পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/১২৩

95 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ বাংলাদেশের শোচনীয় পরিস্থিতি সম্পর্কে কমনস সভার কার্যবিবরণী ২৩ সেপ্টেম্বর, পররাষ্ট্র সচিবের বিবৃতি ও এ সংক্রান্ত বিতর্ক >あ"> HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, 23rd September 1971 EAST BENGAL Mr. Healey (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the situation in East Bengal. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home): The situation in East Bengal still causes us deep concern. Since my statement to the House on 23rd June there have been a number of developments in East Pakistan. President Yahya Khan has put forward proposals for the return to civil administration and Government. A civilian governor has been appointed and has now named a number of civilian Ministers; President Yahya Khan has declared his intention to hold fresh elections and to establish elected Assemblies. An amnesty has been declared in respect of incidents between 1st March and 5th September, 1971. Many of those who could benefit from this may have fled to India. We should like to see an ordered return to normal life in East Pakistan and welcome these developments as a step in the direction of the restoration of an elected civilian Government. The situation in East Pakistan nevertheless still gives grave cause for concern. The flow of refugees to India continues unabated and the Indian Government now give the total figure as well over 8 million. This places an enormous harden on the economy and resources of India, and I should like to express my admiration for the manner in which the Indian Government have continued to cope with this unprecedented influx of people. It is not, however, a burden that India should bear alone. Her majesty's Government have already contributed over £8 million in cash and lind for relief and rehabilitation in India. We have also contributed £1 million to U Thant's appeal for relief in East Pakistan. We hope that other members of the United Nations will also respond generously to the appeals of U Thant. We ourselves stand ready to make further contributions, as I have earlier told the House. The House will, I am sure, share my deep concern at the reports of impending food shortages, infant mortality and disease both in East Pakistan and amongst the refugees in India. It is our firm view that the United Nations are best able to coordinate the international relief effort and that it is only through them that international relief can be made available on the scale required to avert a further major human tragedy. We shall