Archive for April 2014

April 1971

Voice of 71

Link Author

Title: April 1971
Author: Voice of 71
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

April 1: New York Times reports heavy killing in Dhaka. Muslim League President Mumtaz Daultana : Mujib’s demands were much as ...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi14Rb1sQrG0xPz38FInU7afAHwPaJM_9q5_wUgim2vOP_XVie6kbu3ybbUPc56N2TfR4pFLb32JVu3fXPw27OL03hlnP7Yj6SfxMgJKkTJcwrGoCZrVuR1XhWEyN4Uqx9AYNsFsUYm90/s1600/eng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi14Rb1sQrG0xPz38FInU7afAHwPaJM_9q5_wUgim2vOP_XVie6kbu3ybbUPc56N2TfR4pFLb32JVu3fXPw27OL03hlnP7Yj6SfxMgJKkTJcwrGoCZrVuR1XhWEyN4Uqx9AYNsFsUYm90/s1600/eng.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>April 1: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.docstrangelove.com/uploads/1971/foreign/19710330_nyt_heavy_killing_reported.pdf">New York Times reports</a> heavy killing in Dhaka.<br />
<br />
Muslim League President <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0402_daulatana_commitment.htm">Mumtaz Daultana</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Mujib’s demands were much as President Yahya had spelled out in his address to the nation, except that Yahya had not detailed Mujib’s views on an interim central government. Mujib had wanted Yahya to remain as President with no political government at the Center. Mujib was not “particularly concerned” about the Six Points and was willing to accept an interim arrangement based on the 1962 Constitution. However, he envisaged that the President would allow the Awami League to exercise full control over the affairs of East Pakistan, while the President would perform a coordinating role for inter-provincial affairs of the West Wing. </blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the “two-Assembly” proposal, Daultana said Mujib had been rather vague as to whether he really envisaged two separate assemblies or two subcommittees of the National Assembly. <br />
<br />
Mujib replied, and Daultana accepted his response as sincere, that while he was under great pressure to declare an independent Bangla Desh, he wanted to maintain Pakistan. Mujib was convinced the West Pakistan establishment as represented by Yahya and Bhutto would never permit Bengalis to rule Pakistan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 3: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0403_1971_rogers.htm">Background to the Thinning Out of the U.S. Presence in East Pakistan</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 4: </b><br />
<br />
The Pakistani ambassador to USA Agha Hilaly <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0406_71_telegram_dep_state.pdf">tells</a> Assistant Secretary (USA) Sisco:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The army had to kill people in order to keep the country together.</blockquote>
“<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0403_71_the_slaughter_in_east_pakistan.htm">The Slaughter in East Pakistan</a>“, Editorial, The Times, London<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“From the evidence available one must conclude that the aim was so to wipeout the Awami League leadership that it could no longer provide an effective leadership for any resistance movement.”</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 6: </b><br />
<br />
Archer Blood, the US Consul General, officers of USAID and USIS sents the famous <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0406teleuscon2.htm">blood telegram</a> to the Department of State condemning the failure of the US to denounce the suppression of democracy and the widespread attrocities. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0406_conversation_nixon_kissinger.htm">Converstaion between Nixon and Kissinger</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 7: </b><br />
<br />
“<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0407_71_grim_fight.htm">Foreign evacuees from East Pakistan tell of grim fight</a>“, Sydney H. Schanberg, in New York Times.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 8: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0408_1971_telegram22.htm">Telegram From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
“Two weeks after Yahya sent army into action, Pak military has control major cities in east, but Bengalis still hold major areas, especially in countryside. Bengali grievances now etched in blood. For present, Awami Leaguers leading resistance forces. If AL movement crumbles before it able consolidate position on ground, resistance movement likely to pass to more radical and left extremist groups such as Naxalites. <br />
<br />
Bhutto is eager for power and he may be prepared make deal with military to play key, if not leading role, in new central government.”</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 10: </b><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0410_proclamation.htm">proclamation of independence order from Mujib Nagar</a> (which was issued on April 10 shall be deemed to have come into effect from March 26, 1971).<br />
<br />
US Consul General <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0410_71_telegram1249.htm">Archer Blood’s telegram from Dhaka</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“It is, in our opinion, a minor miracle that no American was killed or injured by trigger-happy Pak troops fresh from killing and looting during the delay caused by our accetance of Govt. of Pakistan arrangements.”</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 11: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0411_radio_taj.htm">Radio adress by Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed,</a> Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government of Bangla Desh headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, broadcast by Swadhin Bangla Desh Betar Kendra to the people of Bangladesh.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Today a mighty army is being formed around the nucleus of professional soldiers, from the Bengal Regiment and E.P.R. who have rallied to the cause of the liberation struggle. These have been joined by the Police, Ansars and Mujahids and now by thousands of Awami League and other volunteers and are being trained into a fighting force ready to use the captured weapons from the defeated West Pakistani mercenaries and fresh arms being purchased from funds collected by our Bengali Brothers overseas. <br />
<br />
In Chittagong and Noakhali we have commissioned Major Zia Rahman of the Bengal Regiment to take full command of operations. His heroic defence of Chittagong City against overwhelming odds, which included attacks from the air and sea, will take its place with the defence of Stalingrad in the annals of warfare.”</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/April/2nd%20Week/NYbangla_71April2.jpg">Mujib is the Head of War Cabinet for Bangladesh</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 12: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0412_prospectsforpak.htm">CIA’s assessment about the present and prospective state of Pakistani civil war and role of India and other powers</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 13: </b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Chinese government holds that what is happening in Pakistan at present is purely internal affair of Pakistan, which can only be settled by Pakistan people themselves and which brooks no foreign interference whatsoever.” -<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0413_71_chou_letter.htm">Chou En Lai</a></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 14: </b><br />
<br />
“<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0414_71_rhetoric_and_reality.htm">Rhetoric and Reality</a>”, Editorial, Guardian, London <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Nobody can tell precisely what Yahya’s strategists whispered in his ear three weeks ago. They appear to have thought that cutting off the head would kill Bengali nationalism: precisely the reverse. They appear to have forgotten about world opinion. They appear, most insanely of all, to have ruled India out of the military calculations, so that the uncontrolled border and aid seeping in has them as much by the throat as proliferatin- diplomatic complications.” </blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/April/3rd%20Week/BG_April3Week.jpg">Liberation forces organized, General MAG Osmani made Chief in command</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 16: </b><br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0416_71_blood_of_bangladesh.htm">Blood of Bangla Desh</a>", New Statesman, London:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“If blood is the price of a people’s right to independence, Bangla Desh has overpaid. The Bengalis’ case for statehood may be hard to refute, but it is inconvenient to every one else. And yet, by an unusual combination of circumstances, Bangla Desh has managed to obey all the rules. So, this may be the moment to consider what we, and other countries, mean by those splendid words which recur like a chorus in the United Nations charter: `the right to self-determination of peoples’. Objectively or subjectively, in Chinese or English, in capitalist or socialist jargon, it is hard to fault the East Bengalis, or justify their abandonment by all the major powers.”</blockquote>
Memorandum from Senior Review Group meeting regarding <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0416_71_pakistan_american_relations.htm">Pakistan – American relations</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 17: </b><br />
<br />
The formation of Bangladesh Government: <br />
<br />
The First Bangladesh Government is Formed in exile. Awami League leaders convene in the district of Meherpur near the Indian border in Jessore, in the village of Baidyanathtala later renamed Mujibnagar, and affirm Sheikh Mujib’s March 26 proclamation for an independent Bangladesh. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is declared the President of the newly formed Republic, and Syed Nazrul Islam the Vice-President. Nazrul Islam assumes the reponsibilities of the Interim President, and appoints Tajuddin Ahmed as the Prime Minsiter to lead the provisional government. <br />
<br />
* <a href="http://1971.uttorshuri.net/clippings/Congressional_Record.jpg">Tajuddin Ahmed’s April 10, 1971 Proclamation</a><br />
* <a href="http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0359.HTM">Members of The Mujibnagar Government</a><br />
<br />
More here: <br />
“<a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=107">Mujibnagar Day: A milestone in our liberation war</a>”<br />
<br />
BANGLA DESH BECOMES A REPUBLIC -<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0417_decl_taj.htm"> THE SUNDAY STATESMAN, New Delhi-April 18, 1971</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 18: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0417_1971_telegram2.htm">Telegram</a> from the Department of State to the embassy in Pakistan on the Provisional Government of Bangla Desh.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 19: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0419_1971_srg_meeting.htm">Minutes of Senior Review Group meeting regarding Pakistan</a>.<br />
<blockquote>
“I agree I used to think that 30,000 men couldn’t possibly subdue 75 million, which I suppose is the Western way of looking at it. But if the 75 million don’t organize and don’t fight, the situation is different.” - Kissinger</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 20: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0420_pstatementmuzaffar.htm">Press Statement issued</a> by Professor Muzaffar Ahamed, President of National Awami Party (NAP), Bangla Desh concerning full support to Bangla Desh Government:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We declare in unequivocal terms that the government headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the only legally constituted government of Bangla Desh. And urge upon all the democratic and progressive nations of the world ‘to recognise the newly-born state and its government and to render all material help and moral support.”</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>April 21: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0421_71_bhasani_appeal.htm">Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani’s appeal to world leaders</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“I appeal to you. Mr. Secretary-General (UN), in the name of humanity to issue an immediate appeal to stop these brutal massacres of innocent people and to extend all possible help for the relief of the victims of dictator General Yahya Khan against military rule in Bangla Desh. I would welcome sending your observers inside Bangla Desh to see the nature and volume of looting, arson, mass killings and molestation of women by West Pakistani Army so that they can reveal the true picture of the sordid tale of Bangla Desh to the people of the world through the United Nations.”</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/April/4th%20Week/BG_April4Week2.jpg">Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury made special representative of Bangladesh Government</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>April 22: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0422_71_bhasani.htm">Press statement of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani</a>, President of National Awami Party, Bangladesh:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“The question is whether the people of the 
world and nation of the world will support the struggle of the 71 crore 
people of Bengal for independence or support the abominable conspiracy 
of the dictatorial exploiting ruling clique which is indulging in mass 
murder.<br />
<br />
Yahya, who is a
 Muslim himself, in the name of religion is mercilessly killing lakhs of
 Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. His soldiers who say that 
they are Muslims are raping women, including Muslim women. Though 
Muslims themselves, they are destroying mosques. They kill Muslims who 
are offering prayers. What will the Muslim world do about this ? Will 
they support the un-Islamic antihumanity abominable policy of Yahya ? Or
 will they support the cause of truth, justice and love as preached by 
Islam ?”</blockquote>
<br />
<b>April 27: </b><br />
<br />
Maulana Abdul Mannan, General Secretary of Muslim League issued a statement saying that “patriotic” (by which he meant Islamic minded) people imbued with the zeal of crusading (Jihad) had come forward to welcome the (maurauding) army of West Pakistan.<br />
<br />
<b>April 28: </b><br />
<br />
Tajuddin <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0428_71_tajuddin_plea.htm">pleas for arms aid</a> and thus help a new-born country to free itself from the clutches of a murderous army. (The Times of India- New Delhi-April 29, 1971)<br />
<br />
Henry Kissinger wrote in a <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0428_71_memo_president.htm">secret memo to President Nixon</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Pakistani army was poised to “retake” physical control of the major towns and that the ressistance was too poorly organised. He also said that the West Pakistanis were afraid that their economy would crash without emergency foreign aid. Till this day the country survives on foreign aid, like Bangladesh. Kissinger feared that Yahya might be forced to let East Pakistan (Bangladesh) go if this news leaked out.</blockquote>
Kissinger recommended Give serious assistance to Yahya Khan to end the war and bring about an arrangement which would be transitional to autonomy in Bangladesh. He suggested sending aid to Pakistan so that later the US would be in a position to pressurize Pakistan into adhering to the arangement. <br />
<br />
The feedback from Nixon was an instruction not to squeeze Yahya Khan at the moment.<br />
<br />
<b>April 29: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0429_71_memo_haig.htm">Memorandum from Haig to President Nixon</a> on relief assistance for East Pakistani refugees in India:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
According to the Indians, there are now over 500,000 East Pakistani refugees and they expect their numbers could eventually total one to two million. The magnitude of this problem-coming suddenly as it does-is beyond India’s limited resources. <br />
<br />
It is recommended that you approve this $2.5 million modest program of assistance to East Pakistani refugees to be administered through appropriate international and voluntary agencies.* <br />
<br />
* President Nixon initialed his approval of the recommendation on April 29. The Embassy in India was informed of the President’s decision in telegram 75479 to New Delhi, May 1.”</blockquote>
</div>
</div>

April 1971

April 1: New York Times reports heavy killing in Dhaka. Muslim League President Mumtaz Daultana : Mujib’s demands were much as ...

মুক্তিযুদ্ধ প্রতিদিনঃ ৩০ এপ্রিল, ১৯৭১

Voice of 71

Link Author

Title: মুক্তিযুদ্ধ প্রতিদিনঃ ৩০ এপ্রিল, ১৯৭১
Author: Voice of 71
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

৩০ এপ্রিল, ১৯৭১ মুক্তিবাহিনী প্রধান সেনাপতি কর্নেল এম.এ.জি.ওসমানী রামগড়ে মুক্তিযোদ্ধাদের ঘাঁটি পরিদর্শন করেন এবং চট্টগ্রামের খবরা...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZke2GMXGP3F9YCtegq_9VLBPwxbK14WeKZ1mC6N1P2aigp6WPf1Jiaub2uwxLad8BFPDC9nrPhSohxUVnJidAeEda8WGG_AQ1J_IxIwz6SQkF-NLj7wQ4-0W-qYcQS7CHesTK40at_I/s1600/mp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZke2GMXGP3F9YCtegq_9VLBPwxbK14WeKZ1mC6N1P2aigp6WPf1Jiaub2uwxLad8BFPDC9nrPhSohxUVnJidAeEda8WGG_AQ1J_IxIwz6SQkF-NLj7wQ4-0W-qYcQS7CHesTK40at_I/s1600/mp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>৩০ এপ্রিল, ১৯৭১</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li>মুক্তিবাহিনী
 প্রধান সেনাপতি কর্নেল এম.এ.জি.ওসমানী রামগড়ে মুক্তিযোদ্ধাদের ঘাঁটি 
পরিদর্শন করেন এবং চট্টগ্রামের খবরাখবর নেন। পরিদর্শন শেষে তিনি মীর শওকত 
আলীকে যে কোন প্রকারে অন্তত আরো দুদিন রামগড়কে মুক্ত রাখার নির্দেশ দেন, 
যাতে নিরীহ জনতাসহ সবাই নিরাপদে ভারতে আশ্রয় নিতে পারে।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>অমরখানার কাছে মাগুরামারীতে অবস্থানরত মুক্তিবাহিনীর ১০ জন যোদ্ধার 
একটি ছোট দলের উপর পাকবাহিনী আকস্মিক আক্রমণ চালায়। এতে ২ জন মুক্তিযোদ্ধা 
শহীদ হন এবং অন্য ২ জন মুক্তিযোদ্ধা গুরুতরভাবে আহত হয়।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>চট্টগ্রামের চিকনছড়া নামক স্থানে অবস্থানরত মুক্তিবাহিনী ওপর পাকবাহিনী
 অতর্কিত আক্রমণ চালায়। এ যুদ্ধে মুক্তিযোদ্ধারা পিছু হটে বাগানবাড়ি নামক 
স্থানে এসে অবস্তান নেয়।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>নেপালের প্রধানমন্ত্রী বি.পি কৈরালা কাঠমুন্ডুতে এক বিবৃতিতে 
বাংলাদেশের নিরস্ত্র জনসাধারণের অবস্থার উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ করেন। তিনি আশা 
প্রকাশ করেন, বাংলাদেশের মুক্তি সংগ্রামীরা জয়ী হবেনই।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>ঢাকায় সামরিক কর্তৃপক্ষ ঘোষণা করে, স্বাভাবিক কৃষিকাজে হস্তক্ষেপ করা 
হলে কঠোর শাস্তিদান করা হবে। আগামী ৩০ জুনের মধ্যে বকেয়া খাজনা পরিশোধ করতে
 হবে।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>আঙ্কারায় অনুষ্ঠিত সেন্টো সম্মেলনে পাকিস্তানি প্রতিনিধি ইফতেখার আলী মুক্তিযুদ্ধকে ভারতীয় চক্রান্ত বলে উল্লেখ করেন।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>লিবিয়ার নেতা কর্নেল গাদ্দাফী ত্রিপোলীতে নিযুক্ত পাকিস্তানি 
রাষ্ট্রদূত আবদুর রউফখানকে জানান, পাকিস্তানের ঐক্য বজায় রাখার জন্য জন্যে 
ইয়াহিয়া খান সঠিক ব্যবস্থাই নিয়েছেন।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>মুক্তিবাহিনী চট্টগ্রামের রামগড়ে শক্ত প্রতিরোধ ব্যুহ গড়ে তোলে।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>সিলেট শান্তি কমিটির আহ্বায়ক নাজমুল হোসেন ও যুগ্মআহ্বায়ক খন্দকার 
আবদুল জলিল সিলেট বেতার কেন্দ্র থেকে প্রদত্ত ভাষণে জনগণের প্রতি 
পাকিস্তানি সেনাবাহিনীকে সহযোগিতা এবং মুক্তিযোদ্ধাদের খতম করার আহ্বান 
জানান।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>খুলনার দৌলতপুরের দিয়ানায় সবুর খানের সভাপতিত্বে শান্তি কমিটির সভা হয়।
 সভায় সবুর খান খুলনাবাসীকে দেশদ্রোহীদের (মুক্তিযোদ্ধাদের) বিরুদ্ধে 
ব্যাপক প্রতিরোধ গড়ে তোলার আহ্বান জানান।</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>রংপুর স্বাধীনতা-বিরোধীরা একটি মিছিল বের করে। মিছিরের নেতৃত্ব দেন জাতীয় পরিষদের সদস্য সিরাজুল ইসলাম ও মোহাম্মদ আমিন।</li>
</ul>
তথ্যসূত্র: মুক্তিযুদ্ধ জাদুঘর</div>
</div>