‘We can now pay for our imports’

July 24, 1972

MEDICAL BOARD EXAMINES BANGABANDHU

The three-member medical board under the leadership of Professor Nurul Islam, personal physician to the prime minister, examines Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today. The board is of unanimous opinion that the prime minister should undergo an operation at an early date. Professor Nurul Islam asks that none should visit the prime minister, who has been suffering from stone in the gallbladder.

MORE LIBERAL IMPORT POLICY IN FUTURE

Import policy will be liberalised and more items will be included in the next shipping period. This will be possible because of the availability of sufficient amount of foreign exchange, says Minister for Trade and Commerce MR Siddiqui addressing the members of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry today. He adds that Bangladesh would get Tk 100 crore credit from East European Countries and hence there will be no shortfall in import of essential commodities. Siddiqui further says that our export performance has been satisfactory and in near future we would be able to meet our import need sufficiently from our export earnings. He categorically declares that no new foreign firms would be allowed to do indenting business and only old foreign firms would be allowed this scope.

SEATO DEAD, IT WILL NOT HELP US: SAMAD

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad today says in Bangkok that his talks with Thai Under-Secretary Affairs might lead to establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Thailand was the first ASEAN country to recognise Bangladesh.

Asked whether Bangladesh would join the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) Abdus Samad points out to the newsmen that Bangladesh follows the principle of non-alignment. He adds, "We are a new and small nation. SEATO didn't help us. SEATO is already a dead body. We are not interested in it."

SOURCES: July 25, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.