‘Workers will share profit of industries’

FEBRUARY 17, 1972

FIRST MEETING OF AL WORKING COMMITTEE

The working committee of Awami League, in its first meeting after the Liberation War held in Dhaka today, discusses the political and economic situation in the country and matters relating to the party. The meeting was presided over by the party chief and Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The meeting adopts a resolution condoling the martyrs who laid down their lives in the struggle for independence and prays for the peace of the departed souls. After the meeting, in a conversation with newsmen, AL's General Secretary Tajuddin Ahmad shares that they will respect the party constitution, which provides that a party member must resign his party office within 30 days of accepting any public office.

ADAMJEE REOPENS

According to a decision taken under the advice of Bangabandhu, Adamjee Jute Mill starts production today. Syed Nazrul Islam, minister for industries, addresses the ceremony marking the resumption of production in the Mill. He calls upon the workers to change their traditional outlook of being a mere employee and to work with redoubled vigour to increase production and earn more profits. He also assures the workers that a certain portion of the industry's profit will be spent exclusively for their welfare and economic betterment and that their interest will be kept above all considerations. 

ASSESSMENT OF LOSS

The inquiry committee set up by the government of Bangladesh for assessment of the loss of life and property caused by the atrocities of the Pakistan army from March 26 to December 16 finalises the detailed procedure and questionnaire for information collection. It is hoped that the questionnaire will reach all villages by the first week of March 1972.

OVER $565M NEEDED FOR BANGALEE REFUGEES

UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim reports to the UN General Assembly that more than $565million will be needed for refugees' relief in Bangladesh for the remainder of this year. "Never in the history of the United Nations has international assistance been needed so urgently and in such great amounts," he adds. The total aid requirement in Bangladesh for 1972 exceeds $620 million, of which nearly 90 percent is for food imports, Waldheim's report informs. 

54 COLLABORATORS SUMMONED

The government of Bangladesh declares former Deputy Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly ATMA Matin and 53 others as absconders for avoiding inquiry under the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunal) Order and directed them to appear before the magistrate by February 29. The immovable properties standing in their names or the names of their benamdars have also been attached under the same Order. 

SOURCES: February 18, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, The Daily Ittefaq, Azad, Morning News, The Bangladesh Observer and Purbodesh.