they face in their own country. We share your anxiety regarding the tensions which the presence of millions of our countrymen on your territory can generate. The economic burden and the socio-political tensions which the large number of Bangladesh refugees in India can create are and should be the common concern of both the Government of India and Bangladesh. With our effective control over our territory and with the establishment of organized civil administration, we are anxious that all our fellow citizens who were forced to leave their hearths and homes after the 25th of March, 1971, and who are now living in your country in adverse conditions despite your generosity, return to their home-land at the earliest possible date. We are also now in a position to resettle and rehabilitate them in their own homes in conditions of safety, dignity and honor. In view of the onset of winter, time is of essence in this matter. The health and welfare especially of the women, children and the aged, can be safeguarded only if the arrangements for their return to Bangladesh are expedited. We would like to assure you of our Government's full co-operation in organizing the expeditious return to the refugees back to their home. Let it not be said that we failed them in their hour of need.
10. Your extending recognition to the Government of Bangladesh seems an imperative requisite to us to relieve the tensions and strains which the people of Bangladesh and India had to bear over the last eight months. The early achievement of our common objectives would also depend on your giving not only political and moral support to us, but also all essential material and to the freedom struggle. We are convinced that your according recognition to us and giving substantive content to this recognition by co-operation in all aspects of our mutual relations would expedite a lasting solution to the problem of Bangladesh.
11. We are grateful for the continuing support that you have given to our cause and the efforts you have made on this behalf with the international community. We feel it is now necessary to give formal political content to you support, in order that our struggle is rewarded with speedy success and our existence as a free society is recognized by the world at large. Recognition by you would give an impetus to and would be an acknowledgement of our aspirations and free existence. It is also our considered assessment that the granting of recognition by the Government of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a most necessary and important step not only to stabilize the situation on the sub-continent but also to ensure peace, progress and stability to South-East Asia. May we, therefore, reiterate the request which we made in our letter of 15” October that you accord immediate recognition to the sovereign People's, Republic of Bangladesh?
Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of our highest esteem.
HER EXCELLENCY MRS. INDIRA GANDHI,
Prime Minister of India,
New Delhi.
