It was unfortunate that the Government of India had gone on circulating a highly exaggerated and distorted account of the events which led to these border crossings. The number of persons who crossed into India from East Pakistan had been inflated by adding to these the figures of the unemployed and the homeless of West Bengal where, in Calcutta alone, the number of those who live and sleep on the pavements exceeds two million. It was obvious that India was deliberately playing up the question of refugees not only to threaten Pakistan, but also to justify her own continuing interference in Pakistan's internal affairs. “It is most regrettable", as the Pakistan President put it, “that instead of treating the question of genuine refugees on humanitarian basis, a callous campaign has been launched by India to exploit this issue for political purposes".
The President reiterated this at his press conference in Karachi three days later, on 24 May 1971 and assured the displaced persons that necessary assistance would be provided to them for their return and resettlement.
On 29 May 1971, an official spokesman reiterated the Pakistan President's offer and said that all genuine Pakistanis, who were forced to leave Pakistan under threat or duress, or were forcibly driven away from their homes by rebels and miscreants were completely free to re-enter Pakistan, subject of course to routine checks simple to ensure their Pakistani nationality.
Reception Centers Set Up in East Pakistan
Simultaneously with these announcements, Reception Centres for the returning Pakistani citizens were set up at a number of places on important routes from India into Pakistan, with full arrangements for the reception relief and return of the people to their homes.
Initially, these Centers were established at Satkhira in Khulna, Benapole in Jessore, Chudanga and Meherpur in Kushtia, Godagari, Rohanpur and Dhamoirhat in Rajshahi, Khanpur, Thakurpur and Kaliganj in Rangpur, Nalitabari and Durgapur in Mymensingh, Jaintiapur, Kulaura and Chunarughat in Sylhet, Akhaura and Bibirbazar in Comilla, Feni in Noakhali, and Teknaf in Chittagong. Additional centers were set up later on to suit the convenience of returning Pakistanis.
Deserters Allowed to Join Their Families
On 4 June 1971, in an official announcement made from Dacca, Pakistan held out an assurance that the deserters from the armed forces and police could join their families if they surrendered voluntarily. The announcement explained that a number of serving personnel, including some from East Bengal Regiment. East Pakistan Relief and the Police were misguided by the extremists and disloyal leaders and made to desert from the units, border outposts and thanas for participation in anti-state activities during the disturbances in March-April 1971
The majority of such persons, as borne out by their service records, were loyal and patriotic but the circumstances created by a few ambitious, greedy and selfseeking elements had forced them to take a wrong path, and they were separated from their
