বিশ্ব শান্তি পরিষদের সদর দফতর এখানে অবিস্থিত এবং এর সাধারণ সম্পাদক রুমেশ চন্দ্রের সাথে আমার সাক্ষাৎ হয়। তিনি জানান যে তার সংগঠন বাংলাদেশের পক্ষে সর্বাত্মক কাজ করে যাচ্ছে। এরপর আমি লণ্ডনে ফিরে আসি।
প্রবাসে বাংলাদেশ আন্দোলনের ঘটনা বর্ননা করতে গিয়ে আমি একটি বিশেষ ঘটনার কথা উল্লেখ করতে চাই। সেপ্টেম্বর মাসের কোন একদিন লণ্ডনে এ্যানথনি মাসকারেনহাস রচিত “রেইপ অফ বাংলাদেশ” বইটির প্রকাশনা উৎসবে আমি উপস্থিত হই। তার পরদিন ভারতের প্রধনমন্ত্রী ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর লণ্ডনে উপস্থিত হবার কথা। এই সভায় একজন ভারতীয় সাংবাদিক আমাকে জিজ্ঞেস করেন ভারতের প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সংগে আমি সাক্ষাৎ করবো কিনা! আমি তাঁকে জানাই যে, আমি প্রধানমন্ত্রী সঙ্গে সাক্ষাৎকারের জন্য কোন সময় চাইনি।
[১]The Deputy High Commissioner of India in London rang up in the morning and told me that the Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi would meet the British Prime Minister Mr. Edward Heath in the afternoon at his official residence at Chequers. She would therefore like to have a meeting with me before that. She wanted to know the attitude of the countries I visited recently. In response to the request, I arrived at Claridges Hotel at 11. A. M. It so happened that the officer of the Scotland Yard who met me at Claridges saw me more than once about my security. I was at once taken by the Dy. High commissioner to the drawing room of Mrs. Gandhi's suite. Mrs. Gandhi came in a minute's time. This was first meeting[২] with after she exchanged the greetings, she asked me about the reaction in the countries I visited recently about the demand for independence of Bangladesh. To that I told her that I received assurances of support from the people and the Govt. of these countries for our independence movement but to my request for recognition by the governments of those countries the uniform answer was that even the neighboring country of India did not recognize our govt. That would show that even India does not consider that our government was really an effective government. I told her that was a disappointing situation. Then I also said that although we felt very grateful to the people of India for giving shelter to those who had left Bangladesh, we really expected recognition of that government. I said I really did not know if pundit Jawaharlal Nehru could have remained satisfied by giving shelter only to the people who went over to India Mrs. Gandhi said that although she did not give formal recognition she was giving all facilities to the provisional government to function formal announcement would create certain situation. Pakistan would never take it quietly. She said they would attack India. It is true that Pakistan would ultimately be defeated but we have developed infrastructure of industries throughout the country. By initial air bombing they might be able to destroy all our cars of struggle in this field. Therefore although we have decided to help Bangladesh on humanitarian ground, my primary responsibilities is to the people of India as their Prime Minister has also to be borne in mind. I have therefore tried to do both and give recognition to Bangladesh at an appropriate time.
I told her of course that we have nothing to offer except friendship on the basis of sovereign equality.
