Death and Hatred in Chittagong
The army has restored order in Chittagong, the vital port of East Pakistan. After a series of atrocities committed by both Bengalis and Bihari Moslems, the martial law authorities destroyed scores of villages by fire, artillery and bulldozers.
The sullen hatred, fear and mistrust between the West Pakistan authorities and the local population remain open and intense.
Indeed the army here admits over one third of the working population is still hiding in the countryside, there is little traffic in the streets and many shops are shut. Although the night curfew has been relaxed there is firing throughout the night.
A Colonel explained this by saying: “Our fire power is greater than theirs. When we discover any resistance we destroy the house and the surrounding area to demonstrate to the local population what will happen to them if they harbor Bangladesh guerrillas.
The army hopes that the vital bridge at Feni, 65 miles to the north-west will be repaired by 5th, July, thus enabling distribution of goods from the clogged harbor to begin. Foreign experts are skeptical because there is a great deal of work still to be done on this rail crossing, which was skillfully destroyed, either by Bangla Desh guerrillas or Indian Army snappers.
Although the martial law authorities claim there are now only 1,000 local inhabitants under detention, Bengali headers in private claim that each night some 100 people are brought in by the army for questioning and only five or six allowed to return.
This was confirmed by foreign non-British residents who added that the inhabitants were often “threatened” by the Army and made to open shops or attend offices because they were too afraid or cowed to disobey. But after threats or interrogation the Bengalis concerned took me first possible opportunity to cross the frontier into India.
Doubtless senior officers here in the Delta are having problems with their own troops, who went on the rampage immediately after they had occupied the towns and are still not always easy to control.
British residents, to a man, are strong supporters of President Yahya Khan, and anxious that financial aid should be resumed. They are full of praise for the manner in which the Army is maintaining order, but their views are not shared by other foreign residents, nor by the Bengals.
By The Staff Correspondent In Chittagong
Reference: The Daily Telegraph, June 29, 1971