Shamsuddoza Sajen

Pakistan President Yahya Khan flew to Tehran today for a two-day visit, and was met at the Airport by the Shah of Iran. Informed sources said the two leaders were expected to discuss the Bangladesh crisis.

The Pakistan Ambassador to the Philippines Khurram Panni today defected to the Bangladesh government. Khurram Panni, 49, was the first diplomat of ambassadorial rank to defect to the Bangladesh cause. He came to Manila as ambassador in March, 1970 and his tenure of duty was not scheduled to end until late in October, 1971.

On the occasion of the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of monarchy in Iran, there rose a possibility that the Shah of Persia would try to bring about a rapprochement on Bangladesh between India and Pakistan with blessings from the Nixon

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed would present the case of Bangladesh before the UN General Assembly.

The Bangladesh government decided to send a delegation to the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly.

A broad democratic front comprising the five main political parties of Bangladesh was formed today to conduct the liberation struggle. A consultative committee of eight members was set up to advise the Bangladesh government and to issue guidelines to the Mukti Bahini.

India had opened a meaningful dialogue with China and the USA, as with many other countries, on the Bangladesh issue. Some significant developments were expected soon after Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s visit to the USA.

The Government of Bangladesh wants to send a delegation to the UN General Assembly session in New York which is due to begin on September 21. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Mahbub Alam discussed such a proposal today with the officials of the Indian external affairs ministry.

The Bangladesh mission in Calcutta would henceforth be designated as high commission for the Bangladesh government, a Bangladesh government spokesperson announced today.

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed, in a broadcast today, appealed to all nations to accord recognition to Bangladesh to accelerate the pace of the freedom movement.

Hossain Ali, the chief of the Bangladesh mission in Kolkata, today presented to the sons of Kazi Nazrul Islam a cheque for 2,100 rupees as pension for the poet.

Kazi Sabyashachi, son of rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, outright rejected today Pakistan’s offer to renew payment of monthly allowances to the poet. He said they would not touch the blood-stained money of Pakistan.

Evidently panic-stricken at the large-scale defection of Bangalee members of its mission staff, the Pakistan government today took an unprecedented step to seize passports of all its diplomatic staff abroad.

Pakistan President General Yahya Khan appointed Dr Abdul Motaleb Malik as the civil governor of East Pakistan. Malik had no say in the martial law administration.

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi told Bangladeshi refugees in Cooch Behar today that India was doing all it could do to promote the cause of the Bangladesh liberation struggle.

The Bangladesh mission was formally opened in New Delhi today. In the solemn, simple and touching flag-hoisting ceremony the green-red-gold flag broke at the mast with a choral rendition of the Bangladesh national anthem.

Tajuddin Ahmed, prime minister of Bangladesh, said at Mujibnagar today, “None can bring us freedom. We have to achieve it ourselves by shedding our blood.”

US Senator Charles Percy today called for the rights of self-determination of the people of Bangladesh. "The will of the electorate must be carried out," he said.

Pakistan is now dead and two countries have been born in its place, said Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, speaking today at the inaugural function of the Bangladesh Mission in London. Justice Chowdhury was the overseas representative of the Bangladesh government.

Citing what he termed as a “cruel policy of repression”, Senator Edward Kennedy today called on US President Richard Nixon to cut off all American aid to West Pakistan.