December 1, 1972         

INDIA-BANGLADESH FRIENDSHIP WILL GROW: INDIRA

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has expressed the hope that the friendship and cooperation existing between Bangladesh and her country would grow and become an example of good neighbourly relations for the world at large. Replying to the message sent by Bangladesh Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of her birthday, Indira Gandhi commended the wide and farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu and said Bangladesh would overcome the problems of reconstruction and go forward with confidence to the achievement of the wider goal of establishing a democratic, socialist and secular society under his leadership.

BANGABANDHU ARRIVES AT DUBLA

Bangabandhu, who left Dhaka on November 29 on a visit to the coastal areas, arrives at Dubla, a tiny fishing village in the Sundarbans, today. The prime minister is on a three-day visit to the coastal areas to see for himself the coastal embankment projects, arrangements for the conservation of coastal forests and preservation of wildlife.

Arriving at Dubla the PM enquires about the welfare of the villagers who present some of their immediate problems of scarcity of drinking water and shortage of medicines before Bangabandhu. The PM asks the accompanying district officials to immediately arrange the supply of drinking water and vaccines. Blankets are distributed to the villagers, some of whom also receive monetary assistance in view of their acute distress.

BANGLADESH TO ESTABLISH MISSION AT EEC HQ

The Government of Bangladesh is expected to open an economic mission at European Economic Community headquarters at Brussels shortly to establish and maintain direct links with the European Common Market and the individual member countries.

SOURCES: December 2, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.