This time also, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman pointed out, except for Maulana Bhashani and Pir Mohsenuddin and himself no one of these leaders had visited he ravaged areas, particularly the off-shore islands.
On the question of demands of postponement of elections by some Leaders, Sheikh Mujib also said, “You know bad students always ask for postponement of examinations”. He said let the elections be held on December 7 and many of these leaders and their parties would not be there and these leaders would even forfeit their right to issue statements.
Asked if he was giving “Bengal's survival” priority over survival of Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said: “We are the majority. We are Pakistani, Majority cannot be ignored”.
Replying to another question he said that there could be unity of the country only if the interest of all was recognized. “If they neglect and ignore our interest and treat us as a colony and market how can there be unity. We feel we are being treated as a market”, he said.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was asked if the Six-Point Programme was not a call for secession as has been alleged by some West Pakistani leaders. He said, “We are demanding regional autonomy and not independence”.
Asked if regional autonomy on the basis of the Six-Points could be achieved through elections, he said if the people give the verdict in favour of Six-Points, it would be achieved.
The Awami League Chief was asked if he had any information about the “attempt to frustrate the elections”, he said: “I can make a guess. I am a political being”. Elaborating, he said, “a conspiracy has been going on against the people of Bangladesh by the bureaucrats, the vested interest, the ruling cliques and a coterie for the last 22 years. If they are playing their old game now, they should know that they were playing with fire”.
The Awami League Chief who repeatedly referred to the coming elections as “referendum on the Six-Point Programme”, said that he did not think that the holding of the elections on schedule would hamper relief work in the Cyclone affected areas.
He said there could be thousands of volunteers for relief work and even from the affected areas ten thousand volunteers could be mobilized for relief work.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demanded release of all political prisoners, withdrawal of political cases to ensure a fair and free election. He, however, said that even if that was not done (by the Government) his party would take part in the elections. He referred to the 1954 elections when, he said, 3,500 political workers were in jail.
