Shahabuddin leads protest rally before US Embassy
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, JUNE 25- A protest demonstration of Bangladesh people, led by Mr. K. M. Shahaduddin, representative of the Bangladesh Government here and formerly Second Secretary to the Pakistan High Commission, was held in front of the US Embassy this afternoon.
The demonstrators included a number of women, including the wife of Mr. Shahabuddin.
This was the first time that Mr. Shahaduddin, who had switched his allegiance to Bangladesh about four months ago, had come out in the street protesting against Pakistan.
Mr. Amjadul Haque, the other diplomat who had disowned Pakistan and offered allegiance to the Bangladesh Government could not be present as he is indisposed.
|_ Mr. Shahabuddin was met just inside the gate of the Embassy by Mr. Danald F. Hart. Second Secretary (Political) on behalf of the Embassy and took a memorandum from Mr. Shahabuddin.
The memorandum urged “upon the US Government to stop ships from and to take back the weapons. We can assume that by such an act, the great American people will earn the lasting gratitude of our emerging nation at this critical juncture for helping it to protect democracy and the most basic human freedom and the lives of millions.”
Mr. Hart told Mr. Shahabuddin that he would at once convey the memorandum to his Government and that he understood the problem.
The demonstration carried placards saying “take back arms”, “stop ship”, “don’t strengthen hands of Pakistan butchers”, “Bangladesh zindabad”. Demonstrators shouted slogans asking the US to take back arms from Pakistan.
They drew a number of bystanders. Policemen in strength barred the way to the Embassy. (They were particularly meant for a later demonstration to be staged by the local Jana Sangh.)
The memorandum said : “The people and the Government of Bangladesh are shocked and distressed at the reported arms shipment by the USA to Pakistan, now engaged in an unprecedented genocide in Bangladesh. You are aware that Islamabad is using all weapons in its armory including boats supplied for relief purposes to uproot and kill men, women and children and destroy villages, standing crops on a mass scale. Arsenal supply by the USA to Pakistan at this moment means aiding Pakistan in perpetrating further genocide and changing and throtting democracy in Bangldesh.”
JS DEMONSTRATION
About 50 Jana Sangh workers of Delhi led by Mr. L. K. Advani and Dr. Bhai Mahavir, MPs also demonstrated before the US Embassy to protest against the continuing American arms supplies to Pakistan, adds UNI.
The demonstrators included the elected representatives of the party in the Delhi Metropolitan Council, Municipal Corporation, New Delhi Municipal Committee and the Cantonment Board. They carried placards and shouted anti-American slogans.
A deputation on their behalf submitted a memorandum addressed to the American Ambassador in India to an Embassy official who assured them that he would convey its contents to the US Government.
The demonstrators demanded in particular the recall of Pakistani ships “Padma” and “Sunderbans” now on their way to Karachi loaded with American military hardware.
The Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University Mr. A. R. Mullick, has expressed concern over the reported supply of two shiploads of armaments to Pakistan.
Dr. Mullick who was in Agra as a member of a delegation of Bangladesh Sahayak Samiti sponsored by Calcutta University told newsmen in Agra yesterday that he was “worried and concerned” over the supply of weapons.
“People of Bangladesh will not accept any political solution outside the National Assembly” he said.
The Agra University Vice-Chancellor Mr. Shital Prasad, said he would accommodate all students from Bangladesh and would provide employment to university teachers on a temporary basis.
Dr. Mullick appealed to the Government of the world to immediately recognise Bangladesh and help its people on humanitarian grounds. He said the Pakistani Army had killed more than one million people, forced four to five million to flee and destroyed the entire industry in East Bengal.
Dr. Mullick said he and his colleagues were grateful to the Government and the people of India for rendering help to the Bangladesh refugees.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 26.06.1971