Morning News
13th July 1964
PREPARE FOR SACRIFICES TO SECURE
DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
Mujib’s Call To People
(By Our Staff Reporter)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, General Secretary of the East Pakistan Awami League, called uopn the people yesterday to prepare themselves for the “goal (gaol) and the gallows” for the restoration of their “democratic rights.”
He said the struggle for the universal adult franchaise was “total fight”. Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Paltan Maidan to observe the “anti-repression day”, he said it was “wishful” thinking that East Pakistan favoured secession. In fact “we shudder to think of those lines as we have yet to get back our share from West Pakistan,” he added.
The meeting presided over by the President of the Provincial Awami League, Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, was addressed by Mr. Zaheeruddin, Khondakar Mushtaq Ahmed and Mr. Sirajul Islam. Most of the speakers confined themselves to the points raised by the Central Communications Minister, Mr. Abdus Sabur Khan. They emphatically denied each and every allegation levelled against them by Muslim League leaders on Saturday at the same place and under the same pandal.
Sheikh Mujib said the former Deputy Speaker of the East Pakistan Assembly Mr. Shahid Ali, could not have been killed by the Awamis as the deceased belonged to the same party. On the other hand, he asked the ruling party why Martial Law was not promulgated when Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated in broad day light.
He also asked why no inquiry was held to ascertain the factors leading to the “murder” of Mr. Shahid Ali. He maintained that “hired people” were engaged to create disturbance within the precincts of the Assembly.
Sheikh Mujib contradicted Mr. Sabur Khan when he said that during the Awami League regime in East Pakistan, no political prisoner was detained under safety laws.
On the contrary, he said the Government had released all political detenus.
Sheikh Mujib declared that about 200 families in the country now controlled 80 pe rcent of the total wealth. Moreover among those families 75 per cent belonged to West Pakistan. He said East Pakistan was never opposed to those who had settled down here and identified themselves with the hopes and aspirations of the people of this region.
Quoting statistics, he alleged that even during the Martial law, East Pakistan was deprived of its rightful share.
He accused the present Government of distributing favours on political ground.
POLICE FIRINGS
He also alleged that 14 persons were killed in East Pakistan and 10 in West Pakistan in police firing during 1963 alone.
Mr. Zaheeruddin Challenging the statement of Mr. Sabur Khan said Qaid-e-Azam had selected Karachi as the capital of Pakistan. The General Secretary made a touching reference to thousands of Indian refugees who are now in Mirpur.
He maintained that the policy of the present Government was leading the country to disintegration.
TARKABAGISH
In his presidential speech Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, appealed to the people to stand united to face all eventualities.
Among several resolutions, the meeting condemned “repressive” measures, demanded direct elections through adult franchise to elective offices, release of all political prisoners, removal of restriction on National Press restoration of normal academic atmosphere in the University and other educational institutions, of “excessive” taxes, remission of rent of agricultural land holding up to 25 bighas for 25 years.
The meeting also expressed its deep sympathy with the refugees and demanded their immediate rehabilitation.
Deprecating forcible eviction of the people, from Babupura Nilkhet, the meeting demanded implementation of policy followed by Awami League in 1957 by giving each evicted family 11 kathas of land and Rs. 200 in cash.
সূত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড: ষাটের দশক ॥ প্রথম পর্ব