June 6, 1971

Shamsuddoza Sajen

PRECONDITIONS FOR SETTLEMENT

Syed Nazrul Islam, acting president of Bangladesh, today spelt out four preconditions for a political settlement of the Bangladesh issue. In a 45-minute broadcast from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Syed Nazrul Islam said that the conditions were: 1) unconditional release of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 2) withdrawal of the invading West Pakistani Army from the soil of Bangladesh, 3) recognition of the Sovereign Republic of Bangladesh, 4) compensation for the losses suffered by the people during the two and half months of barbarous atrocities by the West Pakistan Army.

Syed Nazrul Islam said that many countries -- big and small -- had talked about a political settlement in Bangladesh. But nobody had specifically stated their formulae. On behalf of the Bangladesh Government, he made it clear to these countries that if they had thought of a settlement within the framework of the so-called Pakistan, they would be grossly mistaken. “Pakistan is dead and she cannot be revived. Free Bangladesh is now a reality. On behalf of the Bangladesh Government, I want to make it amply clear that the 75 million people of Bangladesh will not accept any hotchpotch political settlement. We had wanted a settlement but after the horrifying night of March 25 the question of a settlement does not rise,” said the acting President.