পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৭৭৬

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

Գ(to বাংরাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বাদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ বাংলাদেশকে স্বীকৃতি প্রদান করে প্রদত্ত রাজ্যসভার কার্যবিবরণী ৬ ডিসেম্বর, ১৯৭১ প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বিবৃতি Statement by Prime Minister re: Recognition of Bangladesh The prime minister, minister of atomic energy, minister of home affairs and minister of information and broadcasting (Shrimati Indira Gandhi): Mr. Chairman, Sir, the valiant struggle of the people of Bangla Desh in the face of tremendous odds has opened a new chapter of heroism in the history of freedom movements. Earlier, they had recorded a great democratic victory in their elections and even the President of Pakistan had conceded the right of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to become Prime Minister of Pakistan. We shall never know what intervened to transform this benevolent mood and realistic approach, if it really was that to deception and the posture of open hatred. We are told that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party, the Awami League, had planned a non-violent movement of resistance to the Government of West Pakistan. But they were caught unawares and overtaken by a brutal military assault. They had no alternative but to declare for independence. The East Pakistan Rifles and East Bengal Regiment became the Mukti Fauj and later the Mukti Bahini, which was joined by thousands of young East Bengalis determined to sacrifice their lives for freedom and the right to fashion their future. The unity, determination and courage with which the entire population of Bangla Desh is fighting have been recorded by the world Press. These events on our doorstep and the resulting flood of refugees into our territory could not but have fat-reaching repercussions on our country. It was natural that our sympathy should be with the people of Bangla Desh in their just struggle. But we did not act precipitously in the matter of recognition; our decisions were not guided merely by emotion but by an assessment of prevailing and future realities. With the unanimous revolt of the entire people of Bangla Desh and the success of their struggle it has become increasingly apparent that the so-called mother State of Pakistan is totally incapable of bringing the people of Bangla Desh back under its control. As for the legitimacy of the Government of Bangla Desh the whole world is now aware that it reflects the will of the overwhelming majority of the people, which not many governments can claim to represent. In Jefferson's famous words to Governor Morris, the Government of Bangla Desh is supported by the "will of the nation, substantially expressed". Applying this certain, the Military regime in Pakistan whom some States are so anxious to buttress, is hardly representative of its people even in West Pakistan. Now that Pakistan is waging war against India, the normal hesitation on our part not to do anything which could come in the way of a peaceful solution, on which might be