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পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৮৭২

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844 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড necessary to obtain, in addition to the usual clearance from the Pakistan authorities, the agreement of both the Governments of India and Pakistan for a cease-fire, including a complete cessation of air activity in, above and around the Dacca airport area, as well as the Bangkok Dacca air corridor. The Secretary-General initially requested the cease-fire for the period from 1030 to 1830 EPT on 5th December, with a view to making possible the unimpeded and safe arrival, loading and take-off of the aircraft. 6. By the evening of 4th December, the Pakistan Government had agreed to the Secretary-General's request, but the Indian Government was not able to make the necessary arrangements in lime. It was therefore necessary to postpone the evacuation operation by 24 hours. 7. Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary-General in charge of UNEPRO, who was among the personnel stranded in Dacca, had received numerous requests from the various Consulates to assist them in the evacuation of their officials and other nationals, including women and children. The Assistant Secretary-General, with the full approval of the Secretary-General, decided to grant their request. Thus, in addition to the 46 United Nations personnel, four officials of the International Red Cross, and 87 persons sponsored by various Consulates, as well as 80 dependent women and children, were included in the evacuation plan on 5th December. The total number of the personnel to be evacuated later increased to around 240. The enlarged group includes nationals of Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Nepal. Romania. Singapore, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America and Yugoslavia. To accommodate the increased passenger load, the United Nation chartered an additional aircraft, a Boeing 707, from Pan American Airways. This second aircraft was scheduled to proceed to Dacca on 7th December. 8. On the evening of 5th December, the Secretary-General was informed that the Indian authorities had agreed to the requested cease-fire arrangements, but for a shorter period, that is, from 1030 hours to 1230 hours EPT on 6th December. Immediately, instructions were given to the Canadian C-130 to proceed with the evacuation operation, which would take place during the period indicated by the Indian authorities. 9. On 6th December, UNEPRO in Dacca reported to the Secretary-General that when the Canadian C-130 was 70 miles (within 10 minutes flying time) from Dacca the airport was attacked by the India Air Force and the airport defences opened intensive anti air- craft fire. At that moment, bus loads of personnel to be evacuated were approaching the airfield, and the passengers in the lead bus, most of whom were women and children, had to seek shelter in nearby trenches. At Bomb exploded about 25 meters from them, but fortunately there were no casualties. The Canadian aircraft was ordered by the Control Tower to turn away from the airport, and it flew back toward Bangkok. 10. The following details are from a report submitted on this incident by the UNEPRO Air Adviser: "(a) On 6th December, 1971, 1 was at Dacca Civil Airport expecting the arrival of the Canadian C-130 305, flight number 501, which was on its way to Dacca from Bangkok