India seeks Bangabandhu’s view on Indo-Pak talks

April 19, 1972

DP DHAR CALLS ON BANGABANDHU

To prepare ground for the summit conference between Indira Gandhi and ZA Bhutto, the emissary level meeting between India and Pakistan will begin in Rawalpindi on April 25, 1972. This is disclosed to the press by the spokesmen of Bangladesh Foreign Office and Indian Embassy following a 90-minute discussion between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and DP Dhar at the prime minister's official residence today.

DP Dhar, Chairman of the Policy Planning Cell, Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will lead the Indian team to Islamabad arrives today in Dhaka to seek "advice and guidance" of Bangabandhu on how India should express herself at the talks when issues involving Bangladesh will crop up.

The Indian spokesman says that India is going to the conference table with Pakistan with the basic objective of a lasting peace in the subcontinent. 

Since it is an expressed policy of the Bangladesh government that any talks with Pakistan must come after Pakistan recognises Bangladesh, it is expected that India will press for recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan in the forthcoming talks at Rawalpindi.

CABINET DISCUSSES FISCAL POLICY

Bangladesh Cabinet today discusses among other issues the future administrative set up and fiscal policy, including the import policy of the country. Bangabandhu presides over the meeting. The eight newly appointed ministers also attend the deliberations of the meeting.

CHECK-POSTS ALONG BANGLADESH-INDIA BORDER

The West Bengal government has decided to set up check-posts along Bangladesh-India border to check smuggling in arms and ammunitions. The West Bengal State Minister for Home Dr Fazle Haque informs that each and every incoming and outgoing vehicle will be searched. The Indian border security force and border police have been asked to curb movement of people through unauthorised routes with Bangladesh, he adds. 

OVERSEAS BANGALEE WELFARE BOARD FORMED

An overseas Bangalee welfare board is formed in Dhaka today with Bangladesh Foreign Minister MA Samad as the chairman. The foreign minister, while discussing the problems of overseas Bangalees, says that Bangabandhu felt the need to form a board like this and the present welfare board is being proposed at his behest. The welfare board will coordinate all efforts at government level and other agencies aimed at ensuring proper wellbeing and safeguarding the interests of Bangladeshi nationals living abroad.

SOURCES: April 20, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Ittefaq