পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (অষ্টম খণ্ড).pdf/৫৮২

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

(*(*(* বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : অষ্টম খন্ড “Although thousands of “antistate” Bengali Moslems have been killed by the army, the Hindus became particular scapegoats as the martial-law regime tried to blame Hindu India and her agents in East Pakistan for the autonomy movement..... The army also forced Moslems friendly to Hindus to loot and burn Hindu houses; the Moslems were told that if they did not attack Hindus, they themselves would be killed.” (The New York Times, July 4, 1971.) The Indian authorities have established a quite reliable registration procedure. By June, 3, the refugee population had reached 4.8 million, of whom close to two-thirds were housed in camps of all descriptions in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya, east and north-east of East Pakistan, but mainly in West Bengal: State of District In Reception Centers With friends or Relatives Assam - - - 81,800 65,677 Tripura - - - 381,373 363,464 Meghalaya - - - 186,052 49,332 West Bengal. Nadia - - - 214,788 170,951 24-Parganas - - - 503,467 179,250 Maurshidabad - - - 134,507 15,953 West Dinajpur - - - 763,664 511,555 Jalpaiguri - - -- 140,402 165,000 Coach-Behar - - - 189,755 210,875 Malda - - - 92,139 254,513 2,707,947 2,022,570 (Figures prepared by the West Bengal Government) By June 15, the number of refugees had gone up to 5.8 million, of whom 3.7 million were living in camps. With the outbreak of cholera in early June, news of which spread into East Pakistan, the border crossings did slow down. Yet once the cholera threat subsided, thousands again began to pour over every night, despite the desperate air of tension the Pakistani Army has tried to maintain along the border by mortar fire to which the Mission can bear personal witness. There is no indication that the exodus has been halted. If the present trend continues, the figure is likely to go to seven million before July is out. Seven million people is the total population of Cuba. When will this situation explode who knows? The voluntary agencies are performing a humanitarian service. But they are just as importantly trying to help India endure the severe internal pressures and thus buy time in the search for the solution that must come. In that sense they are making a contribution to World Peace.