September 3, 1972

PHONE CONVERSATION WITH NAZRUL

Acting Prime Minister Syed Nazrul Islam has a talk with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today. Bangabandhu enquires about the food situation of the country and he is very much eager to return home within a short time. Syed Nazrul Islam informs the prime minister about the steps the government has taken to solve the food problems now facing the country.

Bangabandhu is still weak in his movements and, according to doctors' suggestions, his date of return may be delayed further.

NO POSSIBILITY OF TALKS WITH BANGABANDHU

Pakistan President Z A Bhutto today rules out the possibility of any talk between him and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the near future. He tells newsmen in Karachi that the question of recognising Bangladesh could not be discussed because Sheikh Mujibur Rahman refused to talk with him. Bhutto further says that China vetoed the entry of Bangladesh into the UN to expedite the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war.  

BHASHANI SUBMITS MEMO TO NAZRUL

Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani leads a "hunger march" to Gono Bhaban today and hands over a memo to acting Prime Minister Syed Nazrul Islam. The memorandum contains various suggestions to combat the manifold problems that the nation is facing.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting at Paltan Maidan today, the NAP (Bhashani) chief called for the formation of an all-party government under the leadership of Bangabandhu and Awami League. He said the proposed all-party government was necessary to prevent famine, safeguard the sovereignty of the country, restore law and order, check smuggling and root out corruption.

The Maulana also pleaded for an all-party committee under the leadership of Bangabandhu and Awami League for the prevention of famine.

BANGLADESH, IRAQ AMITY STRESSED

A Bangladesh-Iraq joint communique on the three-day visit of Iraq by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad says that the disputes in the Indo-Pak-Bangladesh subcontinent could only be solved "by peaceful measures and mainly by bilateral discussions and negotiations on the basis of sovereignty, equality, national independence and mutual respect".

Azad concluded his Iraq visit on August 30, 1972 but the joint communique is officially released in Baghdad today.

SOURCES: September 4, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.