September 1, 1972

BANGABANDHU'S CALL TO IRCS

Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tells Marcel Naville, president of the International Red Cross Societies, that Red Cross should take appropriate steps to deal with the question of physical safety, maintenance and repatriation of 5 lakh Bangalees trapped in Pakistan.

Bangabandhu raises the question of the Bangalees in Pakistan when Naville calls on the prime minister this morning at his suite in the Hotel La Reserve in Geneva. The meeting lasts an hour. The Bangladesh prime minister reminds the chief of the Red Cross that the organisation was allowed by the government of Bangladesh to meet the Biharis in Bangladesh. The Red Cross, therefore, has a moral responsibility to visit Bangalees in the so-called repatriation camps in Pakistan.

CAIRO TALKS FRUITFUL, SAYS SAMAD

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad ends his two-day visit in Egypt today apparently without receiving any concrete assurance of formal recognition of Bangladesh by Egypt. However, the foreign minister describes his talks with Egyptian officials as "fruitful". He leaves for Damascus today.

It is believed that Egypt is still worried about the possible reaction of one of its confederation members, Libya, an ardent advocate of Pakistan, to any announcement by Cairo of formal recognition of Bangladesh.

CURB SMUGGLERS, HOARDERS

The government directs the law-enforcement agencies throughout Bangladesh to take stringent measures against the anti-social elements indulging in smuggling, black-marketing, hoarding, profiteering and causing undue rise in the prices of food grains and other essential commodities, says a government handout today. The members of the public are requested to help the government by reporting to the authority specific cases of such anti-social acts.   

SALES TAX ON CLOTH GOES

Acting Prime Minister Syed Nazrul Islam declares in a meeting at Laldighi Maidan, Chittagong today that the government has decided to withdraw sales tax and reduce import duty on cloth by 50 percent as a measure to give relief to consumers.

SOURCES: September 2, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.