KEEP ECONOMY IN FULL GEAR IN
THE NAME OF
BANGLA DESH : TAJUDDIN
Statement issued on
Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad, General-Secretary of the East
Pakistan Awami League, in a statement last night said the "people's
movement has attained unprecedented heights."
This, he said, had been possible "because every
person in his own sphere has taken it as his sacred duty to implement, in
spirit and in substance, all the directives of Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman issued in the name of the people of Bangla Desh."
Mr. Tajuddin added: "The high sense of
responsibility displayed by people in all walks of life is a source of
inspiration to all. While the struggle must continue, we have to exert all our
energies to maximise production and to keep our economy in full gear.
"We are determined to foil the conspiracy of
the vested interests and the anti-people forces to destroy our economy and to
inflict suffering on our hungry masses. In order to do so, our people must be
prepared to give of their best in all spheres of production.
"They must at the same time be prepared to
practise a high degree of austerity. All those engaged in economic activities
must subject themselves to rigorous discipline in every respect for the victory
of the people's cause."
More Exemptions
He said keeping the above objectives in view the
following further exemptions and clarifications are being issued:
Banks: In supersession of all previous exemptions
and clarifications relating to banks it is provided as follows:
(1) Banks shall remain open for banking operations
from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and for administrative purposes till 4 p.m. (with the
usual recess periods)' But on Fridays and Saturdays banks shall remain open for
banking operations from
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and for administrative purposes
till 12-30 p.m. Balancing of books and all usual working practices shall be
observed in respect of permittep transactions.
(2) Banks shall carry on their operations including
receiving deposits of any amount, inter-bank clearances without any limit within
Bangla Desh and inter-bank transfers within Bangla Desh and drawings by T.T. or
mail transfers within East Pakistan subject to the following restrictions:
(i) Payments of wages and salaries provided all pay
bills duly certified by a representative of the workers organisation concerned
or the wage register is presented along with he cheque.
(ii) Bona fide personal drawings of put Rs. 1,000 in
a week.
(iii) Payment for purchases of industrial raw
materials including sugarcane for sugar mills, jute for jute mills, etc.
The statement said payment up to a limit of Rs.
10,000 in a week for a bona fide commercial purpose, including purchase of all
commodities was required by consumers in Bangla Desh. This amount may be drawn
in cash or by cash draft. But before making payments the bank shall satisfy
itself from past records that the drawer is a bona fide industrial or
commercial organisation or trader and the amount being drawn is not in excess
of his normal average drawings in a week during the past one year.
(3) The crossed cheques and crossed demand drafts
may by issued and deposited in any account within Bangla Desh.
(4) Teleprinter service operated by the banking
system within Bangla Desh shall resume operation.
(5) The National Bank of
(6) Foreign travellers cheques may be encashed by
any authorised dealer.
(7) Diplomats may freely operate their accounts and
foreign nationals may operate their foreign exchange accounts.
(8) There shall be no operation of lockers.
(9) No remittances shall be effected outside Bangla
Desh either through the State Bank or otherwise.
He said the State Bank shall observe the same
banking and office hours as other banks and shall remain open for the purpose
of taking all necessary steps for the smooth functioning of the banking system
in Bangla Desh within the framework of the restrictions defined above.
Farm Activities I11 "P" forms may be sanctioned.
Agricultural activities: Procurement, movement and
distribution of paddy and jute seeds, fertilizers and pesticide shall continue
and agricultural farms and the rice research institute and all its projects
shall function.
(2) Movement, distribution, fielding and operation
of power pumps and other mechanised implements and equipments along with the
necessary supply of oil, fuel, tools and plants shall continue.
(3) Sinking and operation of tube-well and their
irrigation systems including canal operation shall continue.
(4) Operation of agricultural credit by the East
Pakistan Co-operative Bank, central co-operative banks and their affiliated
agencies and the Thana Central Cooperative Association shall continue.
(5) Distribution of interest free loan in the
cyclone-affected areas and other essential items to farmers by the Agricultural
Development Bank of
Flood control and town protection: The execution of
flood control, town protection and water development works of EPWAPDA and other
agencies including operation and repair of dredgers and mechanical equipment
and movement of materials and connected urgent works may be carried on.
Ports including inland ports, port authorities in
all respects including pilotage: Only such sections of office of the port
authorities shall function as are necessary for smooth handling of incoming and
outgoing ships except that no co-operation shall be extended for mobilisation
of forces or for materials which may be utilised for repression against the
people.
EPIDC functions: All EPIDC factories shall function
and shall endeavour to maximise production sections of EPIDC required for
financing and purchases necessary for running the factories shall function.
Relief and rehabilitation shall function, day
labourers engaged in development work shall continue to receive payments due to
them for work done.
Payment of wages: Employees and some of Government
and semi-Government institutions who are paid on a daily, weekly or fortnightly
basis shall be paid their wages and salaries as and when it becomes due. Flood
relief advances already sanctioned and arrear of salaries shall be paid to all
Government, semiGovernment employees. Necessary sections in the Government or
semi-Government offices concerned shall function for the purpose of disbursing
salaries.
Primary school teachers shall be given timely
payment of their salaries and necessary sections of offices shall have a
skeleton staff for clearance of pay bills and for the purpose of the
transactions authorised by the directives issued today and previously. Jailers,
jail warders and jail office shall function. Ansars shall continue to discharge
their duties. Electricity and water supply section necessary for repair and
maintenance shall function. All insurance companies shall function.
Source: