The Prime Minister. Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed declared that the Government's writ ran through 90 per cent of the territory, except for the cantonments and a few administrative headquarters which were being held by the Army. About 50 foreign journalists watched and recorded the proceedings.
The proclamation named Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice-President, but explained that if the President, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, “is absent, or cannot function or is incapacitated,” Mr. Islam would carry on the functions of the President.
Pending the formulation of a new Constitution, the President would be the head of the armed forces and the sole legislative authority. He would appoint the Prime Minister and colleagues, levy taxes and authorize expenditure and would convene or adjourn a Constituent Assembly.
The proclamation explained why this step had been necessary and affirmed that this was being done in accordance with the mandate of the people as reflected in the results of the last elections. The objective of the new State and “nation" would be to ensure human dignity and social justice. This, Mr. Islam said, had been sought to be achieved peacefully by the State's 75 million people over the last 23 years. But, they had been frustrated by the feudal interests and the military Junta.
Their present struggle, he said, was for political, cultural and economic emancipation of the people of Bangladesh as well as for their very existence and “win we must, today, tomorrow or the day after".
He urged foreign journalists to convey his message to their respective countries that for the sake of human liberty, dignity and values as well as for the sake of democracy, big and small Powers throughout the world, especially those in Africa and Asia, should recognize his Government and “do something positive to alleviate the miseries of the Bangladesh people."
He went a step further. He said that in the past, Pakistan had secured arms from other countries mainly for the defense of the country and at a very heavy cost in terms of hard labor by the people to carn foreign exchange. It was tragic that these arms were now being used against the un-ramped people of Bangladesh.
He urged these countries not only to stop fresh supplies but also to ensure that no further use was made of these lethal weapons against the people of Bangladesh.
