The Daily
Morning News
07 MARCH 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Protest week culminates : Mujib addresses rally at Race Course today.
- Yahya asked to meet Sheikh.
- Tongi firing condemned.
- Mujib has right to rule country : Nur.
- White paper on country's economic position urged.
- People ugred to join rally.
- Joint meeting of AL working bodies held.
- Asghar again meets Mujib.
- 341 escape from Dacca Central Jail : 7 killed.
- Tikka named Governor.
- NA meets on March 25.
- PPP will attend NA, says Bhutto.
Other Headlines:
- 18 dead, 86 hurt in Khulna firing incident.
(Staff Rep.)
The protest being observed by the resurgent people of Bangladesh at the call of Awami League against the postponement of the National Assembly session will culminate with Awami League's public meeting at the Race Course today. Mujib is expected to make an important announcement at the meeting.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the meeting scheduled to be held at 2 p.m.
(APP)
Lahore March 6 (APP) : Nawab Zada Sher Ali Khan, former minister for Information and National Affairs has asked president General Yahya Khan to immediately go to East Pakistan to meet Sheikh Mujib and other leaders of that wing.
Nawabzada expressed the hope that Mujib like a true Muslim and in view of his role in the Pakistan movement would uphold solidarity in the country and Islam. The protection of the country and ideology of Pakistan rested on him more because he was a leader of the majority party.
Mr. Sirajul Hossain Khan general secretary of Purba Pakistan Sramik Federation issued the following statement in Dacca yesterday.
I strongly condemn the unprovoked firing and brutal killing of workers in the tongi industrial area by army and demand public trial and punishment for the officials responsible for this inhuman action.
I demand payment of adequate compensation for the martyrs and the injured workers. I must say that the blood of the martyr would not go in vain.
(PPI)
Lahore March 6 (PPI) : Air Marshal (Rtd.) Nur Khan, a prominent leader of the Council Muslim League observed here today that it was the legal right of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to rule the country and that all impediments in the way of transfer of power must immediately be removed.
(APP)
Lahore March 6 (APP) : President of the Quaid-
In a statement to the press; Mr. Falahi observed that the basis for the separatist tendencies in a part of the country was the persistent propaganda about the alleged injustice to that part of the country.
This was vigorously refuted by experts but it was not understandable as to why no
political party from West Pakistan challenged this basis at the proper time, although
at present everybody is grief-
It had to be remembered, said Mr. Falahi that Quaid-
It was correct, Mr. Falahi said, that the present constitutional impasse was the outcome of incorrect politics. The solution was not that the muslims should begin to Think in terms of separation but instead they must employ their assertive genius for correcting politics which could be done by taking suitable steps for purifying it from the geographic quagmire of destructive territorial nationalism so that it should once again embrace the unsurpassable Islamic principles of the Pakistan movement.
(Staff Rep.)
Messrs, Nur-
The student leaders also demanded that Radio Pakistan should broadcast and relay the Race Course speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today.
(Staff Rep.)
A joint meeting of the All Pakistan and East Pakistan Awami League working committee held at the residence of the party chief Mujib met for two hours yesterday afternoon.
A spokesman of the party said the joint session which was adjourned after the two hour meeting had reviewed the latest political situation.
All the members of both the committees available in the city attended the meeting.
(Staff Rep.)
Air Marshal (Rtd) Asghar Khan on Friday called on Sheikh Mujib at his Dhanmondhi residence.
When asked for his assessment of the situation after president's broadcast after his forty five minute discussion with Mujib the former Air Force chief told the waiting newsmen, "I have tried my best to save the situation.
He said that Sheikh Saheb will speak today at the Race Course Maidan.
(Staff Rep.)
A total of 341 prisoners yesterday morning escaped form the Dacca Central Jail by breaking open the gate, cells and by scaling the walls. Of them 16 were later recaptured from various parts of the city.
During the incident, the jail police, open fire killing or injuring a number of prisoners.
A spokesman of the jail later told newsmen that seven prisoners, two convicts, five
under trials-
Till last evening a total of 325 prisoners including 16 convicts remained at large.
Most of the prisoners who were either killed, injured or who escaped, were allegedly members of gang cases, the jail authorities said.
Of the injured, 10 were removed to Dacca Medical College Hospital with bullet wounds and were admitted. Condition of one of them was reported to be serious. Another injured prisoner who was also brought to DMCH was taken back to jail after treatment. The rest 19 were treated in the jail hospital.
The incident
Giving an account of the incident, spokesman of the Dacca Central Jail yesterday
said that at about 11-
The spokesman said that attracted by slogans outside, the assembled prisoners, numbering over 2000, suddenly started rushing towards the jail gate raising slogans. On their way to the gate they took with them all available arms including "Dao" axe, hammer, Dhenki, shovel and rods and tried to break open the gate.
The Attack
Within seconds, they broke the wooden portion of the iron-
Soon the alarm was given and the on duty guards on the foot and other positions opened fire. According to reports, the firing continued for about 40 minutes.
While some of the prisoners escaped through the gate, others scaled. The jail walls, running along Urdu Road and Bakshi Bazar with the help of rope and bamboo. Some others also managed to escape by breaking open another gate used for refuse carrying trucks.
The prisoners, immediately after escaping the Jail Campus changed their dress and
rushed to every direction. Many of them later assembled together and brought out
processions raising slogans and carrying lathis, iron-
Out of the total, 341 escaped, 17 were later caught by police from various parts of the city.
There were about 3, 315 including 98 women prisoners in the Dacca Central Jail. The Jail authorities said that neither the political prisoners nor the women prisoners escaped the jail which had a total strength of 318 guards including 44 who were on duty at the time of the incident.
(APP)
Rawalpindi, March 6 (APP): The President and Chief Martial Law Administrator has appointed Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan as Governor of East Pakistan, it was officially announced here today.
(APP)
Rawalpindi, March 6 (APP) : The President, General A. M. Yahya Khan today announced his decision to summon the inaugural session of the 313 member National Assembly on March 25.
In a twelve and a half minute broadcast to the nation, the president said that the postponement of the date of the Assembly session from March 3 had been Completely misunderstood. The decision to postpone it was taken in the interest of preservation of Assembly itself, he added.
The president, however, made it "absolutely clear" that no matter what happens, as long as I am in command of the Pakistan Armed Forces and Head of the State. I will ensure complete and absolute integrity of Pakistan, let there be no doubt or mistake on this point.
He declared that he had a duty towards millions of people of East and West Pakistan to preserve this country. They expect this from me and I shall not fail them. I will not allow a handful of people to destroy the homeland of millions of innocent Pakistanis. It is a duty of the Pakistan Armed Forces to ensure the integrity, solidarity and security of Pakistan — a duty in which they have never failed.
Common Goal
The president listed his efforts to help the elected leaders in moving towards the attainment of our common goal which was and which continue to be a smooth transition towards a democratic way of life.
Of the proposed conference of all leaders of parliamentary groups in Dacca on March 10, the president said, "Unfortunately , however, in total disregard of my genuine and sincere efforts to bridge the gap between the various points of view, the response to my call has been rather discouraging particular by from the leader of our majority party, who, before the announcement over the radio had given the impression that he would not be a nurse to the idea of such a conference. His outright rejection was, therefore, both a surprise and a disappointment.
(APP)
Rawalpindi, March 6 (APP) : Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, Chairman of PPP announced here this afternoon that his party would attend the National Assembly session being held on March 25.
He told a press conference that his party was still prepared to hold further dialogue with the Awami League on six points, which, according to him, will be useful.
Mr. Bhutto said that within the limits under which a political party had to function the PPP did its best to seek a broad consensus on principles of Constitution before the Naional Assembly session.
He said the PPP felt that the points of views which were difficult and of fundamental nature had to be reconciled before and without which more complications could arise and the fate of the Assembly itself could be reorganized.
We had to mobilise public opinion in West Pakistan and try to come as close to six points as possible, he said. We had to do necessary preliminary work to see to it that the Assembly succeeds in framing a Constitution agreeable to all provinces.
Profile of Bengal