PROCLAMATION OF
DATED
Press report on
Mujeeb Nagar
(Bangla Desh)
The proclamation of independence order,
which was issued on April 10 shall be deemed to have
come into effect from
"The
proclamation of independence order, dated 10th day of April 1971".
"Whereas
free elections were held in Bangla Desh from
7th December, 1970 to 17th January 1971,
to elect representatives for the purpose of framing a Constitution, and "whereas at these elections the people of
Bangla Desh elected 167 out of 169 representatives
belonging to the Awami League, and whereas Gen. Yahya Khan summoned the elected representatives of the people to meet
on the 3rd March, 1971, for the purpose of framing a constitution, and "whereas the Assembly so summoned
was arbitrarily and illegally
postponed for indefinite period, and "whereas instead of fulfilling their
promise and while still conferring
with the representatives of people of Bangla Desh, Pakistan authorities
declared an unjust and treacherous war, and
Genocide
"Whereas in the facts and circumstances of such
treacherous conduct Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of 75 millions of people of Bangla Desh,
in due fulfilment of the legitimate right of self-determination of the people
of Bangla Desh, duly made declaration
of independence at Dacca on March 26, 1971, and integrity of Bangle Desh, and whereas in the conduct of a
ruthless and savage war the Pakistani authorities committed and are
still committing numerous acts of genocide and unprecedented tortures, amongst others on the civilian and unarmed people of
Bangla Desh, and " whereas the Pakistan Government by levying an
unjust war and committing genocide and by
other repressive measures made it impossible for the elected representatives of
the people of Bangla Desh to meet and frame a Constitution, and give to
themselves a government and "whereas the people of Bangla Desh by their
heroism, bravery and revolutionary fervour
have established effective control over the territories of Bangla Desh,
"we the elected representatives of the people of Bangla Desh, as
honour bound by the mandate given to us by the people of Bangla Desh whose will
is supreme duly constituted ourselves into a Constituent Assembly, and having
held mutual consultations, and in order to ensure for the people of Bangla Desh
equality, human dignity and social justice, "declare and constitute Bangla
Desh to be sovereign people's Republic and thereby confirm the declaration of
independence already made by Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and President
"Do hereby
confirm and resolve that till such time as a constitution is framed, Bangla Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman shall be the President of
the Republic and that Syed Nazrul
Islam shall be the Vice-President of the Republic and that the President, shall
be the Supreme commander of all the armed forces of the Republic, shall exercise all the executive and legislative
powers of the Republic including the power to grant pardon, shall have the power to appoint a Prime Minister
and such other Ministers as he considers
necessary, shall have the power to levy taxes and expend monies shall have the power to summon and adjourn the constituent Assembly, and
do all other things that may be
necessary to give to the people of Bangla Desh an orderly and just government.
We the elected representatives of the people of Bangla Desh do further
resolve that in the event of there being no President or the President being
unable to enter upon his office or being unable to exercise his powers and
duties due to any reason whatsoever, the Vice-President shall have and
exercise all the powers, duties and responsibilities herein conferred on the
President, we further resolve that we undertake to observe and give effect to all duties and
obligations devolved upon us as a member of the family of nations and by the
Charter of the United Nations, we further resolve that this proclamation of
independence shall be deemed to have come into effect since 26th day of March, 1971.
"We further resolve that
to give effect to this our resolution, we authorise and appoint Prof. M. Yusuf
Ali, our duly constituted potentiary to give to the President and Vice-President oaths of office".
(THE SUNDAY STANDARD-April 18, 1971.)
Source:
Bangla Desh Documents vol 1, Page no: 281 -282