December 8, 1972         

SWARAN EXPLAINS UN RESOLUTION 

Indian External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh says today that unless Pakistan recognises Bangladesh and unless Bangladesh is admitted to the United Nations, the release of the Pakistani prisoners of war would continue to be difficult. The external affairs minister says this in his reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Bangladesh situation. Some members comment that India should not have accepted the simultaneous adoption of two resolutions on Bangladesh's admission and release of POWs.

In response, Swaran Singh explains that Pakistan had moved amendments to the resolution of admission of Bangladesh making her admission conditional to release of prisoners of war but the adoption of the Argentine resolution prevented Pakistan from moving that amendment. He points out that the Argentine resolution spoke of repatriation of civilians and POWs but nowhere had it made the acceptance of these factors a condition to admission of Bangladesh.

TEJGAON WORKERS DEMONSTRATE IN FRONT OF THE GONO BHABAN

A large number of workers from the Tejgaon industrial area stage a demonstration today in front of the Gono Bhaban, official residence of Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, demanding trial and punishment of a labour leader for his alleged anti-social activities. Bangabandhu walks down to the gate amidst slogans and addresses the crowd.

GHANA ACCORDS RECOGNITION

Ghana officially recognises Bangladesh today as an independent and sovereign state. Quoting an official report from Accra, the capital of Ghana, BBC further says Ghana would look into the interest of Bangladesh both in the fields of economic and post-war reconstruction and the country would hold a similar stance in the case of prisoners of war. 

SOURCES: December 9, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.