638 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ষষ্ঠ খণ্ড শিরোনাম ংবাদপত্র তারিখ A Glimpse of Activities Bangladesh 16 June, 1971 New York : No. 3 BANGLADESH LEAGUE OF AMERICA (NEW YORK) A GLIMPSE OF ACTIVITIES The East Pakistan League of America, now known as Bangladesh League of America was founded in 1947 as Pakistan League of America. Then Amended to East Pakistan League of America on December 12, 1970. Since its inception, it undertook various activities to further the cause of Bengalis both home and abroad. Here, a brief description of the activities of the League, centering around major Bengali national events are presented: Cyclone: The League arranged a film show, SHUTARANG to raise funds for the Cyclone victims of East Bengal. It has held a demonstration in New York in protest of apathy of the Central Government forwards flood victims of East Bengal. The League dispatched letters, telegrams to the Government of the USA, US Ambassador in Islamabad and the US Consul in Dacca, protesting diversion of ships carrying food grains for the cyclone victims of East Bengal to Karachi. In addition to these, the Leage submitted a memorandum before the Human Rights Commission of the UN, pointing our colonial treatments of East Bengal by West Pakistani and urged for right of self, determination for the people of East Bengal. General Elections: Devastating cyclone was followed by General Election in Pakistan. The League in its telegram to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, dated March 6, 1971 hailed his landslide victory and pledged its unequivocal support for the Six-points program of the Awami League. The League also sent a telegram to Yahya Khan, demanding self-determination of East Bengal. PROCLAMATION OF PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH Following ruthless army crackdown of the self-determination movement in East Bengal, Sk. Mujibur proclaimed Democratic People’s Republic of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971. The League left on stone unturned to rise up to the call of the Nation. The League immediately launched all out campaign to seek support for the recognition of independent Bangladesh and stopping genocide let loose by the army of Yahya Khan. Letters and telegrams were sent to Presidents of USA, USSR and France and Prime Ministers of UK and India, bringing to their attention the fact of the present crisis and urging upon them to recognize the independence of Bangladesh and use their good offices to stop the genocide in East Bengal. Letters and memoranda were sent to the US Government and the members of the US Congress, requesting suspension of all types of US aid to the Government of Pakistan
