বঙ্গবন্ধুর ভাষণসমগ্র, ১৭ আগস্ট ১৯৫২, দিনাজপুর
Speech about Govt. policy and nationalisation of Jute
17th August 1952
Dinajpur Institute, Dinajpur.
ভাষণটির অডিও না থাকায় শ্রোতাদের জন্য অডিও রেকর্ড করে দিয়েছেন সংগ্রামের নোটবুক এর একজন নাম প্রকাশে অনিচ্ছুক কণ্ঠযোদ্ধা।
শুরুতে অডিও ও নীচে টেক্সট দেয়া হল।
The rate of jute has been fixed by Government for the purchase of jute from the growers by agents but it sells far below the rate fixed; on the other hand, Government have failed to fix up rate for the sale of jute in the foreign countries by big jute merchants like Ispahani, Dada and others. As a result these merchants sold a maund of jute @ Rs. 111/- even. This exorbitant high price of jute has induced the foreigners to use cotton and some other materials as substitute for jute and consequently Pakistan has lost the foreign markets. Result is that price of jute has gone down to Rs. 6/- per maund. All these could happen due to unsound policy of the Government. On the other hand, there has been heavy taxation on cloth and the burden of this taxation has fallen on the poor who are day by day losing their purchasing capacity. As regards education of the children in Schools and Colleges, due to economic crisis caused by the abnormal depression in the price of jute, the guardians are now compelled to discontinue their education. Condition of the Primary Schools are also in pitiable state. 1
We got Pakistan in 1947 and it is 1952. I shall give you an account of the misdeeds of the muslim league rulers. Cordoning was introduced. In 1948 on demand of Bangali as being one of state languages of Pakistan many students were arrested and harassed. During 1947 to 1952 we have lost all the world market for jute the main crops of East Bengal for which Muslim League and its policy are responsible.
The M.L. Govt. fixed the price of jute at Rs. 16/- per maund but it did not fix the rate of jute at which the big farms will sell at foreign market as a result we have lost our foreign markets. The M. L. Govt. did not restrain the firms in selling jute at exorbitant prices in the hope that they would get crores of rupees from the big businessmen at the time of election. Our Jute Board has been set up with Faroqui and Ispahani. I request the Govt. on behalf of you to give the jute growers at least Rs. 30/- per maund. I request you to get yourselves united and let the Govt. know that the people are not ready to die for want of food. On tobacco heavy taxes have been imposed. We import Biri leaves worth 6 crores from India but the Govt. do not force India to take similar worth of our tobacco. We will not allow the ministers to fly with our money. We must confiscate your money and distribute among the poor. Due to fall of jute price many students are going to stop their education. We had to buy salt at Rs. 16/- per sheer. There is a Safety Act for the safety of ministers and the Muslim Leaguers. About 500 of our men are in jail without trial. Those who demand food and cloth are characterized as enemies of state. Moulana Bhasani is in jail at his age of 67.
There are Khairat Hussain, A. R. Tarkabagish, Abul Hashim, Golam Mahboob, Oli Ahad and others in jail for the reason that they demand food and cloth for the people. I request the Govt. to release them and put them on trial. I request you to join Awami League we shall give you our full confidence if you fulfill our demands. There is none who can snatch our mother tongue. If they want more students to die. I shall give hundreds of them to die.2
Reference:
- Hasina, S. (2018) Secret Document of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Vol – II, p 313-315, Sheikh Hasina, Hakkani Publishers
- Hasina, S. (2018) Secret Document of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Vol – II, p 322-323, Sheikh Hasina, Hakkani Publishers
- বঙ্গবন্ধুর ভাষণসমগ্র, সংগ্রামের নোটবুক