REFUGEES ARE NOT RETURNING
According to latest figures now available, there are some 5.5 million refugees from East Bengal now in India. The Government of Pakistan in an attempt to impress upon the Fact-Finding Mission from the World Bank now visiting Bangladesh, granted amnesty to the refugees and asked them to return to their home. But till now, according to Chairman. Interagency Committee on Pakistan Refugee Relief, 'there have been on reports that any refugee have returned'. The trick of Yahya Khan could not prevail upon the people.
BANGLADESH LEAGUE OF AMERICA (NEW YORK)
-A GLIMPSE OF ACTIVITIES
The East Pakistan Lcague of America, now known as Bangladesh League of America was founded in 1947 as Pakistan League of America. Then Amended to East Pakistan League of America on December 12, 1970. Since its inception, it undertook various activities to further the cause of Bengalis both home and abroad. Here, a brief description of the activities of the League, centering around major Bengali national events are presented:
CYCLONE: The League arranged a film show. SHUTARANG to raise funds for the Cyclone victims of East Bengal. It has held a demonstration in New York in protest of apathy of the Central Government towards flood victims of East Bengal. The League dispatched letters, telegrams to the Government of the USA, US Ambassador in Islamabad and the US Consul in Dacca, protesting diversion of ships carrying food grains for the cyclone victims of East Bengal to Karachi. In addition to these, the League submitted a memorandum before the Human Rights Commission of the UN, pointing out colonial treatments of East Bengal by West Pakistani and urged for right of self determination for the people of East Bengal.
GENERAL ELECTIONS: Devastating cyclone was followed by General Election in Pakistan. The League in its telegram to Sheikh Mujibur Rahamn, dated March 6, 1971 hailed his landslide victory and pledged its unequivocal support for the Six-points programme of the Awami League. The League also sent a telegram to Yahya Khan, demanding self-determination of Last Bengal.
GENERAL ELECTIONS Devastating cyclone was followed by General Election in Pakistan. The League in its telegram to Sheikh Mujibur Rahamn, dated March 6, 1971 hailed his landslide victory and pledged its uncquivocal support for the Six-points programme of the Awami League. The League also sent a telegram to Yahya Khan, demanding self-determination of East Bengal.
PROCLAMATION OF PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
Following ruthless army crackdown of the self determination movement in East Bengal. Sk. Mujibur proclaimed Democratic People's Republic of Bangladesh on March 26. 1971. The League left no stone unturned to rise up to the call of a Nation. The League immediately launched all out campaign to scck support for the recognition of independent Bangladesh and stopping genocide let loose by the armies of Yahya Khan. Letters and telegrams were sent to Presidents of USA, USSR and France and Prime Ministers of UK and India, bringing to their attention the facts of the present crisis and urging upon them to recognize the independence of Bangladesh and use their good offices to the genocide in East Bengal.
