‘Stop arms race’

November 19, 1972      

BANGABANDHU'S CALL FOR LASTING WORLD PEACE

Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today calls upon peace-loving people of the world to strengthen the movement for world peace and made a fervent appeal to the big powers to stop the maddening arms race. The prime minister is confident that no power would be able to ignore the world opinion in favour of world peace. In this age one country could not subjugate or oppress another country for long, he adds. Bangabandhu is speaking at a reception accorded to him by the Bangladesh Awami League for his being awarded the Juliot-Curie peace medal.

Bangabandhu says there is no problem which could not be resolved peacefully through negotiation. Then why is this absurd race for arms and why is strife overtaking the world? He regrets that the big powers are making bombs on the one hand and shedding crocodile tears for peace on the other. He is doubtful whether these powers genuinely love humanity and want world peace. If they really did so, how could they use science to build war machinery when the teeming millions of the world are hungry and shelter-less, he asks.

The prime minister expresses anxiety about imperialists disturbing the peace in Africa, Middle East and South East Asia. He regrets that the small nations are being used as pawns in big power politics. He observes that Bangladesh is an underdeveloped country in Asia and greatly needs peace.

BANGABANDHU GREETS INDIRA

Bangabandhu today sends a message of "warm personal felicitations" to the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the occasion of her birthday. "May the friendship between India and Bangladesh to, which your contribution has been historic, last forever," reads the message.

SOURCES: November 20, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.