Pakistan was willing to talk to Bangladesh representatives “even if there might have been some dispute about who they were”.

REALITY : The Government of Pakistan, despite what now seems to have been considerable U.S. prodding, at no point agreed to negotiate with any Bangladesh government representatives. Although Dr. Kissinger first notes in his briefing that the Government of Pakistan “accepted” the U.S. suggested negotiations with Bangladesh representatives, he later qualifies that by saying that the Government of Pakistan agreed to “talk only to those Bangladesh people who were not charged with any particular crime”. By this definition all of the Bangladesh Government leaders, including Syed Nazrul Islam, the acting president and Tajuddin Ahmed, the prime minister, would be excluded.

Later in the briefing Kissinger contradicts all of this by noting : “we did not get the agreement of the Government of Pakistan…I am just saying what we were trying to do”.

KISSINGER CLAIM #6 : The Government of Pakistan allowed the U.S. to establish contact with Mujibur by talking to his defense attorney.

REALITY : Rather than a concrete accomplishment of U.S. diplomacy this point indicates a resounding failure.

After continuing to send military equipment to the Pakistan Army in order not to lose its leverage, and after strictly maintaining a posture of public silence in the face of untold barbarism, it is a sad commentary that United States representatives were still refused permission to confer with Mujib.

KISSINGER CLAIM #7 : The Government of Pakistan indicated that substantial political autonomy would be granted to East Bengal.

REALITY : This claim demonstrates not only a deep misunderstanding of the crisis but an inability to appreciate how a nation will respond to the kind of butcherey imposed by the Pakistan Army.

Kissinger places the blame for the breakdown of the President’s negotiation scheme on the Indian governmemt which “wanted things so rapidly that it was no longer talking about political evolution but about political collapse”.

For so fine a master of realpolitick, it is surprising that Kissinger did not realize that the collapse of Pakistan was already sealed when the Army unleashed it fury against its own people.

Dr. Kissinger’s failure to understand this in April or May can perhaps be explained as human shortcoming ; his refusal to visit the refugee camps during his trip to India in June at a time when 4 million refugees had already crossed the border, demonstrates a more serious recalcitrance ; but his continuing to respond in the same fashion after eight months when no signs of the abatement of Pakistan terror were forthcoming and after repeated Congressional and public warnings, is entirely inexcusable.

Up until General Yahya Khan unilaterally ended the negotiations with Mujib last March an agreement between the East and the West on the basis of autonomy could still have been reached.

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But once the troops moved, once the army was released to begin its work of destruction and the genocide began, all hopes of a united Pakistan were crushed.

After March 25, there was never any doubt that independence and not autonomy was the issue.

PRESS COMMENTS

December 11 :
New York Times (Anthony Lewis)
…Mr. Nixon is a committed supporter of Pakistan. The exten of that commitment, if anyone doubted it, was made clear when in receiving a new Pakistani Ambassador he publicly welcomed “the efforts of President Yahya Khan to move to reduce tensions in the subcontinent”. That of a men whose forces in the last eight months have cold-bloodedly murdered thousands of innocent civilians and forced millions to flee because of their race—the most savage pogrom the world has seen in many years.

Among those who know or care about the Indian subcontinent, American policy has evoked widespread incredulity. That may rest on moral grounds, as in the case of a former American official in Pakistan who wrote Mr. Nixon to say that he could not square the policy with “my life as an American”. Or the reaction may be as hard-boiled as that of The Economist of London, which in an article highly critical of India said, “It is a mystery why the Americans should have chosen to climb so ostentatiously on board the sinking Pakistani ship”.

The President must have recognized that his policy had gone to a self-defeating extreme when he sent a White House aide cut to explain it all to the press. There was a defensive tone to what this unidentified man said. We still thought India was a great democracy, he said, and a stanch friend. But she had precipitately broken up secret American efforts to bring President Yahya to a political settlement with the Bengali rebels—efforts that had been near success.

Is it conceivable that the White House official believed that explanation as he gave it? Sincerity must be assumed, but it would really be worrisome if a serious man believed such a fantasy as the idea of an imminent political agreement being aborted by India…Why did Mr. Nixon react so intemperately, so emotionally on the side of Pakistan when hostilities began?

The emotion suggests that the President felt himself involved—and injured—on a very personal level. It is well known that Mr. Nixon has long liked and respected Yahya Khan. On the other hand, he is said to have found Mrs. Indira Gandhi cold and didctic. In the words of one close observer, “This was a matter of personal chemistry”…..

December 17 :
Wall Street Journal
…But, according to some experts familiar with Pakistani politics, this Kissinger version overstates whatever chances of success the White House ever had…

That’s because Pakistani’s military leaders, to put it mildly, aren’t men of great political sophistication or flexibility. They are basically soldiers, schooled in British military traditins (some retained from Victorian days) ; they are often personally engaging yet unable to grasp some modern political truths. They viewed suppression of the Bengalis as a military necessity ; letting the Easterners gain independence would divide Moslem Pakistan just as its big Hindu neighbor was rearming with new Soviet weapons. This feeling was compounded by a West Pakistani disdain for East Pakistanis on racial grounds. The Western
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Punjabis tend to look upon the Eastern Bengalis as inferior begings ; “wogs” is a deregatory term commonly used.

Thus, when the Bengalis tried to exercise political power, General Yahya replied “with a whiff of grapeshot”, as one expert puts it, in hopes of cowing the upstarts. It failed, as most outsiders predicted. West Pakistan’s 70,000 troops in the East, at the other end of a long ocean supply line, were no match for the 75 million hostile people they tried to rule. This imbalance tipped even more as India, for its own reasons, became increasingly involved in aiding Bengali guerrillas and finally entered the war openly.

State Department and other analysts found this course of events highly predictable as long ago as last spring, when General Yahya first chose force rather than compromise to resolve his problems with East Pakistan. They concluded then that only major changes in the general’s policies could prevent Pakistan’s eventual dismemberment—and on Indian terms.

Thus, many favored telling Pakistan’s rulers in clear terms that American aid and political support would cease unless they softened their martial ways. These analysts felt that a subtle approach would fail, leading to what they now see as a major foreign-policy setback for the U.S….

The Courier Journal (Editorial)
Americans, because “we know better”, are sometimes moved to laughter when confronted by that unrelenting Communist propaganda line that U.S. foreign policy is imperialistic. Yet it’s no laughing matter when the U.S. appears once more to be resorting to gunboat diplomacy, that stock-in-trade of the 19th century British empire-bulders.

How else are we to characterize the decision to send a naval force, headed by the nuclear-powered aircraft-carrier Enaterprise, into the Bay of Bengal than as a heavy-handed attempt to put pressure on India? There have been official hints that its mission might be to evacuate American citizens in beleaguered East Pakiatan, but those have deceived noone. Why send a whole fleet, complete with 2,000 Marines, to rescue less than 200 people, when a plane would be allowed in to do the same job with much less fuss?…

Some restraint! It’s beginning to look as though, having sat on its hands for nearly a year while the Pakistani crisis was slowly rising to the boiling point, the Administration is now flailing around in all directions trying to look as though it’s doing something useful. Its demand for another Security Council meeting last weekened, for instance, even though there were no indications that anyone had come up with a resolution that would avoid the veto, annoyed many of our friends around the world, who felt the U.S. was simply using the United Nations for its own political purposes.

What is especially disturbing is that President Nixon doesn’t seem to be pursuing any coherent policy in South Asia, but is merely stumbling from one blunder to the next. One can just hope he’s aware of the possible consequences of following the “let’s send the fleet and show the flag” line. The Victorian imperialists were prepared to shoot it out, if necessary. In this situation Mr. Nixon, we pray, is not.

December 19 :
Chicago Tribune (Clayton Fritchey)
…The administration’s preference or authoritarian Pakistan over democratic India is, of course, only the latest manifestation of this chronic tendency to preach “self-determination” but practice aid and comfort to those who are bent on destroying it.

Nixon didn’t invent the policy. He is mostly carrying on where his predecessors left off, but his record,
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perhaps, is more spectacular, for 1971 has been a notble year for militarists allied with the United States. They have, forinstance, recently stamped out the last vestiges of democratic government, not only in Pakistan, but also Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Greece. And not a cross word from Washington.

The Nixon policy vis-a-vis India and Pakistan is almost incomprehenisble, for it is lacking in pragmatism as well as in principle. It can’t even be justified on the grounds of self-interest, since it is all too plain that we have bet on a loser, while needlessly alien ating the winner.

It could be argued that some years ago, at the height of the cold war, the U.S. patronage of the Pakistani generals made at least a little sense, in that they played ball with us in our secret activities against the Communist world. Since then, though, Pakistan has allied itself with Communist China, and now, faced with defeat and dismenberment, it has little choice but to rely even more on Peking…

Washington Post
…Several U.S. officials privately question Kissinger’s arguments that the administration was working effectively for a plausible political solution.

One such official has characterized the administration’s mediation attempts as “desultory” and devoid of any real effort to persuade Yahya Khan to negotiate a political settlement.

According to this official, the White House ignored warnings that a war was imminent until it was too late. At that point, he said, the administration exploded in anger at the Indians and sought to penalize their belligerence. Focusing on key elements in Kissinger’ December 7 exposition, another U.S. official centends that they were either put forth deceptively or distorted deliberately in order to justify the administration’s claim to have striven to prevent war. The official points out, for example, that Kissinger accurately reported that Yahya Khan favored the return of East Pakistan to civilian rule by the end of December. But what Kissinger neglected to say, this official asserts, is that Yahya intended to install an East Pakistani government of local politicians responsive to his orders.

According to this source, such an approach would by no means have appeased the East Pakistani dissidents but would, on the contrary, have aggravated the crisis in the region.

Kissinger elsewhere in his December 7 statement claimed that Yahya had agreed to allow U.S. diplomats in Pakistan to talk with Mujibur’s defense attorney. Again, another American official here asserts, that claim in not entirely accurate.

As this U.S. official tells it, Ambassador Farland initially received permission from Yahya to see Mujibur’s attorney after learning that the lawyer was seeking to speak to him. But soon afterward, the official here says, Yahya retracted his authorization on the grounds that the lawyer had changed his mind. Another U.S. official here points to Kissinger’s claim that Yahya had agreed to an “amnesty” for all refugees as a misleading statement that did not really reflect the situation on the ground.

Yahya did proclaim an “amnesty” under which refugees returning to East Pakistan could retrieve their property by resgistering by September 15. But in practice, the official here explains, numbers of refugees who did return were either killed or arrested by the Pakistani army. Thus, Yahya’s proclamation was more rhetorical than real, this U.S. official submits…

December 20 :
New York Times (Anthony Lewis)
…The fact, as opposed to fantasy, is that unconditional American support prolonged Yahya Khan’s
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intransigeance. That is dramatically demonstrated in an account by Gavin Young, a British reported of measured temperament who spent the fourteen days of the war in Dacca and in close touch with A.A.K. Niazi and other Pakistani generals.

Young writes in the The Observer that the generals in the East were ready to ask for a cease-fire on December 10, and for a “peaceful transfer of power” to the elected Bengali leaders. They messaged Yahya, but he replied with the story that China and America were about to intervene militarily on Pakistan’s side. Niazi, says Young, threw up his hands and said happily, “We are off the hook”. That ended the hope of an early cease-fire.

The position of Sheikh Mujibur is another revealing matter. The United States never criticized his arrest, apparently believing that Yahya Khan had no political alternative. But now the former Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Asghar Khan, a politician who is harly an Indian stooge, has said that Yahya should never arrested Mujibur and could have made a political settlement with him.

With the war over, the Nixon Administration camp up with an ingenious new ex post facto justification. It had prevented an all-out Indian assault in the West and a widening of the war, it said, by strongly warning the Indians and their Soviet supporters of possible retribution. That was said to be the import of the talk about cancelling Mr. Nixon’s trip to Moscow and of the movement of the aircraft carrier Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal.

Such boasting is inappropriate in the diplomacy of a great power even if the claims are convincing, and they are not. The Russians in this case have hardly been hotheads who needed to be cooled down by the United States. The best evidence is that, far from urging their Indian allies to war, they urged restraint ; certainly that is believed by British officials, who have no inordinate administration for the Soviets…The uncontrolled brutality has in fact been on the other side. Can anyone doubt that? Outside Dacca the Bengalis have found bodies of 200 of their leading intellectuals, bayonetted, choked or shot before the Indian troops arrived. That discovery has immediacy that arouses horror, but Pakistan forces had slaughtered many others starting last March. Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger have taken no public note of those horrors since they began. Will they face that reality now, or will they go on with their private fantasy of righteous American influence that no one else can see?

MALRAX’S OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT NIXON

In a testy open letter to President Nixon Andre Malraux, the quintessential literary man of action, condemned Pakistan, attacked American criticism of India and defended the Bangladesh cause he espoused three months ago. Malraux, who had offered then to fight for Bangladesh included in his letter published in the newspaper Le Figaro a conversation with Mr. Nixon and the late President de Gaulle, presumabley in early 1969.

He recalled that he had then told President Nixon “the United States is the first country which become the most powerful in the world without having tried to do so…Alexander (the Great) wanted to be Alexander, Caesar wanted to be Caesar, you did not at all want to become the masters of the world. But you cannot allow yourself the luxury of being (masters of the World) absentmindedly.

The long front page letter was devoted to what Malraux felt was present “absentminded” U.S. policy. “What I am saying today”, Malraux wrote, “I should not be saying, you should”. At a time when Mr. Nixon is trying to reestablish a dialogue with China, Malraux hoped that in “free Bengal’s” case the United States would not “wait 20 years before remembering that it was unfitting for the country of the
189
Declaration of Independence to crush poverty trying to fight for its own independence”.

He took Mr. Nixon to task for not advising Pakistani President Yahya Khan to honor results of the East Bengal elections which gave now imprisoned Bengal leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a stunning victory.

“I know your country a bit”. Malraux wrote and “it doesn’t like people to send the winners (or even losers) of elections to jail” or like “its allies to sweep 10 million refugees toward a neighboring country”, He ridiculed the presence of a U.A. naval squadron in the Bay of Bengal. “When the most powerful army in the world, yours, cannot beat the barefoot beggars of Vietnam, do you think that Islamabad’s army will retake a country driven wild by its independence and which is fighting 1100 miles away?”

EYE-WITNESS TO PAKISTANI TERROR

(Washington Post, December 12)
Two Italian Catholic missionaries, Fathers Anthonio Alberton, 50, and Francis Spagnolo, 58, spoke of a Pakistani reign of terror that began early last April and continued intermittently until the Pakistani forces were driven out this week. One of the priests estimated that 10,000 in Jessore and its eviorns had been slaughtered by the Pakistanis.

During the week of April 4 to April 10, Father Alberton related, the streets and houses of Jessore were full of bodies of local residents who had been executed in batches by the Pakistani soldiers and the “razakars” or collaborators.

The missionary, who also functioned as a physician in Fatima hospital here, said that early in the occupation “There were dead bodies everywhere and dogs eating the flesh of men—a terrible thing to see”. A fellow missionary, Father Mario Veronesi, was guuned down in front of his rectory by a Pakistani soldier with a Sten gun, Father Alberton said. In another incident, he said, Pakistani soldiers took several young women out of the Christian mission compound, where a group of 300 residents had sought refuge, and raped them, at gunpoint on the mission grounds.

Young Bengali women from Jessore were rounded up by the soldiers and kept naked inside the military compound to satisfy the garrison, he said.
Today I could count fewer than half a dozen women in this city with a normal population of about 50,000. Many were in hiding and just beginning to return, it was explained. Others had vanished during the occupation and there was no accounting for their disappearance.

In the nearby community of Dhikargacha, a group of townsmen stood beside the two blownup bridges over the Kabatachaki River and also spoke of the disappearance of the women.

Izzatali Munshi, a 52-years-old deliveryman with sunken craters in each cheek, stood on the bank and recounted the experience of the occupation.

“The Pakistani soldiers and the razakars lined people up and tied their hands. Then they would cut their jugular veins with knives and bayonets and throw them in there”, He pointed to the river. No young women would dare come out of hiding, nor the young boys, who would be killed. On market day and prayer day, people were too frightened to come out”.

BANGLADESH RECONSTRUCTIOIN ERA BEGINS
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London Times : Dacca, December 17
The Bangladesh Government has begun work on a new constitution and new elections to be held in the middle of next year. The “war cabinet” of five, headed by the acting President, Mr. Nazrul Islam, has set to work as a postwar government of reconstruction. The predominant mood, as Bangladesh becomes a reality, is that a new era is beginning for 75 million Bengalis who have already lost an estimated million dead to achieve the independence of their country. Sources close to the Bangladesh Government say that their immediate problems are :

1. The release from detention in Pakistan of the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

2. The repatriation of some 400,000 Bengalis in Pakistan in exchange for about two million Pakistanis and non-Bengalis in Bangladesh.

3. The cases of hundred who willingly or under duress have collaborated with the Pakistan Army in the past eight months. The Government will examine each case individually before any action is taken.

The Government proposes to bargain for the release of Sheikh Mujib in exchange for the Pakistan Army officers and civilians who have surrendered. The war has left damage and destruction everywhere and the Ministers are in the unenviable position of beginning almost entirely from scratch. Except for the aid and loans so far promised by India, almost everything from rice to consumer goods, to iron and stell, will have to be imported.

A skeleton central administration has been set up Dacca with a dozen experienced civil servants under Mr. Ruhul Quddus. He was accused of treason, with Sheikh Mujib, in the “Agartala conspiracy” in 1968 and was arrested with him. After his release he was barred from rejoining the civil service.

During the past eight months the collective leadership of the government in exile has worked well, and the acting Prime Minister, Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, has emerged with the reputation of a man who kept the various factions together. There are now demands for a national coalition Government.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed in a radio broadcast appealed to the nation not to take revenge on non-Bengali citizens. The Prime Minister warned the citizens “to avoid the temptation of taking the law into their own hands”. He said, “if a single citizen of Bangladesh is harmed or hurt because of his language or race it would be a betrayal of the ideals of the founder of the nation and the flag of free Bangladesh”.
oooo

U.S. Congressman Paul N. McCloskey and Henry Helstoski, in two separate resclutions introduced on Decemeber 9, have urged the United States Government to extend full diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Bangladesh as a “free and independent nation” by following American “anti-colonial heritage”.
oooo

Bangladesh Government has banned four political parties in Bangladesh. These parties are : the Muslim League, the Jamat-e-Islami, the Nizam-e-Islam, and the the People’s Democratic Party. No political party based on religion will be allowed in the secular Bangladesh.
oooo
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At a press conference in Washington, D.C. the Ambassador from Bangladesh, M.R. Siddiqui, appealed to the U.S. and other nations to extend recognition to Bangladesh, “a step forward in restoring peace, stability and normalcy in the strife-torn region”. We hope that even those countries which could not support our cause in the past will look to the future and read just their policies to the realities of the situation”.
oooo

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s wife and two daughters were rescued in Dacca from Pakistan troops. Sheikh Mujib’s wife said that they had been kept under arrest without proper food and without money. They were not permitted to meet anybody nor had they been permitted to go out. They had been kept under house arrest since March 25.
oooo

DACCA DIARY II (Wall Street Journal, December 20) : Friday, December 17—Chat with the hotel (Intercontinental) laundry bookkeeper who has emerged as a Mukti police inspector. Turns out he had been Mukti cell leader for Intercontinental Hotel staff during past nine months. He had devised an under-clothing code. If meant four terrorist acts had been successfully completed. Two under-shirts meant two successes and four under-shirts menat only one terrorist success. Nothing seems incredible here any more.

Saturday, December 18 : …Dacca appears to be calming down gradually. Some men are taking their wives and children for the first stroll in Bangladesh. One Bengali says his three-year old son, Aupoo, hasn’t been taken out in public for months. The reason is that last March, during the brief period before the Pakistani army cracked down and imposed a reign of terror on the East, the child learned to shout “Joi Bangla”. But for the past nine months the parents feared that the child might shout “Joi Bangla” in public and thus get the family killed. Today both father and son are on the streets, yelling “Joi Bangla!”
oooo

Ellen Connett, 28, an American volunteer of Operation Omega, who returned home after two months captivity in Pakistani prison said that the Bengali population has gone through “terror beyond imagination” during the army occupation. Mrs. Connett and a British friend, Gordon Slaven, 20, were relieased from prison when Bengali guerrillas and Indian army forces entered the border town of Jessore. They had been imprisoned on October 9 after being captured by Pakistani soldiers in the town of Simulia.

NEWS FROM LACAL GROUPS

Bangladesh Association of Michigan State University contacted various news media to give adequate coverage to the root cause of the crisis in South Asia. Rabiul Islam Tarafdar, President of the association, along with some Americans sympathetic to the Bangladesh cause appeared in an hour-long radio discussion to present the war in the subcontinent in proper perspective. A general meeting of the students and faculty members of the University condemned the partisan policy of the Nixon administration and appealed for a realistic policy in the South Asia.

Tallahassee, Florida :
Joyotpaul Chaudhuri reports : Last summer we formed a Bangladesh Relief Committee in Tallahassee and this fall we formed a Bangladesh Relief Committee of Florida State University. Members of the two organizations have worked very hard in the following areas :

1. Summer petitions to U.S. Congressmen regarding military supplies to Pakistan.
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2. An intense fund drive on campus of Florida State University.

3. Contacting churches and service organizations and urging them on to have their own drives fro OXFAM or CARE.

4. Urging high school groups to have their drives at local shopping centers.

Issued by

BANGLADESH DEFENSE LEAGUE
5245 South Kenwood Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois. 60615
Editorial Office : 500 Paragon Mills #B-7, Nashville, TN 37211 Phone : (615) 833-2064

No. 17 February, 1972

আমার সোনার বাংলা

আমার সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালবাসি।
চিরদিন তোমার আকাশ, তোমার বাতাস, আমার প্রাণে বাজায় বাঁশি।।
ওমা, ফাগুনে তোর আমের বনে ঘ্রানে পাগল করে,
মরি হায়, হায় রে—
ওমা অঘ্রানে তোর ভরা ক্ষেতে কি দেখেছি
আমি কি দেখেছি মধূর হাসি।।
সোনার বাংলা…..

কী শোভা, কী ছায়া গো, কি স্নেহ, কি মায়া গো—
কি আঁচল বিছায়েছ বটে মূলে, নদীর কুলে কুলে।
মা তোর মুখের বানী আমার কানে লাগে সুধার মতো,
মরি হায়, হায়রে—
মা তোর বদন খানি মলিন হলে আমিন নয়ন
ওমা আমি নয়ন জলে ভাসি।।
সোনার বাংলা…..

তোমার এই খেলাঘরে শিশুকাল কাটিল রে,
তোমার ধূলামাটি অঙ্গে মাখি ধন্য জীবন মানি।
তুই দিন ফুরালে সন্ধ্যাকালে কি দ্বীপ জ্বালিস ঘরে,
মরি হায়, হায়রে—
তখন খেলাধূলা সকল ফেলে তোমার কোলে
ওমা তোমার কোলে ছুটে আসি ।।
সোনার বাংলা….

193
ধেনু-চরা তোমার মাঠে, পারে যাবার খেয়াঘাটে,
সারাদিন পাখী ডাকা, ছায়ায়-ঢাকা তোমার পল্লীবাটে,
তোমার ধানে-ভরা আঙ্গিনাতে জীবনের দিন কাটে,
মরি হায়, হায়রে—
ওমা, আমার যে ভাই তারা সবাই তোমার
ওমা তোমার রাখাল তোমার চাষী ।।
সোনার বাংলা….

ওমা, তোর চরনেতে দিলেম এই মাথা পেতে—
দে গো তোর পায়ের ধূলা সে যে আমার মাথার মানিক হবে।
ওমা, গরীবের ধন যা আছে তাই দিব চরণ তলে,
মরি হায়, হায়রে—
আমি পরের ঘরে কিনব না আর ভূষণ বলে
মা তোর ভূষণ বলে গলায় ফাঁসি ।।
সোনার বাংলা….

—রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর

Bangladesh National Anthem :

MY GOLDEN BENGAL

My golden Bengal, I love you.
Your skies, your breezes, ever with my
breath play the flute.
O mother, in Phalgun the perfume of your
mango groves drives me mad.
Ah mother,
Waht honeyed smile have I seen in your
laden fields in Aghran.

What light, what shade, what boundless
love, what changing bonds,
What sari’s border have you spread round
roots of banyan trees on banks of rivers,
O mother, the flow of words from your lips
strikes my ear like a stream of nectar.
Ah, mother,
when the skin of your face draws tight,
I float in tears.

In this your playroom, infancy passes away ;
because I have smeared our body with your
dust and mud, I consider life fulfilled.
When daylight is exhausted into everning,
what lamps do you light in the house

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Ah, we all drop our toys and come running to your lap.

The grazing cows in your pastures, the crossing at the ferry,
all day the call of birds in your villages dappled with shade ;
in your grain-filled courtyard the days of life edge away.
Ah, mother,
all of my brothers are yours cowherds and planters.

O mother, I offer at your feet this my lowered head ;
give me, O mother, the dust of your feet,
to be the jewel upon my head.
O mother, whatever wealth this poor man
has, I place before your feet.
O mother, no more shall I buy in the
houses of others this so-called
finery of yours, a noose around my neck.

Composed by : Tagore Trans. by : E. C. Dimock

oooo

BANGLADESH CONVENTION

In a meeting of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Defense League a resolution has been adopted to hold a Bangladesh convention on March 26, 1972 to Independence on that day last year. Detailed organizational preparation for the convention is under way.

The convention will be held in Chicago University campus. Accommodation for the participants will be arranged with the Bengali families living in Chicago. All Bangladesh citizens are urged to attend this convention which will be devoted to the formulation of future plans and guidelines to best utilize our resources in a concerted way to help rebuild the war-ravaged Bangladesh. The convention will offer an excellent opportunity to come in personal contact with each other, explore the possibility of coordinating activities in Bangladesh and establishing channels for flow of information and ideas between the returning citizens and the Bangladesh communities in North America.

The convention program is presented below :

Saturday, March 25, 1972

9 A.M.—12 A.M. : Registration
1 :30 P.M.—2 :00 P.M. : Report by the BDL Secretary.
2 :30 P.M.—6 :00 P.M. : Group meetings of various Task Forces.

a) MEDICAL AND HEALTH TASK FORCE
Chairman : Dr. Shamsul Haque M.D.
1615 Hoit Tower
Bloomfield Hill, MI 48013

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b) ECONOMIC TASK FORCE
Chairman : Dr. Muhammad Yunus
500 paragon Mills Road # B-7
Nashville, Tenn 37211

c) GOVT. ORGANIZATION TASK FORCE
Chairman : Dr. Zillur Rahman Khan
Dept. of Political Science
Wisconsin State Univ.
Oshkosh, Wis 54901

d) TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING TASK FORCE
Chairman : Dr. Fazlur Rahman Khan
5201 S. Cornell Ave
Chicago, Il 60615

e) ART AND CULTURE TASK FORCE
Chairman : Dr. Zahurul Haque
Alcorn A & M College
Lorman, Miss 39096

7 :30 P.M.—10 :00 P.M. : Dinner followed by Gono Sangiter Asar
(A session of Patriotic songs and sketches)

Sunday, March 26, 1972

9 A.M. : General Session
10 :00 A.M. : Address by Bangladesh Ambassador
11 :00 A.M. : Address by Prof. Ron Inden
11 :30 A.M. : Report on Bangladesh
(A report by three members of the BDL who will return from Dacca just in time to attend the convention).
12 :30 P.M. : Lunch
1 :30 P.M. : Task Force Reports
2 :30 P.M. : Discussion on BANGLADESH FOUNDATION
4 :00 P.M. : Formation of Coordinating Committee
4 :00 P.M. : Adjournment

All participants are requested to notify in advance by February 25, 1972 to facilitate the arrangements for food and accommodation. Please do this as early as you can. Encourage your friends to attend the convention. If you have an idea or a suggestion please do write to us soon.

Those who plan to present papers in any of the Task Force sessions please contact the appopriate chairman.

For all information concerning the convention contact the Bangladesh Defense League office at 5245 S. Kenwood, Chicago, IL 60615, Phone : (312) 493-4288.
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Due to 100 per cent increase in postal rate the BANGLADESH NEWSLETTER will be published at longer intervals.
—Editor
oooo

BANGLADESH FOUNDATION

Bengalis abroad have played a significant role in the war of liberation of Bangladesh. Our immediate goal has been reached. Now the task of reconstruction, rehabilitation and development is ahead of us. It is an immense task. Bengalis in North America can again play a significant role.

To this end, a proposal has been submitted and unanimously accepted by the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Defense League to set up an independent non-profit organization to be called BANGLADESH FOUNDATION. The Foundation will be financed by the monthly contributions of Bengalis residing in North America. These funds will be used in Bangladesh to promote research, provide scholarships, and to aid publications. This is aimed at filling an important gap in our institutions of higher learning where research and publication facilities are lagging behind. Objective of the Foundation will be to encourage to fine solutions to our natinal problems by utilizing our own resources.

The Foundation, among other things, will work as a clearing house for providing information about scholarships, fellowships, assistantships available in various U.S. and Canadian universities to the competent students in Bangladesh and aid and advise them in availing themselves of those opportunities. Foundation’s Dacca office will endeavor to make information, data, publications available to the Bengali students engaged in doctoral and post-doctoral research in North America to encourage them to select their research projects on Bangladesh problems. Dacca ofiice will also arrange contacts between the Bengali professionals working here with students in Bangladesh in corresponding fields of studies to encourage joint research projects and mutual academic cooperation.

The Foundation will also organize summer workshops in Bangladesh in collaboration with the Bengali scholars in North America who will be encouraged to spend their summer in Bangladesh.

In addition, Bangladesh Foundation plans to set up a research library in Dacca with the individual and collective contributions of books, journals and research publications. Friends and sympathizers are welcome to donate subscriptions to professional journals for the Foundation.

The Foundation will publish a quarterly newsletter to keep the Bengali community here informed of the Foundation programs and the progress of various projects in Bangladesh. It will also publish an annual journal containing the research papers produced under its sponsorship.

The scope of the program that the Foundation can actually undertake will obviously be limited by the availability of funds. Please pledge your share today to support the Foundation. Permanent financial support for the Foundation has to be provided by the contribution of one day’s earning every month by each Bangladesh citizen working in North America. Please fill in the pledge coupon and send it back to us.

If you have any suggestion, any plan, any help that you wish to channel through Bangladesh Foundation, or any inquiry about the Foundation write to :

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Dr. Muhammad Yunus
500 Paragon Mills Road # B-7
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone : (615) 833-3064

BANGLADESH—A VAST CEMETERY

(The New York Times correspondent Sydney H. Schanberg filed the following report from Dacca. It appeared in the Times on January 24. 1972)

Dacca, January 23 : “On this graveyard, we shall build our golden Bengal”. So reads a cardboard sign hung on a flagpole in the city of Khulna. Not far from the flagpole, human bones, picked clean by vultures and dogs, still litter the roadside at various execution sites where the Pakistani Army and ite collaborators killed Bengalis.

This correspondents found, on a recent tour of the countrysides, that almost every town in Bangladesh had one or more of these graveyards, where the Pakistanis killed hundreds of thousands of Bengalis, apparently often on a daily basis, throughout their months of military occupation.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has estimated that the Pakistanis killed three million of his people. While foreign diplomats and others independent observers do not generally put the figure this high, all say it was at least several hundred thousand and many put in at more than one million. Furthermore, these observers say that if one cotents all the deaths that relate to the Pakistani repression…such as the deaths among the nearly 10 million refugees who fled to India and among the millions of others disrupted inside Bangladesh—Sheikh Mujib’s estimate may well be accurate. The Bengali leader has ordered a house-to-house census to get precise figure.

In Khulna, one of the Pakistani execution sites was a road on the edge of town that leads west to Satkhira. Though truckloads of skelotons have recently been carried away for proper burial, bones are still scattered along the gray roadside for over a mile. Both Bengalis and foreigners who live in Khulan say that at least 10,000 people were killed at this site along. The execution area was off limits to the public, but the Khulna radio station is less than 100 yards from the road, and Bengali employee at the station, who say they were kept working at gunpoint throughout the occupation, witnessed most of the killings either through the windows or from the front steps of the station.

“They killed some people every day”, said Mokhlesur Rahman, a 26-years-old technician. “Sometimes 20. On one day, they killed 500. On September 3, they killed the most—1000 people. They fired with machine guns almost continuously for three hours. Then they threw many of the bodies into the river and they were carried out to sea.

Their voices were choked and their fists clenched as the radio station employes recalled the murders and told of victims begging for mercy and screaming in pain before they died.

One engineer said that sometimes the Pakistanis had put seven or eight Bengali prisoners in a tight queue and them, to save ammunitions, fired one bullet through all of them. Sometimes, he said, they killed the Bengalis with bayonet charges. Another engineer, Mazedul Haque, 25, vividly remembered the day the Pakistanis killed 500—“by shooting and by cutting their throats with long knives and bayonets”

A Baptist missionary from the Mymensingh district, Ian Hawley, reported that the Pakistan troops, as
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they retreated before the Indian forces and the guerrilla fighters, killed their own wounded in a hospital there. Other missionaries in the same district say the Pakistani troops also killed several hundred razakars—the home-guared collaborators they had trained and armed—by locking them in a building, throwing kerosene on the building and then setting it on fire.

At a Hindu temple on the outskirts of Faridpur, which the Pakistanis had half-destroyed with dynamite, almost the entire stone floor around the altar bears a dull red stain. The stain is from blood, for this was one of the places of execution. In the weeks since the fighting ended, local Hindus and their Moslem friends have tried many times, without success, to scrub out the stain.

In the capital Dacca, many execution grounds have been found—particularly in sections like Mirpur and Mohammadpur, which are populated largely by non-Bengalis who collaborated with the Pakistanis. One corner of the zoo in Mirpur is strewn with skeletons with hands tied behind backs. Many of the animals were also killed.

In the Sialbari neighborhood of Mirpur, skeletons seems to lie everywhere. On the floor of a Bengali peasant’s ruined house stands a large pile of crushed bones—crushed, apparently, to prevent identification. A well 60 feet deep is filled to within two feet of the top with human bones.

Zabed Ali, a 35-year-old father of seven who fled Sialbari in the early days of occupation, has come back to try to revive his small firewood business. His hut no longer exists, and he and his family are sleeping under a tree—but they have picked a tree some distance outside Sialbari. “It is too frightening to sleep there”, Mr. Ali says.

A nine-year-old, Nazrul Islam, led an American visitor to a field in Sialbari and said he thought his father was buried there, but did not know just where. His family fled Sialbari when the army came, he said, but his father returned later to try to harvest their rice, and that was when the Pakistani soldiers shot him.

As dusk descended, the boy wandered through the field, pointing out clumps of bones with scraps of clothing and hair clinging to them. His eyes grew larger and his behavior was nervous and odd as he seemed to look for his father.

“If you dig anywhere here”, he whispered, “you will find more bodies”.
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BANGLADESH CONVENTION

I plan to attend the convention. I would like to participate in th

o Medical and Health Task Force
o Economic Task Force
o Govt. Organization Task Force
o Transportation and Housing Task Force
o Art and Culture Task Force

Name :
Address :
No. in the party :
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BANGLADESH FOUNDATION

I pledge $……..per month for the Bangladesh Foundation.

Name :
Address :
Occupation :

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AIRLIFT OF UNDERSTANDING

Emergency Relief Fund, Inc., a Michigan based non-profit corporation which allocates its funds through established international voluntary relief agencies, has sponsored a project called “Airlift of Understanding” under which 125 Americans will go on a fact finding tour of Bangladesh and India. to make a first-hand assesment of the needs. The group will be composed of co-chairman of the Fund Hon. Chester Bowles and Dr. Douglas Ensminger and other concerned Americans from various organizations. Warren J. Day, Overseas Director of the Airlift, has already left for Bangladesh to complete the necessary arrangements. The group will leave on February 29 and returen on March 10.

A series of regional meetings of the ERF have been scheduled on February 4 to discuss the immediate urgency of the situation in Bangladesh and to explain regional, state and community plans for ERF’s fund raising program in which ten million Americans will be asked “to care enough to share a little”. The meetings will take place in Washington D.C. Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta.
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Ann Arbor, Michigan

RELIEF FUND

A coalition of faculty, students, and community people have joined forces to try to marshall aid for Bangladesh. The Refugee Relief Fund, established for the purpose of raising money for food, medical supplies, clothing and shelter, is being coordinated by The Rev. Paul Dotson, Director of the International Center. Muzammel Huq, a graduate student from Bangladesh, is serving as Chairman. Plans for a campus and community wide fast, scheduled for February 16, are underway. A general fund-raising campaign, entitled “Ten Dollars to Start a Life”, is also projected.

University of Michigan President Dr. Robben W. Fleming issued a statement urging the community to support the fund-drive. He appealed : “Within our community a dedicated, humanitarian group is organizing to bring aid to the people of Bangladesh. Already poor, and now the victim of a tragic war, its leadership has been decimated, its crops destroyed, and its people left homeless. Measured solely in terms of human survival, the months ahead are critical…Those who care can show their concern by supporting this compassionate crusade”.
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