SPORADIC FIGHTING BREAKS OUT
Indendence of East Pakistan Formally Declared
NEW DELHI- All India Radio said Saturday latest reports from across the East Pakistan border speak of sporadic fighting between the Pakistan Army and followers of secessionist leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman around Shaluti kor Airifield in the Sylhet sector.
According to these reports, the Army has succeeded in sending considerable reinforcements to make up losses inflicted by the Sheikh’s supporters in the fighting over the past few days, the radio said.
The radio said there were still no reports of the Army having reached Chaudanga, the western sector town which was temporary headquarters of the Bangla Desh (Bengal Nation) Provisional Government.
Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported previously that the town was twice strafed by Air Force planes Friday and six people were killed.
Latest reports said Sheikh Mujib’s followers still control Maulvi bazaar and Pakistan Air Force planes have continued the bombing of Brahmanbaria and Akhaura towns, both still in the hands of secessionist.
Formal proclamation of independence declared
The Press Trust of India also reported that the “soverign Democratic Republic of Bangla Desh (Bengali Nation)” was Saturday formally declared independent in an East Pakistan mango tree grove by the acting president of the “new nation” Syed Nazral Islam at a simple ceremony near the Indian border at the village of Baidyanath tala in the Meherpur area of Kushtia district.
Observers noted that the proclamation was not made in nearby Chuadanga, which has been proclaimed as the provisional “capital” of Bangla Desh.
Nazrul Islam introduced his seven-member inner cabinet, including Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and Foreign Minister K.M. Ahmed.
“We call on the countries of the world to come to our help and do something to relieve the misery of the people of Bangla Desh.”
P.T.I., said members of the world’s press and thousands of people of “Bangla Desh” watched the ceremony in the 132 acre mangrove.
The proclamation was preceded by reading from the Koran and mass singing.
Tajuddin Ahmed, “Prime Minister” of Bangla Desh, told the pressmen that Pakistan President Yahya Khan had “dug Pakistan’s grave”by his armed forces action in East Pakistan said PTI.
The bringing into reality of an independent Bangla Desh had been made possible by the courage of its people, said Ahmed.
He appealed to the world community for recognition of the “new nation”, said PTI.
Bhashani meets Indian minister.
In New Delhi the proPeking National Awami League leader Maulana Bhashani of East Pakistan had a meeting with two Indian ministers, one of Premier Indira Gandhi’s central government and the other of Assam province, somewhere on the Indian side of the border at midnight Thursday night.
Quoting official sources from Gauhati, Asam, PTI said Moinul Haque Indian Minister for Industrial Development, and Syed Ahmed All, Information and Public Relations minister of Assam, were the two ministers, who met Bhashani, PTI said Bhashani was reported to have asked the minister to convey to Mrs., Gandhi and appeal for help, including arms for “Bangla desh,”
Yahya Khan accused
India Friday accused President Yahya Khan’s government of “savage and medieaval butchary’s” in East Pakistan..
There was evidence of “pre-planned carnage and systematic genocide” the Indian government spokesman said, in the most strongly-worded Indian statement so far on the East Pakistan crisis.
The Press Trust of India news agency (PTI) meanwhile reported bloody fighting between the Pakistani Army and “Liberation Forces” at several places in a 900 kilometre (560 mile) streatch of East Pakistan from Mymensingh in the north to Comilla in the south.
No Posibillity of war
India’s Minister for Defence Production; Prakash Sethi; Friday said he did not think there was any possiblity of a war between India and Pakistan over East Pakistan.
But; he told reported; “If; however, Pakistan imposes on any such conflict; we will give a proper reply”.
An official Indian spokesman in Calcutta Friday night said about 100,000 refugees had crossed into West Bengal from East Pakistan in the last fortnight. Some 16,000 were staying in 10 reception centres throughout the state. The rest were with friends and relatives.
The state government as sending 100 doctors to the border areas to help the refugees and prevent outbreaks of epidemics, the spokesman said.
In the eastern sector heavy fighting was reported at Mymensingh, Akhaura and Brahmanbaria with the Pakistan Army trying to open up disrupted communications between Sylhet in the north and Dacca and Comilla in the south.
In the western sector Chuadanga; temporary headquarters of the “Bangla Desh” Provisional Government; was twice strated by Air Force planes Friday. Six people were killed; PTI said.
Official radio Pakistan; monitored at Gauhati; said an attempt to blow up two major power stations by “antistate elements” had been foiled. One of the targets was the Ashuganj power station; largest in the province built only last year.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 19.04.1971