Letter from the Government
of Bangla Desh to the Prime Minister of India
October 15, 1971
MUJIB NAGAR,
(Seal
of the Bangla Desh Government) 15th October, 1971.
Excellency,
We write in continuation of the letter,
dated April 24, 1971, addressed to His
Excellency the President of India, and the subsequent communications and
personal discussions. Excellency, you are aware of the proclamation of independence
on the 10th of April by the Constitutent Assembly of the duly elected members
of the National and Provincial Legislatures representing the Will of the 75
million people of Bangla Desh. This declaration followed the unilateral,
arbitrary and brutal denial of the verdict of the people and the suppression of
their democratic liberties and fundamental human rights by the military regime
of Pakistan since the 25th of March, 1971.
2.
It is well known that the people of Bangla Desh were subjected to a long period
of ruthless colonial domination, systematic economic exploitation and gross
political and cultural discrimination by the successive regimes dominated by
the ruling circles of West Pakistan. The letter of April the 24th, 1971, informed you of the formation of the Government of
the People's Republic of Bangla Desh under the Presidency of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman and the Acting Presidency of Syed Nazrul Islam.
3.
Over the last several years, our people had waged a peaceful and nonviolent
struggle for the attainment of our basic rights. Even after the successive
postponements of the convening of the National Assembly by the military regime
of Pakistan, we did not resort to
violence but continued our non-violent struggle. The military rulers of Pakistan took advantage of this to
gain time by employing the ruse of so-called negotiations till the night of
24th of March, 1971, while they were augmenting their military strength.
4.
Their plans became visible to the whole world on the black night of March the
25th, when they let loose their Army under a premeditated plan on the innocent
and defenceless men, women and children of our country. They made a special
target of the intellectuals, the elite of the youth and the leaders of the
workers, peasants and students. This left us with no alternative but to resort
to arms.
5.
Since the formal proclamation of our Independence on April 10, our struggle
for liberation has gained increased momentum and strength. Nearly 60,000
members of the former East Bengal Regiment, East Pakistan Rifles and other
para-military formations identified themselves with the struggle of the 75
million people of Bangla Desh and took up arms in defence of our motherland.
They were joined by hundreds of thousands of young men whom they trained to
defend the sovereignty and independence of their homeland, and to release it
from the bonds of colonial oppression.
6.
The policy of repression has continued with increasing brutality in the vain
hope of liquidating the leadership and reducing the majority of the Bengalispeaking
people to a minority. Members of the minority communities became special
victims of the reign of terror. As a result of this policy of genocide, rape,
arson and loot, nearly nine million of our men, women and children have been
driven out in terror and have taken shelter in your country, and the exodus
still continues.
7.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, our undisputed leader and President, has been subjected
to a secret military trial and has been reportedly condemned to death. The
Awami League has been banned, which had won an unparalleled victory in the
national elections held last December. The military regime of Pakistan has disqualified 79 duly
elected representatives of the people and has imposed a so-called civilian
regime consisting of defeated candidates and quislings which is now supported
by the might of the military machine of Pakistan. These gestures have not
deceived the 75 million people of Bangla Desh. They have only exposed the
deception and insincerity of the military oppressors. All this has only made us
more determined than ever to liberate Bangla Desh.
8.
We are glad to inform you, Excellency, that this struggle has borne fruit. The
liberation army of the People's Republic of Bangla Desh, the Mukti Bahini, are
in full control of half the territory of Bangla Desh. We also confirm that the
Bangla Desh Government has established effective civil administration over this
area which is functioning smoothly. This development has not merely been
welcomed by the broad masses of the people, but the efforts of our Government
have found spontaneous and overwhelming support in the areas under its control.
9.
May we, therefore, in the light of these developments, request Your Excellency
for a positive response to the message of the 24th
of April, 1971, requesting for recognition to the free and duly constituted
Government of Bangla Desh. Such a response on your part would give a tremendous
impetus to the struggle being waged by the people and the Government of
People's Republic of Bangla Desh for their liberation. It
would also generate an international response which would promote the cause of
freedom, peace and stability in this part of the world. May we, therefore,
request Your Excellency for an early response to this communication?
Please
accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest esteem.
(Seal
of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangla Desh.)
(Sd.) SYED NAZRUL ISLAM (Sd.) TAJUDDIN AHMAD
HER
EXCELLENCY MRS. INDIRA GANDHI,
Prime
Minister of India,
New Delhi.
Source:
Bangladesh Documents, vol – II,
p.581-583