January 9, 1973

BANGABANDHU VISITS NATORE

Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today reiterates that elections set for March 7 would be absolutely free and fair. Pointing out that Bangladesh is a democratic country, he says there would be no interference in the elections. Addressing a public meeting at Natore, the prime minister says he would like to warn those who want to create disorder and foil elections. They would not gain anything by showing arms. The people of Bangladesh are capable of snatching those arms, he adds.

Bangabandhu regrets that some greedy elements are indulged in corruption even with regard to relief materials. He gives a fervent call for mass resistance against corruption and crimes.

PETRO-CHEMICAL COMPLEX IN THE FIRST FIVE-YEAR PLAN

The government is learnt to have been negotiating with the World Bank and other international financing agencies to finance the proposed petro-chemical complex at Ashuganj. The project is likely to be taken up in the first Five-Year Plan and the total cost of the project will be about Tk 250 crores. Before liberation, a scheme of Tk 100 crore was prepared by the World Bank for the project. The cost of the project has increased following the devaluation of the Bangladesh currency. The petro-chemical complex will facilitate the utilisation of natural gas deposits in Bangladesh.

PM APPRAISED OF REMITTANCE DIFFICULTIES

Dr AFA Sayeed, member, community relations commission, UK who is currently on a visit to Bangladesh met Bangabandhu yesterday and presented a memorandum on behalf of the Bangalees in the UK.

The nine-point memorandum highlights, among other things, the inconvenience faced by the Bangalees in remitting their earnings to Bangladesh which takes two to four months to reach the destinations. The memorandum also deplores the present arrangement of entry in Bangladesh Airport where incoming Bangalees are treated like captive home-coming crowds. The government is also requested to make provisions for the right of dual nationality to enhance the morale and stability among the Bangalees in the UK.

Source: January 10, 1973 issues of Dainik Bangla, Bangladesh Observer and Dainik Ittefaq