December 11, 1972

SELF-RELIANCE MAIN OBJECTIVE

Dr Nurul Islam, deputy chairman of the planning commission, discloses today that the draft outline of the first five-year plan would be announced by the middle of 1973 and different working groups are now working to prepare the outline. He shares that the main objective of the first five-year plan would be to attain self-reliance and to reduce the dependence on foreign aid. The plan would be formulated keeping in mind the economic condition of the lower-income group, who constitute the vast majority of the population, and to ensure food, clothing and medicine for them, he adds. He further says that this plan would be a departure from those of the Pakistani days because Pakistani planners never placed emphasis on the welfare of the vast majority of the people who live in the rural areas.

INDO-BANGLADESH RIVERS BODY TALKS FLOODS

The third meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Rivers Commission begins its three-day session in New Delhi. Today's discussion is devoted mainly to a review of the progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the study groups on specific issues such as flood forecasting, drainage of Agartala town and the problem of flood control in the Sagarkhali area.

The subjects listed for discussion at this meeting include programmes of joint survey of the Ganges between Farakka and Gorai, augmentation of water flow of certain rivers common to the two countries, and the flood problem of the Sylhet-Cachar area.

DANISH ENVOY CALLS ON PM

Denmark Ambassador Biering calls on Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today at the Gono Bhaban and spends some time with him. This is the ambassador's farewell call.

Sources: December 12, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, Ittefaq and The Daily Observer.