The Daily
Morning News
22 APRIL 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Army, EPR personnel surrender to troops.
- Army in complete control of Eastern Sector of province.
- More peace & welfare unit formed in city.
- KSP leader urges people to co-
operate with Govt. . - People asked to pay dues punctually.
- More employees resume duties.
- Dacca roads wear usual busy look.
Other Headlines:
- Pakistan asks India to stop firing on its Territory: H.C. warned of consequences.
- Indian interference condemned.
- Except for military action there was no other course left— Akhtar Sulaiman.
- Stand side by side of gallant armed forces, calls Sabur.
- Naked demonstration of India's nefarious designs.
- India condemned for blatant interference.
In response to the call of East Pakistan Governor and Martial Law Administrator,
Zone 'B' Lieutenant General Tikka Khan 16 Army and EPR personnel who were misled
by anti-
Those who surrendered include two junior commission officers and one Havildar. Similar reports of surrender are pouring in from other parts of East Pakistan also. It will be recalled that on Sunday last the Governor in his broadcast held out the assurance that all those who discard the miscreants and enemies of the country and report to the nearest military posts will be treated compassionately.
Comilla, April 21(APP): The Pakistan Army, notwithstanding the blatantly hostile Air propaganda, is completely in control of the Eastern Sector of this province and life in the many big and small towns of the area is rapidly returning to normalcy, writes a special correspondent.
There is a busy bustle of life in Comilla, Chandpur, Laksham and Daudkandi which
I toured for five days. And even in Brahmanbaria and Akhaura the border towns opposite
Agartala across the Indian border— the cye-
Kasba, that delightfully named town which looks memories of Morocco is also completely under control. It's quiet and orderly with the people under the protection of the army, returning to their daily routine.
One of the most heartening features is the fact that a large number of people coming forward to protect the numerous bridges and culverts which lot the trunk roads against any further sabotage by miscreants. This will ensure that the vital road communications are maintained both for passenger traffic and for movement of food from the countryside to the countless local 'Hats ' (Bazzars).
All this is far cry from the fantastically manufactured accounts of battles and engagements
by the so-
Sitting in Kasba yesterday I was amazed to hear AIR's imaginative account of an attack on the local army post. No such incident took place, nor was there any sound of explosion or gunfire.
I had similar experiences in Chandpur, Laksham and Comilla where everything is quiet and peaceful.
Except for public holidays, never have I seen so many Pakistan flags flown at one time as I have seen in Chandpur and Laksham. Literally thousands of flags fly over every house, shop and business establishment providing an unforgettable spectacle as they flutter bravely in the freshening breeze. The same can be seen in Daudkandi and Comilla.
There have also been other demonstrations of patriotic fervour as the anti-
In Chandpur, the people were busy getting the shops open and business moving again.
The city is a key-
Comilla belying all expectations was again having a traffic problem as rickshaws jammed the streets. At Kandirpar intersection the infestation of rickshaws slowed the jeep I was travelling in to a crawl.
Traffic Problem
Bus traffic between Comilla, on the one hand, and Chandpur and Laksham on the other, has been resumed. On Saturday, there were eleven buses plying between these towns. Rail traffic between Laksham and Chandpur was also being resumed.
Peace Committee
Forty-
The market is already buzzling with life as produce comes in from the far-
At a meeting of the local residents of Malibagh and Santibagh, Dacca-
The meeting was held at Santibagh mosque after Maghrab on 17-
Executive members : Messars K.M. Shahabuddin, Wahidur Rahman, Akhlaq Ahmad, Abdul Karim, Sultan Mia, Md. Ali Sikdar, Haji Amiruddin, Abdul Jalil and Abdul Ghafur.
Moulana Nuruzzaman, Secretary General, East Pakistan peace and welfare steering council announced the formation of the following peace and welfare steering units and information centres:
1. 19 Nalmabar Saha Lane, Nawabganj, Dacca, members in charge of the unit, Maulvi Nasiruddin, phone 282445.
2. 29 Bagdessor Lane, Dacca, Moulvi Tahbuddin, Secy. to Moulana Chisti.
3. 11 K.P. Ghosh Street, Dacca, Moulvi Abdul Malik, Asst, Secy. to Moulana Chisti.
4. 46 Brojeswar Lane, Dacca, Moulvi Khwaja Gholam.
5. Malibagh and Santibagh Dacca 271 Malibagh, Dacca, president Moulvi Shamsuddin Beg, secretary Moulvi Idrish Ahmed.
6. 25 Larmini Street, Wari, Dacca Sk. Keromatullah, phone 242875.
7. 68 Lanosi Bazar, Dacca, Md. Naswullah.
Mr. S.M.K. Zainul Abedin — senior vice-
Appreciating in a press statement the radio broadcast of the East Pakistan Governor and ML Administrator, Zone B, Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan, the KSP leader said that he considered the speech as an open invitation to all well wishers, of the Nation in East Pakistan for participation to build up the Nation in a sound manner.
Mr. Abedin said that the Governor has quite clearly expressed his mind and explained
the situation in his appreciating speech. Since the fascists and miscreants who created
unrest in this port of the country have been subdued and now peace prevails, everyone
should properly respond to the call of the Governor and take up the work in every
field and discharge their duty sincerely to redress our affairs and economy, he appealed.
Mr. Abedin suggested that people should also co-
The following is the text of the radio talk of secretary Revenue Department of East Pakistan. It was broadcast over Radio Pakistan, Dacca, on April 19, 1971.
The Martial Law Authority has already directed that all dues payable to Government,
provincial or central or to any autonomous or semi autonomous body or to any other
local authority or council should be promptly cleared off by those liable to pay
them. It is the duty of every citizen to pay the legal dues punctually and regularly
for the smooth running of the administration and the execution of various development
schemes. On the other hand non-
Government notice with grave concern that the collection of land revenue, rentcess,
development and relief tax, additional development and relief tax and local rate
during the current year has so far been the lowest as compared to that in the past
several years. Government sanctioned remission of current and arrear dues in the
areas which were very badly affected by the last cyclone and tidal bore and only
the current dues in certain other areas not so severely affected by the calamity.
In all other areas, Government allowed remission of interest and certificate cost
of interest and certificate cost if the entire arrears in respect of any holding
or tenancy were paid up by the 13th April, 1971, in order to give some relief to
the land-
Collection of Loan
The position of collection of agricultural and relief loans advanced out of the provincial Government funds presents the same gloomy picture. Here also, Government allowed remission of interest and certificate cost for payment of arrear loans up to the 13th April, 1971, without any effect. The loaners are, therefore, advised in the interest of the state as well as in their own interest to clear off their loans by the 30th June, 1971 to avoid legal action.
The divisional commissioners and district officers are directed by Government to gear up their collection machinery and step up collections by launching vigorous collection drive in this regard.
In this connection, the attention of all tahsil and revenue staff at various levels, including the officers and staff working under the directorate of land records and surveys and all land acquisition officers and staff in the districts, is drawn to the directive already issued from the ML Authorities to report at their respective places of duty by the 21st April 1971 at the latest, failing which they will face consequences as provided under the relevant MLO.
Under the rules, the settlement of all Sairat Mahals viz, hats, bazars and fisheries,
for the ensuing year or years was to be completed by the 16th March, 1971. Government
apprehend that due to the disturbances many such Sairat Mahals of which the period
of lease expired on the 1st Baisakh 1378 B.S. may not have been settled for any subsequent
period. It has been decided by Government that all such unsettled Sairat Mahals should
be resettled with the out-
Government undertook a crash programme for the settlement of all unsettled agricultural
... and the last date for completing the settlement fixed for 28-
Now that the situation all over the province is fast returning to normal. The local officers should gear up their administrative machinery and try hard to complete this unfinished task as quickly as possible and submit the usual progress reports to the Board of Revenue regularly.
As regards requisition or acquisition of Property Act 1948, for the irrigation, embankment, drainage and flood control projects of EPWAPDA without reference to Government and ... also exempted such projects from the purview of Zonal and Central Land Allocation Committee and the District Site Selection Comittee up to 30,6,1971. As regards other development projects, the deputy commissioners have already been given the power to apply the East Bengal (Emergency) Requisition of Property Act, 1948, in emergent cases and then report the fact to Government if they have no time to obtain Government's prior approval. All pending land acquisition projects for development schemes should be vigorously pursued, including quick disbursement of compensation money already with the deputy commissioners.
More employees of Govt. dept. and directorates, as well as autonomous and semi-
Some of them returned to Dacca on Tuesday from their homes in different parts of the province travelling on foot and by various kinds of transport including train, bus, coaches, scooters, rickshaws, steamers, lounches, ferries and boats.
They had gone home during disturbances and were unable to return to the place of their duties due mainly to partial dislocation in the transport system.
Despite rains on Wednesday morning, office goers crowded bus-
With the gradual return of normalcy, banks, insurance-
Members of the public moved in all directions to transact business and to arrange for daily necessities of life.
They were also seen at public counters of post and telegraph offices in large numbers.
At market place more buying and selling took place yesterday and the supply of rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish and meat has been steadily increasing day by day.
In the afternoon, many came out of their homes and visited their friends and relatives.
Youthful cinema-
Dacca is back to normal with the return of most of the city dwellers to their places
of work in government, semi-
Huge quantities of foodstuffs, including fish, green vegetables, eggs, milk, etc., are pouring into city markets from various places to cater to the needs of the people. Trucks and bullock carts are plying in city roads in increased numbers carrying foodstuffs and other essential commodities. A large number of country boats laden with vegetables, fish, milk, etc., are daily unloading their supplies at Sham Bazar, Soarighat, Madartek and other wholesale markets.
All kinds of vegetables and other commodities of day to-
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