Nazrul Islam Says…
Our Hearts Are Heavy In Absence of Leader
By Our Special Representative, “At this moment of joy our hearts are heavy in the absence of our leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We think that independent Bangladesh is a reality and that the international community will make all efforts to secure the release of the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh”. remarked the Acting President of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam, on hearing the news of surrender of the West Pakistani forces in Bangladesh on Thursday evening.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khondakar Moshtaque Ahmed said that as soon as the armed struggle for liberation of Bangladesh would end, the struggle for reconstruction of the war devastated Bangladesh would begin. The Minister regretted the tendency among some big Powers to show disrespect to the rights and aspirations of small countries.
“The liberation of Dacca marks the culmination of our struggle for freedom,” remarked the Bangladesh Home Minister Mr. A. H. M. Kamaruzzaman. He said: “Our hats are off to the brave boys of the Mukti Bahini and the Jawans of the allied forces.”
Expressing gratitude to the people and the Government of India the Minister praise the “inspiring and bold leadership of Mrs. Gandhi ” and said that India had been by their side at the most trying moments of their struggle. The people of Bangladesh were also grateful to the people and the Government of the USSR, Poland and other socialist countries.
“We also think of our great leader Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman and we are determined to bring him out of the prison cell of Yahya Khan ” Mr. Kamaruzzaman added.
The Union Government’s Food Secretary, now in Calcutta, will meet representatives of the Bangladesh Government today (Friday). His purpose is to follow up the talks initiated a few days ago by the Bangladesh Government representatives who has requested the Government of India for some essential commodities like kerosene, salt, medicines and match boxes:
It was stated during the last discussions that the Bangladesh Government would select some depots in Bangladesh where the goods would be sent from West Bengal. Some trucks and river craft will be needed for this.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 16.12.1971