Bangla Desh Government Seeks Recognition
India Not Influenced by Chinese Policy
Top Awami League sources said in Calcutta Tuesday the provisional government announced by East Pakistan secessionists was due to take office yesterday.
The sources, members of the East Pakistan political party now banned by the central government, said the head of the provisional regime would be Tajuddin Ahmed.
They added that the regime will come into being somewhere in the independenceseeking eastern province of Pakistan with the first meeting of a six-man cabinet..
The sources said they could not say at the moment whether Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who has been named president of the Bangla Desh (Bengal Nation) Provisional Government, would attend the cabinet meeting.
The Pakistan Government claims that Sheikh Mujib, head of the Awami League, is held in West Pakistan. Last month the government announced that he had been seized by their troops in Dacca on March 26.
The League won a landslide victory in the National Assembly elections before the army crack down.
The sources said that Tajuddin Ahmed, a close aide of the Sheikh and general secretary of the Awami League, would certainly attend the cabinet meeting.
Ahmed has not been seen. since the Army crackdown in East Pakistan on March 25,
The sources said a decision on a temporary headquarters for the government would also be taken by the cabinet. It was likely to be the town of Chuadanga in the central western district of Kushtia, reported to be under the control of secessionist elements.
Though East Pakistan leaders have been saying that Sheikh Mujib is free and not under arrest as claimed by the Pakistan Government some of them admit in private conversation that he has been missing.
The sources said the four other men in the provisional cabinet were Foreign Secretary Khondakar Mustaq Ahmed, a senior party leader, Captain Mansoor Ali, a lawyer, A. H. Kamruzzaman a party secretary, and Syed Nazrul Islam, a lawyer.
The Awami sources said the cabinet would function as a war cabinet and direct the “Liberation forces” in their fight for independence.
It would also set up make-shift administrations in areas under the control of the Bangla Desh nationslists.
Observers said it seemed likely that the formation of provisional government followed a realisation by the leaders that there was need to coordinate and guide the fight by their supporters which could drag on for several months.
Recognition from abroad expected
The Awami League sources are hoping that the formation of a government will bring recognition to Bengla Desh and official and from some countries, especially India.
Top Awami leaders are expected in the next fewdays to approach governments for recognition and aid.
Observers in Calcutta who have made several trips up to 40 miles (65 km) into East Pakistan say the secessionists seem to control most of the countryside.
But they said nobody could dispute that the Pakistan Army could walk in wherever it wants, until the monsoon makes communications difficult.
Mrs. Gandhi’s Statement
Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, said Tuesday India would give “due consideration” to the recognition of the Bangla Desh Government set up Monday.
According to the Press Trust of India “Free Bangal Radio” reported that the Bangla Desh government Tuesday appealed for recognition from all “Freedom-loving and democratic nations of the world”.
The “open support” announced by China for West Pakistan, Mrs. Gandhi said, would not influence India’s stand.
“We make decisions independently and our attitude does not depend on the actions of others”, she told a press conference in the constitutency of Rae Bareli, in Uttar Pradesh province.
Directives issued
DPA reported Tuesday from New Delhi, the new “government of Bangla Desh” has already issued a series of directives to the population of the East Pakistani “liberated areas” according to a secret radio station.
In the nine directives the population is called upon to obey orders of the Awami League, and young people are to report to the “Liberation Army” for military training.
“Betrayers of the revolution” are to be punished the radio said.
Anti-Indian Procession in Dacca
In Karachi Pakistan Radio said Tuesday night the Citizens Peace Committee of Dacca led a procession through the streets of the East Pakistan capital chanting “crush India”.
The official government radio station said the marchers, from all walks of life; carried Pakistan flags.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 15.04.1971