বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/১৮৩
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| দিল্লী আন্তর্জাতিক সম্মেলনে প্রতিনিধিদল কর্তৃক বাংলাদেশে প্রবেশের সিদ্ধান্ত বাতিল | হিন্দুস্তান স্ট্যাণ্ডার্ড | ২৩ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
DELEGATES DROP PLAN TO CROSS BORDER
(By A staff Report)
Delegates to the recently concluded International Conference on Bangladesh in Delhi who arrived at Dum Dum airport at 11-35 a.m. on Wednesday dropped their proposed plan to cross into Bangladesh.
It was earlier declared in Delhi that the delegates would cross into Bangladesh to demonstrate that the international community did not recognize the Pakistan occupation of the country.
Thirty-five delegates including three women representing 24 countries has a close door conference immediately after arrival to decide whether they should cross the border.
After the conference Mr. Les Johnson, an Australian MP, declared that the proposal to cross into Bangladesh from Petrapole was cancelled to “avoid giving the impression that any Country other than Bangladesh and Pakistan are involved in the problem.”
Explaining the reason for the cancellation, Mr. Johnson said the delegates had come to Calcutta on chartered plane as guests of the India Government. So the proposed crossing into Bangladesh territory might cause misunderstanding. “While expressing our sincere and grave concern over the denial of the sovereign right of the Bangladesh people we think it would be inappropriate to cross the border”, he added.
It is learnt the delegates has a hot discussion over the issue of crossing the border when they were on the plane. Some were reported by in favour of crossing the border.
It was decided that some individual members could cross the border on their own. Some members of the Omega peace mission openly declared that they would prevail on some delegates to cross the border within a few days in their individual capacity.
Afterwards the delegates visited the salt Lake Camp where about 232,000 evacuees were sheltered. They were taken to the area in two station-wagons at about 1 p.m. They saw the suffering of people and had talks with them. When the delehates were going round the camp, slogans were raised by evacuees demanding rlease of Mujibur, recognition of the Bangladesh Government by different nations, punishment of president Yahya for the genocide, etc.
Among the delegates were Mr. and Mrs. Hannisdahb of Norway. Mrs. Hannisdahl said she was deeply moved by the sufferings of the evacuees. She herself was a refugee during the last World War. So She had first-hand knowledge of the misery if being a refugee.
She said it was the duty of different nations to drive out the Pakistanis from Bangladesh to ensure the safe return of evacuees.
Mrs. Viviane Gunawardana said when she went back Ceylon she would put pressure on the Prime Minister Mrs. Bandarnaike, to stop the refuelling facilites being given to Pak planes.
Praising India she said considering the immensity of the problem India’s performance was really creditable. The only solution to the Bangladesh problem was independence of the country.
Mr. Mohammed Ali Saliah from Sudan said that he favored autonomy and not independence for Bangladesh.
Asked why he did not favour the demand for complete independence he said: “we do not the want disintegration of Pakistan or any country.
Dr. A Soorian Malasian, MP of Malayasia, said that “Bangladesh should be recognized by the nations and India should take the lead in giving recognition to it”.
After visiting the Salt Lake camp the delegates came to Hotel Hindustan International for lunch. They called on Mr. Hussain Ali, chife of the Bangladesh Mission in Calcutta, at 5 p.m. and discussed the political situation in Bangladesh with him.