Pakistan Observer
25th February 1969
Mujib leaves for Pindi: Common stand for talks envisaged
By A Staff Correspondent
Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said in Dacca on Monday that he would hold discussions with the DAC and other Opposition leaders to thrash out a common stand for talks before he joins proposed talks of President Ayub with the DAC and other leaders.
Talking to newsmen at the Dacca Airport on the eve of his departure for Lahore enroute to Rawalpindi, the Awami League leader said that he had talks with Moulana Bhashani and Mr. Z. A. Bhutto with whom he would hold further discussions in Lahore.
The Sheikh said he will hold talks with the Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Mr. Justice S. M. Murshed, General Azam before he leaves for Rawalpindi to hold talks with the DAC leaders to chalk out a common stand.
He said that foremost point before them was how to bring about a federal democratic constitution providing a sovereign legislature on the basis of universal adult franchise.
Replying to a newsman he said that East Pakistan must get regional autonomy on the basis of population as he enunciated in the public meeting on Sunday. “I also want regional autonomy for West Pakistan,” he added.
When asked by a correspondent whether he was going to Rawalpindi with an open mind, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said, “My mind is always open.
When a newsman asked about his stand with regard to students eleven-point programme, the Sheikh said that he was grateful to them for eleven-point programme as his six-point embodied in the eleven points.
Answering a newsman’s query whether he will talk with the President on the basis of eight-point programme of DAC, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that eight points of DAC were never a programme. He said that these were the preconditions for participating in the election. He said that the DAC said that it would boycott the election if these points were not accepted by the Government.
When asked whether his party was going to join if there was any interim government with Opposition in it, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that it was not the time to discuss whether or not to join any cabinet. He said that they were going to discuss how to bring about a radical change in the constitution.
In reply to another question whether he thought Communist party should be recognised as a political party, the Awami League leader said “of course, I do”. He added that he wanted “full democracy in the country”.
He said all repressive and restrictive laws must go.
When asked whether he would reach Rawalpindi the same day, he said that he would hold talks with leaders at Lahore and then go to Rawalpindi.
Mr. Z. A Bhutto joined Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the later part of his interview with the Press. They left Dacca on the same flight.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯