Dawn
25th March 1969
E. Pakistanis desire end of exploitation: Mujib scants peaceful struggle for demands
DACCA, March 24: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League leader, said here the people of East Pakistan want the end of the exploitations and the realization of their legitimate demands including that of the regional autonomy.
During the last 21 years the people of the province were subjected to various exploitations, the Awami League leader told a meeting after opening the Awami League Rajarbagh Union office.
Sheikh Mujib renewed his appeal to the people to continue their peaceful struggle for the implementation of the six-point programme and students eleven-point demands for the achievement of the people’s legitimate demands.
Sheikh Saheb said it was unfortunate that the bullets which were to be used to repulse foreign attack were used to stifle the voice of the people who were not allowed to ventilate their grievances.
As a result, he added, the Governor, Mr. Monem Khan had to leave his motherland unceremoniously to live in Islamabad. He advised Mr. Monem Khan not to try to come to East Pakistan.
He said it was true that Mir Jafar was born in Bengal, but it was equally true that Sirajuddaulla was also born in the same soil. The people of the province would not tolerate any betrayal of their cause, he added.
Referring to a PDM leader’s statement accusing Sheikh Mujib of standing in the way of realization of the people’s demands at the Round Table Conference, the Awami League leader said it was true that he had refused, and that was not to betray the people’s
cause.
Sheikh Mujib said he had always refused to compromise on the cause of the people and this had resulted in his imprisonments several times. He said, he had preferred to suffer imprisonments to betraying the people’s interest.
The Awami League leader said it was the same leader who had gone to Rawalpindi in the hope of becoming a minister. If “I had wanted to become a minister I could be one long before,” he added.
Sheikh Mujib warned such leaders not to play with the interest of the people to meet their selfish ends, otherwise their fate would be like that of the Governor. Mr. Monem Khan, he added.
The Awami League leader accused a group of people of trying to mislead the people and create chaos and confusion with the object of inviting an evil force to frustrate the recent political
movement.
He cautioned the people against the activities of the ultra progressives and the ultra-reactionary elements who were out to create chaos and confusion in the country.-APP.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯