পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ষষ্ঠ খণ্ড).pdf/৭৭৮

742 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ষষ্ঠ খণ্ড শিরোনাম ংবাদপত্র তারিখ Editorial Bangladesh 10 December, 1971 Recognition of Bangladesh Vol. 1 : No. 15 Editorial RECOGNITION OF BANGLADESH It is universally known that Pakistan died on March 25 when the "future Prime Minister of Pakistan," Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was clandestinely flown into captivity at an undisclosed location in remote West Pakistan, and Yahya's General Tikka Khan went into action against the unarmed civilians in Bangladesh. A reign of terror was unleashed. Intellectuals and political leaders were gunned down in Dacca streets. Women were raped and children bayoneted by the so-called professional soldiers of West Pakistan. A systematic decimation of a people took place all over Bangladesh. Yahya's record of genocide has paled even Hitler's record. Bangladesh has become a locked-in arena of systematic slaughter. This, in short, is the background of the creation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has been recognized de jure by India and another neighbor, Bhutan. While according formal diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Indian Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, said in the Parliament in New Delhi on December 6, "The people of Bangladesh battling for their very existence and the people of India fighting to defeat aggression now find themselves partisans in the same cause." Indian recognition of Bangladesh as Mrs. Gandhi said has not been guided by "emotion" but by a realistic assessment of the situation prevailing in the country (Bangladesh). In fact the recognition has been delayed until the Bengali Mukti Bahini have liberated and established effective control in almost all territories hitherto under the occupation of West Pakistan. The Bangladesh Government has congratulated India for its "bold and decisive step" in laying the foundation of goodneighborly relations. An identical situation prevailed in 1778 when France recognized the United States of America. It is worth noting here that the United States came into being in circumstances similar to those existing in Bangladesh. The American colonies had been experiencing the same kind of exploitation and "taxation without representation," at the hands of the "mother country." These striking similarities between the oldest and the newest of the new nations raise our hope that the United States will recognize the Republic of Bangladesh as a partner in defense of freedom and democracy. By opening diplomatic relations the bonds of friendship already existing between the two peoples will be more firmly riveted. The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh has called upon the international community to recognize the Republic of Bangladesh. It is our hope that the world community of nations will adequately respond to the call of Bangladesh by according full diplomatic recognition to it.