পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্থ খণ্ড).pdf/৭৩৪

703 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিল : চতুর্থ খন্ড The recent events in Pakistan, as you have said it yourself, are a source of great anxiety and agony for the whole country and for the Bengalis in particular. Just when the country was on the threshold of a democratic era it appears that the fabric of the society and the basis of nationhood have been brutally shattered. Those of us who are outside the country have been observing the developments in East Pakistan political situation since December last in silent anguish. Even after the massive support that the demand for autonomy as reflected in the Six Point Programme received in East Pakistan, it was not heeded to by the powers that be in Pakistani. Instead you chose to lose the initiative by agreeing to postpone the Assembly session and allowing separatist sentiments to secure the upper hand. However, hopes for Pakistan were revived when you began negotiations in the middle of March. But such hopes were totally the news of the brutal military crack-down was received. Not till the lapse of almost a day the full significance and the objective of the military strike could be known. From than onward the information supplied through government channels was in such conflict with that received through all other sources that it was difficult to come to a correct appreciation of the situation. With the passage of lime the vast Iragedy in unfolding itself in full splendour. The belated announcement of the conspiracy was as unconvincing as a similar attempt made three years back (the infamous Agartala conspiracy case). All that appeared true is that the vested interests that dominate Pakistan could not be reconciled to ending exploitation and surrendering power to people; a military solution of a political crisis was being atlempted. A dying man catches at a straw and I was, like many others of my countrymen, trying to find a ray of hope even through the darkest clouds. I have been hoping to see the lunatic course of military operation halted. I have been hoping that you would take steps to disengage the army from East Pakistan. I have been praying that you would at last come to terms with people's representatives and allow the Bengalis the right of self determination (a principle for which our country has been crying its voice hoarse throughout). But as regrettable as it may be not a single same or rational move has so far been made by your government. Your long awaited announcement of 28th June has been a dismal disappointment that way. This statement leaves no room for any hope or optimism. On the other hand all over action of the government seems to be directed towards intensifying the reign of terror in the country, establishing a colonial rule in East Pakistan suppressing all civic rights there and finally destroying the economy of both wings of Pakistan. Though it has been claimed that a small group of misguided people attempted to disintegrate the country, punishment is being meted out indiscriminately to all Bangladesh. On one pretext or another Bangalis are being killed and properties are being destroyed. Clearance of shanty towns, reprisals against sniping or acts of sabotage, prevention of sabotage to communication network, pursuit of miscreants and such other pretexts represent only a small sample. Your government is following an unholy mission of eliminating the Hindus in East Pakistan on the basis or an insulting insinuation that 64 million Bengali Muslims are being misguided by a more 8 million down-trodden residue of the Bengali Hindu community who did not have the willingness or means to take refuge in India over the last 22 years. For over three months now a mindless military