পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (সপ্তম খণ্ড).pdf/৯৭

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : সপ্তম খণ্ড
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coastal steamers and barges by a parallel sea and river route to Narayanganj from where road and rail facilities are available for transport into the interior.

 The Government is also taking urgent steps to repair the damage caused to roads and railroads. The inland water communication system is being improved to ensure supply of food grains to areas which are still inaccessible by road and railroad.

 Further, the Government is intensifying its rural works program, which is being increased from 248 million rupees to 310 million rupees for the next year so that purchasing power is made available to the people of East Pakistan for the purchase of food.

 Surveys are also being made for any possible small pockets where free distribution of food might become necessary and such free distribution would no doubt be undertaken.

 On May, 4, 1971, an AID official in East Pakistan has sent a report, in which he rejected rumours about the risk of a famine involving ten to thirty million people. I lis conclusions are that even on the basis of conservative estimates of our food production and the working of the distributing system; the changes of famine are very low. Fears to the contrary are based on most pessimistic estimates of food grain production, import and distribution of food and there is hardly any reason to presume that everything will go wrong simultaneously in this manner.

 We are confident that with the assistance of our friends and with our own efforts, the risk of famine in East Pakistan can be effectively eliminated. The Government of Pakistan is fully conscious of its responsibility in this regard. It is and will be doing everything possible to meet the food requirements of its own people.

Yours sincerely
Sd/-
(A. Hilaly)
The Honorable.
Cornelius E. Gallagher
United Stated Congress
235, Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515