Pakistan Observer
20 th August 1967
Six-point group meets Awami League splits apart
(An Observer Report)
The break in the Awami League is now fait accompli after “Council” meeting by the Amena Begum group on Saturday. The Six-point group of the East Pakistan Awami League has finally decided to go it alone and not to join t’ie Pakistan Democratic Movement.
They also took a move “to expel” those who had decided to join the PDM.
In a meeting of the EPAL, earlier declared illegal and cancelled by a requisitioned Working Committee meeting held on August 13 and 14 this group decided to immediately suspend from primary membership and all other posts 14 of the party’s leading members. The meeting also decided to serve a 15 day notice on these 14 leaders to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party.
The leaders against whom this Council meeting decided to take action are: Mr. Abdus Salam Khan, Mr. Zahiruddin, Mr. Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, Mr. Mujibur Rahman (Rajshahi), Mr. Nurul Islam Chowdhury, Mr. Matiur Rahman, Mr. Abdur Rahman Khan, Mr. M. A. Rashid of Jessore, Mr. Raushan Ali, Mr. Mominuddin Ahmed, Mr. Laqiatullah, Mr. Rahimuddin Ahmed, Mr. Saad Ahmed and Mr. Jalauddin Khan.
The charge against them is breaking party discipline and indulging in activities prejudicial to the party. The basis of the charge is the decision of the leaders to work with PDM and to hold the requisitioned Working Committee meeting.
Resolutions
The organisers of the meeting seemed determined from the very beginning to make a break in the party and the participants of the meeting devoted five hours of the eight-hour meeting in taking the decision of disciplinary action-which finally breaks up the party. On the other hand the main political resolution of the meeting in which it reiterated its faith on the Six-Point programme and decided not to join PDM, took only about 10 minutes to adopt. A blanket resolution touching all outstanding issues of the country, including release of political prisoners, withdrawal of state of emergency food prices repeal of anti-labour laws took only five minutes to adopt.
The meeting of the Six-Point Awami League Councillors also adopted a resolution deciding to go for Joint action on specific issues as and when necessary but it also categorically stated that such a course of joint action will be adopted by keeping the party programme intact and only when the action does not contradict the Six-Point programme. This resolution was also accepted without going in for any kind of discussion.
The organisers of the meeting claimed that eight hundred out of 950 councillors of the East Pakistan Awami League were present at the meeting. An official of the party claimed that the Councillors were elected in 1966 and that the party office had a proper list of all duty elected councillors by the district units of the EPAL. Yet there seemed to be some discrepancy in inviting the Councillors. The Councillors cards were distributed through the District Presidents and Secretaries and at least one Councillor from Noakhali demanded expulsion of an official of the Noakhali District Awami League for passing him over while distributing the Councillors cards.
সূত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু তৃতীয় খণ্ড: ষাটের দশক॥ দ্বিতীয় পর্ব