487 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ ১৮৮। বিবিসির “এশিয়া বিষয়ক বিবিসি, লন্ডন ২৭ মার্চ - ১৭ ডিসেম্বর, ১৯৭১ আলোচনায় বাংলাদেশ প্রসঙ্গ ASIAN TOPICAL TALKS THE BRITISH PRESS ON PAKISTAN S | 27th March By William Crawley (8) All the major British papers this morning reports extensively on the crisis in East Pakistan. Most papers describe the situation as one of civil war following Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's reported declaration of independence for East Bengal. Most papers quote passages from President Yahya Khan's broadcast to the nation yesterday. For reports of the fighting in East Pakistan they rely on news relayed from India and on dispatches of the Press trust of India. It is this source on which all reports of the transmission by a clandestine radio station of statements by Sheikh Mujib rely. All reports quote parts of the message stating that Sheikh Mujib was the only leader of the people of Bangladesh, and that the people should continue their movement for independence until the last enemy soldier is vanquished. Several papers also quote the statement made by Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on his arrival in Karachi that "By the grace of the Almighty. Pakistan has at last been saved." The Daily Telegraph quotes the martial law administrator in East Pakistan, General Tikka Khan, as saying that' indiscipline is now so rife that the only way to safegeguaid Pakistan's continued integrity and unity is to curb the destructive tendencies shown in the East Wing. Clandestine radio broadcasts arc also the source of other reports that the East Pakistani rifles had surrounded West Pakistani troops in Chittagong and other towns. The Times and the Financial Times both cite reports from the American consul general in Dacca about the deployment of troops and tanks in Dacca itself. Most papers estimate that there are about 70.000 Pakistani troops in East Bengal. Several papers assess the implications of and comment in editorials on these developments. The Times says that instead of the speedy and effective police action for which President Yahya Khan hopes it seems possible that something like civil war might result. The Times says that the events of the past few weeks have shown the difficulties of achieving autonomy for East Bengal which stops short of independence. Though East Bengal may be cowed for a time, the Times say that the demand for some kinds of autonomy would not be silenced. The Times thinks that events may have pushed Sheikh Mujib to a declaration of independence, and that pressure from within the army may have pushed President Yahya Khan to action which he would rather have deferred. The Daily Telegraph in an editorial is in no doubt that civil war has broken out in East Pakistan. The editorial says that separation is in the very fabric of the State of Pakistan. It says that high hopes were raised after the elections last December that East Pakistan would finally achieve its rightful plans in the system of government and {{S
