BANGLA DESH GOVT HOLDS FIRST MEETING?
International Jurists Warn Yahya
The newly formed “provisional government” of “Bangla Desh” (Bengal Nation) had its first cabinet meeting in Calcutta, Awami party sources said.
The Press Trust of India (P.T.I.) yesterday quoted two emissaries, on their way to seek recognition for the new “government” in Europe, as saying that the members of he new “administration” would be sworn in today- the first day of the Bengali new year.
The emissaries, speaking at Calcutta’s Dum Dum airport early yesterday morning, did not want to be identified But they told reporters they hoped that a number of countries, including the Soviet Union, the United States and France, could be expected to recognise the new self-proclaimed government of Pakistan’s troubled Eastern wing.
“We are confident of our mission to Europe”, they said.
An official announcement about the formation of a “Provisional government” was expected to be issued yesterday but plans were changed apparently to save embarrassment to the Indian government. All the top East Pakistani leaders were now believed to have crossed back into the strife-torn province and a formal declaration was likely to be made from inside “Bangla Desh”.
Ahmed invites diplomats
The press Trust of India (PTI) reported from Calcutta Wednesday that Tajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister of Provisional Government of Bangla Desh (Bengal Nation), had invited diplomats, political observers and the world observers and the world press to visit “Liberated” East Pakistan men, women and children”.
Tajuddin’s statement
PTI quoted the Prime Minister as saying in a broadcast on the Free Bangla Desh Radio from somewhere in East Pakistan : “Our resistance has created a new and bright example in the history of freedom movements. It is an example for all time”.
The radio appealed for recognition for the government from all “freedom loving and democratic nations of the world”.
It said the headquarters of the new government would be at Chuadanga in the Central Western District about ten miles (16 km) from the Indian border.
No request
Briain has received no request for diplomatic recognition from any organization whatever in East Pakistan and no recognition of a reported “Provisional Government of Bangla Desh” is planned.
The White Hall official recalled that one of the criteria adopted by Britain for recognition decisions was whether a new government genuinely controlled its territory. In East Pakistan, he said, the Pakistan Army controlled most urban centres and communication lines.
I.C.J.’S protest to Pakistan
In Geneva the International Commission of Jurists protested in a telegram to Pakistani President Yahya Khan Wednesday against his reported intention to have Awami League leaders tried by exceptional tribunal that exceptional jurisdictions were not “independent”, demanded that any trials be held in ordinary courts in the interest of the “primacy of law”.
Heavy fighting going on
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported from New Delhi Wednesday that bitter and heavy fighting was going on in East Pakistan.
Pakistan troops had won control of two towns while the Bangla Desh (Bengal Nation) liberation fighters captured the jute centre of Sylhet, the agency added.
It said that Pakistan Air Force planes bombed and strafed Bengali fighters as they battled for Sylhet in the far northeast corner of East Pakistan, but the Pakistani ground forces were forced to withdraw to Shalutikor airfield five miles (eight kms) awayReuter and AFP.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 16.04.1971