‘COME AND SEE’ SAYS THE FREE BENGAL RADIO
SHEIKH Mujibur Rahman’s provisional government today invited the world at large to visit East Pakistan to see that his forces control most of the territory.
Free Bengal Radio broadcast the invitation extended by the provisional govenment head, Major Zia Khan.
In the special broadcast the major said West Pakistani troops were retreating everywhere in rural areas as his liberation army advanced.
Another broadcast said that the Sheikh’s “Freedom Fighters” still held the army cantonments of Comilla and Jessore today despite raids by Pakistan Air Force Sabres.
Free Bengal Radio said martial law authorities had pressed into service contingents of the Pakistan army, navy and air force in an attempt to gain control of the port city of Chittagong, which it said was still in rebel hands.
The radio said it had picked up a message from a Japanese ship being sent to a Japanese news agency which expressed fears that all of the Chittagong port facillties would be destroyed by fire which had started in the city at about 6.30 pm. (8.30 p.m. Singapore time).
Trouble
It said about 20 ships in the harbour were allowed to move to safer places as troops were trying without success to put out the flames.
Radio Pakistan, in a broadcast from Karachi, admitted that there was trouble in Chittagong and said some “miscreants” had tried to terrorise the town. It said the situation was being brought under control.
The radio said complete calm prevailed elsewhere and that banks and offices were functioning normally.
It continued to insist, despite persistent reports to the contrary that Sheikh Mujib was under detention and that Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan was performing his duties as martial law administrator.
NEW DELHI, Tuesdy
Reports from across the border to Krishnagar, north of Calcutta, said the Pakistan Air Force lifted sveral companies of army troops to Rajshahi and Khulna early today, the Press Trust of India said.
The PTI also quoted rebel folowers of Shekih Mujib as saying they have won control of the East Pakistan capital of Dacca. But the official Radio Pakistan said from Karachi that the West Pakistan milltary administration was in control throughout the East.
The PTI said its report of a rebel victory in Dacca was based on information from sources in East Pakistan near the border with India.
Refugees
The Free Bengal Radio said that Awami League members and other Bengalis are fighting with spears, swords, axes and a few guns against the army eqiupped with tanks, heavy artillery and planes. The provincial police and paramilltary East Pakistan Rifles have sided with the rebels, it claimed.
The radio said in an early broadcast today that 300,000 persons have been killed in the fighting
Refugees from East Pakistan has charged that Pakistani troops killed children as their parents watched and mowed down defenceless civilians with machinegun fire.
The refugees, among at least 1,000 who have crossed into India since the civil war in Pakistan broke out last weekend, were quoted by an Indian official at a Press conference.
Meanwhile India has said it will give “proper consideration” to any specific request from Sheikh Mujib according to a Foreign Office spokesman today.
The spokesman declined to tell newsmen whether the Government had any such request from Sheikh Mujib, or what sort of assistance India might provide.
He said the Indian Government is in contact with the United States, Russia and other world powers, in an effort to “build up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan’s military rulers to refrain from military action in East Pakistan.”
In COLOMBO, the English language Ceylon Dally Mirror reported yesterday that 36 Pakistani military aircraft have so far refuelled at the Bandaranaike airport, since violence erupted in East Pakistan. The newspaper said the aircraft were handed by Royal Ceylon Air Force personnal.
Reference : The Strait Times, 31.03.1971