Bangladesh Newsletter
No. 9
September 25, 1971
Editorial
OPERATION FACE LIFT
Yahya’s “Operation Face Lift” is in full swing. Islamabad’s military junta hired a few experienced hands to give their propaganda some sophistication. Pakistan military’s shrieking noise that Sheikh Mujib was planning an armed take-over of Bangladesh on March 25 was too obvious an after-thought for the world to buy. Indian infiltrator theory did not cut much ice either.
So the Operation Face Lift, A civilian ‘governor’. Removal of too familiar a name as Tikka Khan. And of course, a general amnesty!
Those of Yahya’s friends who were desperately looking for some ‘improvements’ now got them all. As for the people of occupied Bangladesh nothing changed between March 25 and today.
The so-called civilian governor is in effect nothing but the chairman of the central “Peace Committee”, the much hated civilian arm of the military operation. The real boss of occupied Bangladesh is General Niazi, the hangman of General Tikka Khan. Much publicized general amnesty excludes Sheikh Mujib, and everybody else who is anybody in Bangladesh. While the junta’s propaganda machine busy drumming up the declaration of General amnesty fifteen professors of Dacca University including the secretary of the Teachers’ Union were being driven off to detention centers.
Those who are worried about the face they wear rather then death, destruction and an imminent famine may find some comfort in Yahya’s actions but for the 75 million people of Bangladesh who have chosen irrevocably the road to independent they are not significant enough even to cause minor detraction.
The Inevitable (?)
As sure as night follows day there will be an appalling famine in East Bengal by Octorber unless the international community intervenes now. This was the grim conclusion of South Asia experts who met in Toronto recently under the sponsorship of Oxfam of Canada.
Form 1966 to 1970 Bangladesh produced an average of 10.8 million tons of food grain against a requirement of 12 million tons—a deficit of ten per cent. Recurring floods and cyclones never allowed the agricultural sector of Bangladesh to close this gap. Very little development program was undertaken to control the annual flood or to establish irrigation network.
Bulk of the people of Bangladesh live in a precariously marginal subsistance. Slightest dislocation around them causes many to slip off from their holds on existance.
When the last November cyclone came half a million people were washed away, but five million others who survived were not sure whether they will survive the survival. Transportation facilities are so primitive but for international help food could hardly be rushed to the victims.
Man-made disaster of Yahya is again another thing. This is not localized disruption of communication and transportation. This is a total collapse.
In April Yahya’s army fanned out in all directions to occupy the countryside. Magnitude and severity of army’s action led to : 1. Complete break-down of the life system : economic, political and social ; 2. Entire Bangladesh pervaded with a sense of insecurity, terror and fear.
Agricultural fields which escaped army’s destruction at best remained unattended. Agricultural system collapsed with the departure of 9 million refugees along with their livestocks and with a population of 30 million roaming around the countryside uprooted. Bangladesh which boasts the largest number of agricultural co-operatives in the world (for the same area) found herself coming to almost grinding halt with the collapse of co-operative machinery.
June was the planting season for the November harvest. Planting was erratic. Even Pakistan government’s report show at places it dropped to the ten per cent of normal.
Flood this month affected an area 4000sq. miles. Whatever planting took place in these areas half of it has been completely damaged by the flood.
PL 480 food grains which were heading for Chittagong in late March to cover the normal food deficit were diverted to avoid the army-navy activities in Chittagong. Even in normal situation the capacity of Chittagong port is quite limited. Under the present circumstances its food handling capacity has been further reduced by the Army’s top priority on keeping the army supplies from Karachi coming in continuously.
Railway and road network throughout Bangladesh is out of service. River network is the only means to carry food stuff to the hinterland. All river vessels including those given by the international community to carry food to the needy—have beer transformed into troop carriers and gun-boats by the Yahya’s army.
Pakistan army has only one very clearly defined objective in mind : to keep Bangladesh under Pakistani control at any cost. Army understands that language and that language alone. When river vessels were being given to Pakistan Army to carry relief materials—an Army officer remarked : “Now we can get into
areas where we previously could not”. He knew to what use he is going to put them.
Dr. Linkoln C. Chen of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Jon E Rohde of Children’s Hospital Medical Center in an article in the British medical journal Lancet predicted that the period between now and November may precipitate a famine of unprecedented proportions affecting 25 million people.
In the famine of 1943 three million people died of starvation in Bangladesh. This impending famine will far exceed the ’43 famine in magnitude. With a conservative estimate of 3 million tons of food shortage (one-fourth of total requirement) deaty from starvation can easily reach the staggering figure of 10 million and beyond.
While a great human disaster is in the offing Yahya is playing games with the United Nations. He would not allow any relief operation without his occupation army’s supervision. With the record of their past handling of relief materials and relief operations Bengalis know that they would be safer without army’s help. If world feels any way responsible for the lives of these millions only way to reach them is through the representatives of Bengali people. Peter Shore, former British Labor Minister suggests the same thing : “The first requirement is to establish quickly some relationship of confidence between the U.N. and the Bangladesh representatives…The Bangladesh authorities must be brought into the planning and administration of food relief for overriding practical reasons”.
If there is anything called world conscience it would be asfully uncomfortable when in coming months 10 million people will die of starvation. Very little time is left. Men and women of conscience must act NOW.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Members of medical profession have a special role to play in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh. Doctors in the United Kingdom have already organized themselves to provide medical assistance to the Mukti Bahini and the refugees. A similar move in North America has been initiated by the Bangladesh Defense League. All doctors are requested to contact Dr. Zillur Rahman Athar immediately for further communication at the following address :
Zillur Rahman Athar M.D.
808 Hillwood Blvd
Nasville, TN 37209
Ph : (615) 356-3912
ALL-PARTY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FORMED
Mujibnagar, Sept 9 : Leaders of Bangladesh political parties met here to discuss the formation of an all-party committee to guide the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, Mr. Khondkar Mushtaque Ahmed, Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Mr. Mansoor Ali, Bangladesh Finance Minister, Mr. A.H.M. Kamaruzzaman, Bangladesh home Minister and Mr. M.A. Samad, political adviser represented Awami League, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani represented National Awami Party (Bhasahni Group), Mr. Muzaffar Ahmed represented his group of National Awami Party. Mr. Moni Singh of Bangladesh Communist Party and Mr. Monoranjan Dhar of Bangladesh Congress Party attended on behalf of their parties. In a unanimous resolution all political parties expressed their unflinching support to the Provisional Government of Bangladesh. The conference also urged all citizens of Bangladesh to remain solidly united behind the Government of Bangladesh.
At the conclusion of the two-day conference formation of an eight member all-party Consultative Committee was announced. The Committee consists of Moulana Bhashani (NAP-B), Mr. Muzaffar Ahmed (NAP-M), Mr. Moni Singh (BCP), Mr. Monoranjan Dhar (Cong), Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed (AL), Mr. Khondkar Mushtaque Ahmed (AL) and two other members from Awami League.
BANGLADESH HIGH COMMISSIONER VISITS NORWAY
Mr. Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Bangladesh High Commissioner in U.K. recently paid a visit to Norway. He met the Foreign Secretary of Norway and appraised him of the situation in Bangladesh. He also met the judges of the Norway Supreme Court, secretary of International Jurist Committee (Norway brance), mayor of Aslo and the president of World Judges Association. Justice Chowdhury also spoke at the University of Aslo and addressed the Rotary Club of Norway.
Danes Act on Bangladesh
On August 10, 1971, the Danish Cabinet met to discuss, among other things, the question of the greater Danish contribution to the Bengali refugees in India. At that meeting the Cabinet was urged by concerned Danish citizens informed on Bangladesh to : 1. Work for the right of self-determination of the Bengali people ; 2. raise the question of genocide in Bangladesh and the problems of the refugees in India at the U.N. Security Council ; 3. decide to stop all aid to the Government of Pakistan.
The Danish Cabinet did act on the latter, ordering blockage of all further purchases on a loan of Danish Kroner 40 million which had been granted to Pakistan in Jan. Although D. Kr. 21 million of the total amount had already been used up, the remaining 19 million will be blocked. (In the past the Danish government has had several aid project in Pakistan. Largely consisting of technical assistance in various field. Skeletal representation of the personnel on these projects, for example, at Comilla, will be retained for the time being.)
Meanwhile, the Danish Cabinet further decided to have the Danish Foreign Minister discuss raising the Bangladesh question at the U.N. Security Council at the forthcoming meeting of Scandinavian Foreign Ministers in Stockholm in early September.
In other action, a group of concerned Danes have bagun to form a Bangladesh action group in Copenhagen. They have drawn up an appeal for support from some members of Denmark’s political parties. The growing interest in the Bangladesh question could play some kind of role in the possible elections of September 21st in Denmark and, if there occurs a change of government after that date, more attention to the Bangladesh issue may be forthcoming.
BANGLADESH REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM CONFERENCE
Dr. Enamul Huq, Director of Dacca National Museum attended the International Museum Conference held in Paris August 21-September 10. In an address to the conference Dr. Huq appealed to the delegates to bring pressure on Yahya junta to stop their limitless atrocities and cultural genocide in Bangladesh. The participants expressed sympathy for the struggling people of Bangladesh.
POET NAZRUL RECEIVES HIS ALLOWANCE AGAIN
Mujibnagar : Mr. Hossain Ali, head of the Bangladesh Mission in Calcutta presented a check to the son of poet Nazrul Islam on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh. Since March Yahya Government has discontinued giving any allowance to the ailing poet.
WEST PAKISTAN SCENE : ACT II
“Events here in West Pakistan are rapidly moving towards a disaster similar to the one which overwhelmed East Pakistan last March” reports London daily Observer (September 5) correspondent from Karachi.
He reports that “made desperate by his fading chance of winning political leadership by orthodox menas” Zulfikar Ali Bhutto” is demanding that President Yahya Khan should immediately transfer power to the people ‘without gimmicks’.
“Bhutto is dropping broad hints of a ‘terrible mass movement’ to promote democratic rule. There is little indication that the President, who thought nothing of using his military power to crush the massively popular Awami League, has any fear of confronting the smaller People’s party in the streets of West Pakistan.”
“Meanwhile, the military regime is making some concessions to Bhutto. It has formally lifted Press censorship, but only by boiling down all the many martial law regulations aimed at intimidating and restraining the Press into a single ordinance which is in itself sufficiently dracoinian.”
…“But Bhutto is clearly not impressed by any of these actions. He has ridiculed General Yahya’s appointment of civilian Governors and says roundly that they ‘represent nobody’. In fact, he has declared that they are worse than the military men, who at least commanded the Army’s respect”.
New York Times correspondent Malcolm Browne reports from Karachi (September 12) “Mr. Bhutto insists that Pakistani’s current economic and political crisis can only be solved by political ledadership, not by army officers”.
Mr. Browne continues : “He (Bhutto) prefers not to talk about possible solutions for East Pakistan. ‘It may seem strange’ Bhutto said, ‘but the Government does not keep me informed about East Pakistan’.”
“Mr. Bhutto denounes the ‘that he says rules Pakistan and threatens that if he cannot reach agreement with President Yahya soon he will announce publicly waht his defferences with the President are”.
Associated Press reports from Karachi that Bhutto warned there could be” a civil war even in West Pakistan”. He said the country was “virtually on the brink of collapse” with the Government treasury empty and law and order broken down.
In the September 15 dispatch Mr. Browne of NY Times reports : “An attempt to kill one of the President’s key lieutenants today heightened speculation that one or more consiracies may be under way.
M.M. Ahmed, economic adviser to the President was wounded by a knife-wielding assailant in Islamabad, the capital…According to a Government announcement, Mr. Ahmed, who holds Cabinet rank and is among the President’s closest advisers, was attacked as he was about to enter an elevator in his office building. He was stabbed in the back, the announcement said”.
MUKTI BAHINI NEWS
Mujibnagar, Mukti Bahini GHQ : During the third week of August Mukti Bahini sank more than a dozen ships in the ports of occupied Bangladesh.
On August 16, they sank 6 cargo ships in Mangla port : 2 American, 2 Chinese, one Japanese and one Pakistani. These ships were reportedly carrying weapons and supplies forthe occupation army.
The same day, at Chittagong port Bangladesh commando units sank a Somalian ship ‘Lightning’ and a 15000 ton Pakistani ship ‘Al-Abbas’. Another ship ‘Formosa’ loaded with a cargo of jute met the same fate.
The approach to Chittagong port has been blocked by sinking a large cargo barge in the Karnafully opposite jetty no. 13.
These simultaneous actions by the Bangladesh Liberation Army unnerved the high command of the occupation forces. On August 18 General Tikka Khan visited Chittagong port to see thin for himself. He ordered the arrest of the senior naval officer-in-charge of the port.
On August 16 3 ships were sunk at Narayanganj harbor. A large steamer carrying coal was also sunk. Bangladesh forces captured one cargo launch, four motor tugs and 16 barges in Sunamganj.
August 15 :
According to the information received here today Mukti Bahini have killed 102 Pakistan troops including 2 officers ; 49 Razakars and 6 collaborators have also been killed.
The enemy was driven back from Kheair market and Lakshmipur in Noakhali on August 21.
Mukit Bahini Liberated Ayedpur area on the same day.
August 26 :
The following reports reached here today :
On August 22 two Pakistan platoons including irregulars attempted to raid Mukti Bahini in Bahmania and exchanged fire. Enemy attack was repulsed and they suffered 25 casualities including one major.
On August 22 Mukti Bahini raided Pukhuria School occupied by enemy troops Forty-five enemy soldiers were killed and 15 wounded.
On August 24 Mukti Bahini ambushed Pakistan troop in tirdhyar Bazar and inflicted six casualities. As rerisal Pakistan troops burnt civilian houses of the locality and then fled.
August 27 and 28 :
On August 26 Mukti Bahini raided Goyainghat in Sylhet district and killed 13 Razakars and captured 2 others.
Telephone lines between Nurri Boarmari and Kamalpur-Bakshiganj have been cut off.
Ambushed enemy patrol on Naokuchi-Ahmednagar road in Mymensingh and killed 3 Pakistan troops.
On August 25, demolished railway track near Madhabpur. As a result one railway engine with three bogies derailed in Sylhet.
On August 24, enemy troops attacked Takergaon and Lalpur in Sylhet with 6 boats fitted with medium machine guns. They also used mortars. Mukti Bahini sunk one Pakistan speed boat and inflicted heavy casualities.
On August 23, killed 15 enemy troops in a raid at Pakistan position at Jagannath Dighi area. Also destroyed two bunkers.
Raided Pakistan positions at Sagarmal and Muraichara killing 5 enemy troops and one Razakar.
August 21 :
Mr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former Revenue Minister and Secretary of the Provincial Muslim League, a collaborator of the occupation army, has been killed.
On August 28, Mukti Bahini raided Berigaon area. There was a heavy fighting between the Mukti Bahini and the enemy troops with continued till late August 29. In this action 8 Pakistan troops were killed and 15 wounded.
On August 27, Mukti Bahini raided Ranamati near Phulbari in Mymensingh and killed 15 enemy solders.
In Noakhali Mukti Bahini ambushed 15 vehicles carrying supplies for enemy troops in Feni-Belonia area on August 27 and damaged almost all vehicles. On August 25 they demolished a road bridge near Hasanpur in the same area.
On August 27 Mukti Bahini destroyea railway track in Nakurgachhi in N. Bengal. On the same day they fired on enemy positions at Darpul and inflicted 3 casualities.
In Kushtia Mukti Bahini killed Peace Committee chairman on Aug 27 in Pataldanga.
NEWS FROM BANGLADESH GROUPS
Colorado
Dr. m. Sher Ali, president of Bangladesh League of America, Colorado, reports : A booth was set up in the Blue Room Mall of Cinderella City, the largest shopping center in the mid-west on August 14.
On August 21 a variety show was staged to raise funds.
On August 31 Ambassador Siddiqui adn Mr. A.M.A. Muhit addressed a largely attended press conference in Denver. Local redios, newspapers gve extensive coverage of the press conference. The ambassador met state political leaders and appraised the Bangladesh situation.
Indiana-Ohio
Representatives of various Bangladesh groups and Friends of East Bengal attended a meeting of the Bangladesh Association of Midwest oin September 18 to hear a first hand report from Dr. Aminul Islam who has just returned after a six-week tour of duty with the Bangladesh government. Dr. Islam worked closely with the Mukti Bahini and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Persons or groups interested to know more about the current situation may contact Dr. Islam (1212 Mt. Vernon Ave,. Dayton, Ohio 45405).
Urbana, IL
An international film festival has been organized in aid of the children of Bangladesh in the University of Illinois campus. Seven feature films from seven different countries will be shown September 20 through 26.
Tennessee
President and several members of the Bangladesh League of America, Tenn. attended the meeting of the Bangladesh Defense League in Chicago and expressed their desire to co-ordinate their activities with the Defense League. A member will soon be nominated from Tenn to join the Board Directors of the Defense League.
Toronto
A benefit presentation of Satyajit Ray’s “Dui Kanya” was organized on August 26. There were four showings of the movie. Entire proceeds from the presentation was donated to Oxfam of Canada.
Another charity performance has been arranged for September 17. An evening of music and dance at Eatons Auditorium will be highlighted by the performances of playback singer Suman Kalyanpur and party. Proceeds will go to Oxfam.
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Write to us giving your views comments and suggestions. Keep us informed of your programs. Send us addresses of persons interested in our liberation war. We’ll send them the Newsletter and other literature.
-Editor
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PLEASE NOTE
1. With the opening of the college and universities we expect requests for speakers to speak on Bangladesh from various campuses. On behalf of Bangladesh Defense League Dr. J. Bhattacharjee will maintain a list of speakers and organize all lecture assignments for various parts of the country. Those who are interested to be included in the speakers pool and those who need their service please contact :
Dr. Jnanendra k. Bhattacharjee
Dept. of Microbiology
Miami Univ,. Oxford, Ohio 45056 (513) 529-4727
Dr. Bhattacharjee will also supply information and provide assistance in ogranizing benefit performance for your locality.
2. Along with the 7th issue of the Bangladesh Newsletter we have mailed a specimen brochure prepared for fund raising by the Bangladesh Emergency Welfare Appeal. We requested all interested persons and groups to feel free to ask for required number of brochure to raise funds. We should be happy to supply these brochures on request.
3. A large supply of information materials has just been produced by the Defense League. Let us know if you would like to make use of some of them.
4. Bangladesh Mission in Washington, D.C. is publishing a weekly newsletter. If you are not getting it write to :
Bangladesh Mission
1223 Conn. Ave. NW
Fourth Floor, Washington DC 20036
5. Friends of East Bengal, Nashville, TN, is offering to help setting up of Bangladesh Information Desks in school campuses. They will supply literatue (you pay only mailing cost) and advise you on how to go about setting up desks. Contact :
Friends of East Bengal
Box 42, Sta B
Vanderbilt Univ
Nashville, TN 37203
BANGLADESH NEWS DIGEST
September 1 :
Wash. Post : Partial transcript of ABC interview with Hilaly.
Q : Well, what has been going to your counrty, sir?
A : We wer allowed to buy a certain quantity of spares for the Army is equipped with American weapons exclusively…If we do not buy from her (U.S.), we can get them elsewhere, but that would cost us ten times more.
September 2 :
London Times : (Rawalpindi)-Pakistani official spokesman described the appointment of a civilian governor for East Bengal as “yet another significant step toward President Yahya Khan’s pledge to transfer power to the elected representatives of the people”.
(karachi) Mujib’s trial postponed for at least 3 months according to informed sources while Yahya seeks a political settlement to the East Bengal crisis. The appointment of Malik as civil governor is seen here as only one of a number of measures to satisfy public opinion before the trial takes place.
September 3 :
Wash. Post : (Islamabad) In West Pakistan while there is wide acceptance of Yahya’s military attempt to hold Pakistan’s two wings together, some Pakistanis doubt it will success…sympathy for Bengalis ranges from those who dismiss them as racially inferior “little monkey” to those who believe the Bengalis were misled by treasonous leaders. Extremists consider war with India ivevitable adn believe Pakistan should strike soon rather than wait until its arms forces are further bled by the guerrillas…Much of the savagery of army tactics in East Bengal is attributed to Gen. Tikka Khan. “Tikka is pretty chilling” says one man who has spent some hours with him ; he sys, ‘collective punishment’ the way you say ‘good morning’.”
(Dacca) Military governor orders 48 Awami League Provincial Assemblymen 13 civil servants and 4 Dacca University professors to trial before military court on charges of sedition etc. Maximum sentence is 14 years in prison.
London Times : Peter Shore, MP (Labor) proposed to Sir Alce Douglas-Hume that the British Govt. should not resume consortia aid or economic aid to West Pakistan.
Indian Army on alert along entire western front including Kashmir. I India is believed to be apprehensive that Pakistan might embark on millitary action along the western front to cover their harrassment at the hands of guerrillas.
In a letter to the editor Oxfam Dir.H.L. Kirkley writes that the situation is “clearly beyond the control of individuals and private agencies”. He urges the international community to intervene now “to avert total famine” in Bangladesh.
NY Times : (Karachi) Albert Jacob Walg, a Dutch student tourist, was convicted of spying to two years imprisonment. The trial took place in secret where Dutch consular officials were not permitted nor were they informed of the charges or the evidence against the student. The student was arrested on February 17 near Karachi airport on charges of photgraphing Pakistan aircraft. The usual visible military aircraft at the airport are “C-130 transports of they type the army has used to supply its occupation troops” in Bangladesh.
September 4 :
London Times : Omega Relief Team says it will try to recent Bangladesh this month despite the deportation by the Pakistan Army on the earlier attempt. 145 Awami League Provincial Assembly ordered to appear before martial law administrators to answer charges of sedition, etc.
Globe & Mail : (Calcutta) Pakistani officials estimate that 4000 sq. miles of East Bengal flooded, more than 70 people dead and 9 million driven from their homses. “Crop losses are heavy, increasing the threat of famine already posed by the civil war”. Floods estimated to have ruined 3 million acres of rice, sugercane and jute. Pakistan govt. reports say that at least 50% of Kushtia district crops being harvested and 45% of crops being planted for the December harvest have been destroyed. Before the flood the Pakistan govt. estimated 3 million tons of grain would be required due to shortfall. No new estimate of shortfall.
Manchester Guardian : The Pakistan Govt. has ordered all its diplomats, other embassy personnel and their families to surrender their passports. September 7 has been set as the deadline for the surrender. The unprecedented move is an attempt to prevent defections to the Bangladesh movement. The order was cabled to all Pakistan embassies and High Commissions. The Pakistan High Commissioner to U.K. defended the move as one which “is an essential security measure, but it will also help to prevent the loss of passports which involves issuing new passports”.
(London) Dressed in denim uniforms, a group from Action Bangladesh demonstrated outside the office of the shipping company. Furness Withy Co. They were protesting against arms shipments to Pakistan. They were charged with threatening behavior. The group had set up picked linse for two days.
(Calcutta) The Bangladesh Govt. is to set up a united liberation front incorporating several leftwing and “progressive” parties as well as the Awami League.
The move may well open the prospect of Soviet support for the guerrilla war in Bangladesh. The hope is that the establishment of a united front will convince the Russians that Bangladesh is a genuine people war of liberation.
CS Monitor : Pakistan Govt. lifts press curbs on September 3 but under another regulation 7 years prison sentence for conviction “of a crime considered prejudicial to the security, integrity, and honor of the country”.
Pakistan Affairs : (Embassy) Major General. Agha Mohammed Raza will replace Agha Hilaly as the ambassador to the U.S. Gen. Raza served as ambassador to China during 1951-54 and 1962-66.
September 5 :
Sunday Times : Announcement of amnesty specifically included personnel of the armed forces, the East Pakistan rifles and the police, but it excluded members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly in the East wing as well as “a limited number of individuals against whom crimianl proceedings had been initiated. The amnesty did not appear to apply to Sheikh Mujib.
Peter shore, Labor MP, recently returned from a visit to the border area. He writes that “the prospects for famine are grim…The relief experts in the field point to November as the starting month of a major food crisis”. Accoding to him the West Pakistan Army cannot be trusted to distribute relief due to the “delibeate political misuse of food which would follow”. He suggests that the U.N. be used but the “Bangladesh authorities must be brought into the planning and administration of food relief”. He also questions the adequate of the present U.N. force of 38 workers and suggest the the magintude of the problem and to avoid deliberate misuse of relief supplies a force of 1000 or more personel should be recruited.
(Peter Shore) On returning from a recent visit to the East Pakistan border Peter Shore writes : “in East Bengal the relief of hunger is not the overriding aim of the Pakistan Govt or Army. Their prime task, as the expulsion of eight million peol from their own country has already made plain, is to hold East Bengal for Pakiatan at almost any cost…The prospects for famine are grim…The West Pakistan Army has reduced the province to chaos. The movement of food as of other supplies has been disrupted by the collapse of the civil administration, by Army requisitions, by military reprisals and by guerrilla sabotage…the relief experts in the field point to November as the starting month of a major food crisis. But even if the food can be brought to East Bengal who can be trusted to distribute it? There are overwhelming objections to handing it over to the West Pakistan Army. It is not so much a question of the Army itself consuming the food—there are only 70,000 or so troops in East Pakistan and they would live off the land anyway—but the deliberate political misuse of food which would follow as the Army and the local “peace committees” saw to it that their friends and collaborators were fed and their opponents went hunry. Moreover the Pakistan Army only controls partof East Bengal. Enclaves held by the guerrillas certainly exist and these could grow substantially when the monsoon ends”. He goes on to point out the possible dangers to using U.N. teams as “there is the real danger that U.N. relief teams will be so inadequate in number that, within the areas controlled by the Pakistan Army the Army would in fact be running relief, with the U.N. providing no more than a cloak of respectability. There is also the reasonable fear that the U.N. operation could be undertaken in a way that inadvertently increased the repressive power of the Pakistan Army. The first requirement is to establish quicklysome realtionship of confidence between the U.N. and the Bangladesh rerpresentatives…the Bangladesh authorities must be brought into the planning and administration of food relief for overriding practical reasons—because of the areas they wholly or partly control and because of the impact their own military operations might have. Secondly it is crucial that the U.N. recruites for this vast relief operation substantial numbers of workers…They (U.N.) will need to recrit 1000 or more..The urgency of all this cannot be overstressed. Not only is a great human disaster in the offing but the subsequent political effects could be incalculable..They (8 million) refugees are not refugees from hunger. They are the refugees from oppression and fear. If hunger takes an increasing grip in East Pakistan in the months ahead yet another tide of refugees will flow across the borders. There is a real danger that this could sweep away not only the overstretched relief resources of India but the peace of the subcontinent as well”.
Wash Post (Islamabad) West Pakistan’s major esports—testiles—has been sold in Middle Eastern markets rather than in Bangladesh with no loss for the produce. Despite its success in maintaining stability so far, the govt. realizes that it is building problems it may not be able to contain. Either factories will have to shut down or prices will jump if the current situation continues into the spring of next year. Rising industrial unemployment is a principal worry since the workers could easily take to the streets in demonstratios. Although most foreign aid has been suspended the effect of the suspension will not be felt until next year. Commodity aid could continue to flow into Pakistan until 1973, judging by past patterns. For example, U.S. aid for fiscal 1970 was close to $100 million and by June 1971 very little had been used up. About one-third of this aid had not even been discaussed by Am. officials and Pakistan importers two months ago. The earlier attitude of the Pakistan govt. in response to world criticism has changed and it has made new requests for aid to several former aid donors.
(Islamabad) Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sultan Mohammed Khan left for Moscow seeking to clarigy the implications of the Indo-Soviet treaty signed four weeks ago. After the initial shock, Pakistan foreign office officials now point to the possible deterrent that the treaty may provide to India’s actions. This optimistic reading at least indicates Islamabad’s anxiousness to avoid a policy of confrontation with Moscow as recommended by the Pakistan. Press in general and Bhutto in particular. Bhutto compared the treaty to the Hitler-Stalin agreement. Sultan Khan denied that he would seek a similar treaty for Pakistan and pointed to “the best ties with China without the necessity of a formal defense pact”.
September 6 :
NY Times : (New Delhi)
“Washington’s policy as described by Am. diplomats her—most of them do not agree with it—is designed to be pragmatic, unemotional, quiot, constructive and sophisticated. It is aimed at keeping a foot in both camps, restraining India and Pakistan from going to war again, and producing stability on the subcontinent…Reliable sources ausggest that the U.S. is hoping for some short-term political solution to (the) civil war and that it sees a united Pakistan under the present Yahya regime as the best means to accomplish this.
(Islamabad) For the U.S. the main fear is the danger of war bet Pakistan and India which could swiftly involve both the Soviet Union and China. For Pakistan the main fear is of going broke. Washington has provided no new aid since March but the pipeline is by no means dry. U.S. officials are especially pleased by some steps Pakistan has recently taken : (a) Pakistan agreement to allow 38 U.N. officials as partial observers ; (b) Pakistan agreement to have mixed Pakistan and foreign crews on relief vessels loanded ; (c) Pakistan agreement to accept U.N. and U.S. officials to head food relief and refugee relief assistance programs : (d) Pakistan program for refugee rehabilitation centers : (e) Pakistan removal of Tikka Khan as Govt. and ML Administrator and replacement by a civilian as the new govt ; (f) Pakistan easing of press censorship and permission to resume limited political activity provide it does not involve criticism of the military regime ; (g) Pakistan participation in the arrangements of Kissinger’s visit to China.
While private Am. criticism has been muted lately there is a gulf bet. the views of many U.S. diplomats in the Pakistan capital and some of their Pakistan capital and some of their colleagues in Dacca.
September 7 :
London Times (Editorial)
“The amnesty…was depressingly accompanied by warnings of more arrests to come. Some of the regular and irregular troops who were involved in the fighting are to be let go, but some more of the politicians are to be rounded up”.
T Globe & Mail (Dacca) Pakistan Govt. on flood damage : 96 dead, 500,000 homeless, cost $125 million, all roads connecting Dacca with north still under water. Govt. has approved $1.2 million for relief.
September 8 :
London Times
“The future of West Pakistan, quite as much as the eastern wing, is now inextricably intertwinged with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s fate…After the events since March the future in Pakistan can now only take three possible turns : East Bengal might ultimately win its independence. Alternatively, East Bengal might remain within the union of Pakistan but under a West Pakistan sponsored local govt. which would neither represent the aspirations of the Bengalis nor would it wield effective political power within a fed. govt. If one is to predict the future by the past pattern of regional compulsions then the present mood of euphoria is West Pakistan would disappear the moment East Bengal achieved its independence and the minority provinces would feel completetly vulnerable to the threat of Punjab’s hegemony. From the minority provinces point of view the pol counterbalance to Punjabi domiantion will either of the first two possibilities. Ironically, the integrity of the western wing might only be preserved by Press. Yahya Khan giving effective and real power to the Bengalis Yet this can only be achieved if the West Pakistan come to terms with the man they propose to execute”.
Wash Post (Islamabad)
A key test of the success of U.S. leverage will be Pakistan treatments of Sheikh Mujib. Yahya Khan has publicly called Mujib a traitor and no one is predicting that the military tribunal will find him not guilty.
There are reports that yahay has angrily terminated several discussions with foreigners when the name of Mujib was raised. U.S.A. Ambassador Joseph Farland, who has direct lines to the White House, is reported to have established a cordial relationship with Yahya Khan.
The U.S. has decided to do all it can to prevent famine this fall. But there are many diplomate here who believe that Pakistan will never succed in re-establishing the unity of the nation, no matter what emergency food aid or friendly advice the govt. is offered and accepts.
London Times : 4 members of the Omega team including one Am were arrested and are being held in jail at Jessore. They had crossed over on Sun with relief supplies. They face charges of illegal entry.
September 9 :
London Times (The Times Diary)
The overseas directors of Christian Aid and Oxfam report “the first signs of coming famine which may, they say, kill millions. Both are bitter about the international response to the treat”. Team of 7 engineers from CA, Oxfam, War on Want, worked in Noakahali area to get planting possible for December harvest.
Wash Post (Dacca) At least 15 university teachers arrested or ordered to report to Martial Law authorities in the last two and a half weeks, while students maintain a virtual boycott of universities throughout Bangladesh. A Dacca University, for example, only 63 out of an enrollment of 6000 are attending classes.
September 10 :
Wash Post (Islamabad) Pakistan has asked its western aid givers to consider its long standing request for debt relief and to reconsider their reluctance toward further assistance because of the crisis in East Bengal. Pol. observers here said that the Pakistan govt. was apparently counting on Yahya Khan’s recent decisions—the appointing of a civilian governor in East Bengal and the granting of amnesty—to mollify western critics of the military regime. October 31 is the date on which the unilateral Pakistan moratorium on debt repayment ends. The total international debt is $4 billion with the annual debt liability exceeding 25% of annual export earnings. The major effort is now directed at winning the West nations agreement for the suspension of debt repayments in convertible currency. The U.S. is the principal creditor. The Pakistan rupee is so weak and overvalued that the dollar depreciation may not effect Pakistan debt servicing.
NY Times
Harvard Med School team composed of Dr. Lincoln C. Chen and Dr. Jon E. Rohde warns that Bangladesh faces the “largest food deficit” since the famine ni 1943 when 3 million died. Some 25 million are predicted to be affected by the shortage. According to their aritcle in the current issue of Lancer, approximately “2.9 million tons of imports will be required to offset the deficit but the Pakistan Govt. has failed to acknowledge this crisis, much less initiated effective programs…much of the existing food stocks have been taken to the military cantonments to feed the army”. According to the team transportation facilities cannot handle relief shipments from abroad, therefore “the opportunity to prevent a major famine is rapidslipping away”.
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September 11 :
Wash Post : Malik, the new civilian governor appointed by Yahya Khan, made his fisrt trip to the countryside. At Faridpur he met about 30 administraition officials and “peace committee” workers. Army officers of the local command were present at the meeting. The Governor was told : (a) the Army and police cannot go successfully into the intcrior to fight the Mukt Bahini ; (b) people in the area listen only to the Bangladesh redio and to the All India Radio, rejecting news broadcasts by Pakistan Radio ; (c) people who have surrendered under the September 5 amnesty are forbidden to withdraw money from the bank ; (d) attendance at most local schools in nil. Islamabad announced that Yahya is to visit Iran next week. There was speculation that the Shah of Iran may dediate between Pakistan and Bangladesh and between Pakistan and India. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sultan Mohammed Khan returned fro Moscow with assuranes from Gromyko that the USSR was “deeply interested in the unity and integrity of Pakistan”.
London Times (Calcutta) New broadbased committee formed for the struggle for independence. The committee consists of 4 AL members, and 4 NAP, Muzaffar Ahmed’s NAP, ang the Communist Party of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh National Congress is also on the Committee. Mahbubul Alaam, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary, announced plans to send a delegation to plead its case before the U.N. General Assembly.
September 13 :
Wash Post : Plans for the autumn guerrilla campaign were discussed by members of the Bangladesh Mission in Washington. Pakistan embeassy sources say that “any mass movement of troops across the India-East Bengal border, whether of Indian soldiers or Bengali guerrillas would be interpreted as an attack by India and would signal all-out war”. U.S. military analysts say that operating in the broken-up terrain of Bangladesh, well-trained guerrillas could keep a larger regular army at bay for years, much as the Vietcong have been able to continue operations in Vietnam. State Dept say that they are “hopeful” about the appointment of Malik and the announcement of amnesty as a signal of sincere efforts by Yahya to reestablish peace. But, they say, “it’s just one tiny step and, obviously, it’s intended for us to see.”
(Dacca) Informed sources said that the Pakistan Govt. has told the U.N. that it expects 50,000 rebels to be
operating in East Bengal by October and it cannot guarantee the safety of foreign food aid monitors. The sources said that Pakistan wants U.N. relief monitoring reduced but that relief workers say this would reduce the efficiency of the program aimed at preventing widespread famine. Govt. and private relief workers said they needed monitors to spot areas where food is urgently needed and to prevent grain from being used as bait to pacity the rebellious population.
September 14 :
London Times : Khurrum Khan Panni, Ambassdor to the Philipphines, defected to the Bangladesh govt. He is reported to remain in Manila. Mohiuddin Ahmed Jaigirdar, Head of the High Commission in Lagos, defected to the Bangladesh Govt. and flew with his family to London. This brings the total of diplomatic defections in recent weeks to nearly 40. (Kuala Lumpur) The situation in Bangladesh and West Bengal dominated the first session of the 17th Conference of the Commonwelth parliamentary Association as it opened in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Arthur Bottomley, Labour MP and Minister for Overseas Dev. in 66-67 described the situation in Bengal as “acute”. He asked that steps be taken to assure future food requirements in view of the failure to sow for the next harvest in Bangladesh.
Wash Post : The editorial writes : “from the Pakistani side there is still no sign that an accomodation—as opposed to revenge and pacification—has any appeal…political impartial observers have yet to see evidence in East Bengal that conditions are normal enough to permit development efforts to proceed…Pakistan has been unable to secure new loan commitments, either from bilateral or international sources…military supplies have continued to flow to Islamabad. So it is that the Administration now is exploring ways to slip new kinds of assistance past an outraged Congress : By an indulgent attitude toward debt rescheduling, by expanding direct aid under the “humanitarian” label, and by taking advantage of the too-loose language of present Congressional restriction economic aid. Mr. Nixon had mad the U.S. partner to suppression of a cruel military regime. He has been the general’s friend in need, to American’s shame and surely to its ultimate political loss as well”.
September 15 :
London Times : The Labor Party yesterday decided to press U.K. govt. to intervene with Pakistan for the release of Sheikh Mujib and to raise the subject to the situation into the U.N. “as a threat to peace”.
(Teheran) Yahya Khan arrived here for his first visit abroad since March. There is no confirmation here of rumours that Teheran is being used as a launching pad for attempts to encourage a dialouge between India and Pakistan.
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