পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (সপ্তম খণ্ড).pdf/৮৮

54 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : সপ্তম খণ্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ ২২। জনৈক অধ্যাপকের কাছে লিখিত পাকিস্তান দূতাবাসের দলিলপত্র ৩০ এপ্রিল, ১৯৭১ ওয়াশিংটনস্থ পাকিস্তানী রাষ্ট্রদুতের চিঠি EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN Washington D.C. 20008 April 30, 1971 Dear Professor, As requested by you, I have sent your jointly signed statement of concern to my government. Let me, however, take this opportunity to reiterate what I have already told professor Wriggins of the Columbia University and Professor Wheeler who brought the statement to me. 2. The lawlessness that ensued in East Pakistan since Mr. Mujibur Rahman gave the signal to his followers on March 2 for civil disobedience and defiance of the central and provincial governments even before he had met President Yahya Khan in Dacca for political discussions (which began on March 15 and ended on March 25) simply had to be brought to an end by the Pakistan Army. The armed bands that roamed the streets, looting and in many instances killing non-Bengali speaking fellow citizens, even while these discussions were going on, could not be allowed to continue looting and killing. The parallel government set up by the Awami League which was responsible for this lawlessness and chaotic state of affairs in East Pakistan ever since March 2 had to be put down. 3. The Army carried out the task assigned to it, namely, to restore law and order. I assure you that the extent of the damage has been grossly exaggerated, and in many cases was completely false. These reports have a common source, namely. India, which is obviously tainted and I quote below Washington Post of April 2, 1971, carrying a report of their New Delhi correspondent, Mr. Lee Lescaze: "The Indian press coverage so influenced the world's initial view of what was happening in East Pakistan that is became part of the event rather than an independent commentary. This has not been reporting. It has been psychological warfare' an Indian official remarked of newspaper stories recounting victory after victory by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's East Bengalis against the Pakistan Army". 4. At present the situation is returning to normal everywhere in East Pakistan and it does not yet appear necessary for my government to ask for aid either from the International Red Cross or any other organization for the present as there are 700 thousand tons of food-grains still available in the province as well as medical supplies imported after the cyclone disaster of November last year. However, when more such