Malik and Cabinet resign en masse
DACCA, DEC 14- The Government of “East Pakistan” resigned en masse this afternoon, dissociating itself from further actions of the central administration of President Yahya Khan in Islamabad according to a pooled dispatch, says Reuter.
Dr. A. M. Malik, the “Governor”, wrote the draft of his Cabinet’s resignation letter to President Yahya with a shaking ball point pen on a scrap of office paper as Indian MIG 21s destroyed his official residence.
Surrounded by his Ministers, Mr. Malik showed the draft to a UN Official. Mr. John Kelly and Mr. Gavin Young of the London Sunday Observer, who had been trapped with him in his bunker.
His wife and daughter huddled in a nearby room. All morning Dr. Malik and his Cabinet had been unable to decide whether to resign or hang on. Having completed the draft against a background of deafening crashes from rockets and the odd bomb. Dr. Malik removed his shoes and socks, carefully washed his feet, put a clean handkerchief on his head and knelt down to pray in the corner of his bunker.
Finishing his prayers, Dr. Malik asked Mr. Kelly whether he should move his wife and daughter to the safety of the Intercontinental Hotel which had been declared a neutral zone and is administered by the Red Cross.
Earlier, 16 senior civil servants, led by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. M. A. Chaudhury had sought refuge in the hotel.
The resignation effectively throws all responsibility for a last-ditch stand on the Pakistani Army commander, Lt-General A. K. Niazi who yesterday vowed to fight to the last man.
Dr. Malik, his wife and several senior civil servants then sought refuge in the hótel. The Red Cross granted their request. Those who sought asylum did so on the written orders of the Governor. Dr. Malik, who directed them to cease their functions and proceed to the neutral zone.
“So, it has come to this: we are forced to take refuge here,” said the Inspector General as he came to the hotel. The Chief Secretary, Mr. Muzaffar Hossein was expected at the hotel later. Red Cross officials said the Pakistani military command had been informed of the move “and it seems they approve.”
As the officials arrived at the hotel they and their baggage were rigorously searched by reporters who have been officially requested by the under-strength Red Cross to take charge of security in the neutral zone.
Though the officials were strictly warned that under the Geneva Convention no weapons would be permitted in the hotel three pistols and some ammunition were found in suitcases.
A Brigadier and a Colonel of the Pakistani Army Medical Service came to the hotel in battle order, complete with steel helmets to seek aid from the Red Cross. They said they had more casualties than they could handle including 1,000 in a hospital nearby. They added that there were many more casualties in cut-off towns which they could not reach.
The officers insisted that troops who could be seen moving into the hospital one block from the neutral zone were medical personnel carrying personal arms only.
Foreign newsmen who lived through the siege of Dacca said the Governor’s House and several other targets in the city were ablaze.
In mid-afternoon a transport plane flew over the city dropping leaflets urging non-Bengalis to whom the West Pakistani Army had earlier given arms to “leave your area”.
| It was reported that Bengali policemen were disarmed by the Pakistani authorities last night to prevent a possible uprising.
The hotel sources said about 65 persons were given sanctuary. Red Cross officials reported a growing scarcity of food in the city.
Our Political Correspondent in New Delhi adds: The International Hotel has been accepted by both India and the Bangladesh Government as a Red Cross “neutral zone.”
President Yahya Khan named Dr. Malik as Governor on September 3 and the latter in his turn appointed a Council of Ministers to give a civilian facade to the military administration.
Dr. Malik is believed to have initiated a move which will be followed by most Bengali officials and employees of the Government in Dacca.
A Government of India spokesman said : “It appears that the civil authority in Dacca has abdicated in favor of Bangladesh. The resigning officials will receive protection under the Geneva agreement. This protection will be available till hostilities end after which they will come under local laws.”
The delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Dacca, Mr. Renaud, in a telegram to the Red Cross headquarters in Geneva, has requested the latter to convey information about these officials seeking protection to the “Indian and Bangladesh Governments”. This is the first time that an international organization of this importance has spoken to the Bangladesh Government.
Mr. Renaud’s telegram which has been communicated to the Indian Red Cross through the International Red Cross delegate in New Delhi, Mr. Du Pasquer, reads:
“Highest East Pakistan Government officials have resigned their posts and asked for protection of the Red Cross neutral zone. According to Geneva conventions, they have been received. Please inform with highest priority Indian and Bangladesh Governments. Make sure also armed forces are informed. We have contacted the end forces at Dacca, but security is not guaranteed.”
The IRC Geneva headquarters have requested that the “unified command” be contacted so that information is passed on to the forces fighting in the Dacca area to grant the officials protection under Article 15 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The telegram was received at New Delhi at 12.30 p.m. today.
Pakistan has not till now signed the article. New Delhi has agreed to give protection to the resigning officials.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 15.12.1971