Socialistic economy.
The Awami League Chief said he was determined to establish a Socialistic economic order in the country, not through revolution but through- evolution, the economy would be people oriented so that the ordinary people-the workers, cultivators and the like-got economic justice. He also said he would not allow monopoly and cartel in East Pakistan. There would be no 22 families in Bangla Desh, he said.
The Sheikh was the chief guest at a reception held in his honour and in honour of the newly elected members of the National and East Pakistan Assemblies. Held on the lawns of the East Pakistan Assembly Building, the reception was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, officials and elite of the town.
The Awami League Chief referred to the continued conspiracies being made to foil the transfer of power to the people and said if obstructions continued, they would be responsible for its consequences.
“We will die but will never surrender” he emphatically declared.
Sheikh Mujib declared amidst cheers that Pakistan would continue to stay and so the Bangla Desh, the Punjab. Sind, NWFP and Baluchistan. What would cease to exist would be exploitation of man by man.
While discussing in detail the continued exploitation of the people of Bangla Desh during the last 23 years. Sheikh Mujib said that they believed in Socialism. He said that without Socialist pattern of economy, 70 million people cannot live in an area of 55,000 square miles.
Period of exploitation.
Sheikh Mujib said that the 23-year post-independence period was an era of exploitation, frustration and gloom for the people of Bangla Desh who had turned into utter destitute. He said that had the “Quaid-i-Azam, the founder of the State, would have been alive today, he must have said that he did not want such Pakistan.”
People, he said, struggled and made tremendous sacrifices to achieve freedom in the hope of having a better life. But instead, they were exploited all these years so much that their very backbone had broken. Who were responsible for this continued exploitation? - He asked.
The Awami League Chief said that the Province was beet with all-round problems. Seventy lakh people are unemployed in the Bangla Desh and there was unending flight of rural populace to the urban areas in search of employment and food. He said that during 23 years, not even 15 per cent people are in Central Government services and Armed Forces from Bangla Desh. He said that representation of the people of Bangla Desh in Central Services would be made on population basis.
