MUJIB REGRETS DELAY IN POLITICAL SOLUTION
ATTEMPTS TO DIVIDE BENGALEES AND MOHAJIRS CONDEMNED

Statement to Press on March 25, 1971, at Dacca

 

 

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Awami League Chief, today expressed concern over the regrettable delay in resolving the crisis politically" and termed it as "unfortunate".

 

He said that if a " political solution is desired" by President Yahya Khan and is should "realise that it was for them to take matters immediately, to a conclusion and that to delay this would expose the country and its people to grave hazards.

 

In a statement to the press here tonight, the Awami League Chief said: " We have done our duty and contributed our utmost efforts towards the attainment of the political solution."

 

He apprehended that certain elements have been deployed by the anti-people forces to foment tension between locals and non-locals and said: " let those evil forces of destruction know that their conspiracies cannot succeed when 75 million people are united in their determination to make every sacrifice and to resist those who seek to impose upon them by force."

 

The Awami League Chief said: "The arrival of the President in Dacca and his subsequent talks had led the people to expect that there was a realisation that the grave crisis engulfing the country could only be resolved politically.

 

It was for this reason that I met the President. The President affirmed that there could only be a political solution of the Upon that promise, certain fundamental principles on which such a solution would be based were accepted by the President.

 

Subsequently, my colleagues sat with the President's advisers to work out those principles. We have thus done our duty and contributed our utmost efforts towards the attainment of a political solution.

 

There is no reason or justification for any delay. If a political solution is desired by those concerned they should realise that it is for them to take matters immediately to a conclusion, and that to delay this would expose the country and its people to grave hazards.

 

It is therefore, unfortunate that there is a regrettable delay in resolving the crisis politically. Indeed the critical situation already pervailing is being aggravated by renewed military activities, the pace of which, according to reports from different parts of Bangla Desh, is being stepped up.

 

This is all the more regrettable at a time when the President is in Dacca for the declared purpose of resolving the crisis politically. After last week's firing at Joydevpur, reports of atrocities are pouring in from Rangpur, Saidpur, where curfew has been imposed. From Chittagong, there are reports of heavy firing on the civilian population.

Issue of Non-Locals

 

" What is more reprehensible is that certain elements have been deployed by the anti-people forces to foment tension between locals and ` non-locals '.

 

I have repeatedly re-affirmed that all those who live in Bangla Desh, regardless of their place of origin or the language they speak, are our people, and they should consider themselves as such and take full part in the struggle for emancipation of Bangla Desh. Their life, property and honour are our sacred trust.

 

It is, therefore, clear that those who are fomenting tension are doing so far the malicious purpose of sabotaging a political solution and creating a pretext for use of force against unarmed people.

 

Let the people of the world take notice that while we have been exerting our utmost towards the attainment of a political solution, there are certain evil ` elements still bent upon making a last desperate bid to impose a solution by force.

 

Let those evil forces of destruction know that their conspiracies cannot succeed, when seventy-five million people are united in their determination to make every sacrifice and to resist those who seek to impose upon them by force.

 

I condemn the firing that has taken place and the atrocities that have been committed in different parts of Bangla Desh. A general strike shall be observed on the 27th March 1971, throughout Bangla Desh to protest against such firing.                                                                       `

I urge those concerned to desist from creating situation of confrontation between the military and the unarmed civilian population. If they fail to take heed and continue to resort to military confrontation, they will bear full responsibility for aborting a political solution and for all the grave consequences that would follow.

 

I urge our heroic people to continue with their struggle. Our economy, . however, must function normally and indeed every person must consider it his ! sacred duty to ensure that the economy functions with maximum efficiency. Our workers in the mills and factories bear a heavy responsibility in this matter. They must take all steps to maintain normal conditions in which maximum production can be attained.

 

Our movement shall go forward. The directives issued on the 14th March 1971, shall continue in force, subject to the clarification issued from time to time."

                                        

                                                                                                                                                    (THE DAWN, Karachi-March 26. 1971)

 

Source: Bangladesh Documents, vol – 1, page no. 273-275