December 28, 1972

IRISH RELIEF TEAM CALLS ON PM

A big group of volunteers belonging to Concern, a relief organisation of Ireland, who are now working in Bangladesh calls on Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Gono Bhaban today to convey New Year's greeting to him. The volunteers of Concern are engaged in relief and nursing missions at Perojpur, Peerganj, Sylhet and Mymensingh. Some of them are also working with the Women's Carer Institute in Dhaka. The volunteers expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the cooperation and help extended to their work by his government.

GOVT URGED TO HELP ALLAY PROBLEMS OF BANGALEES IN UK

Dr AFA Sayeed, member of Community Relation Commission of the United Kingdom, says in Dhaka today that racial discrimination still exists in Britain and all efforts are being geared up to changing the persisting attitude towards immigrants. He gives a detailed account of the problems of the Bangalee immigrants in the UK and seeks cooperation from the Bangladesh government to help assuage those problems.

GOKHALE LAUDS BANGLADESH CONSTITUTION

Indian Minister for Law and Justice H R Gokhale, who is currently visiting Dhaka, appreciates the Bangladesh Constitution as a "good document" ensuring enough scope for enabling people to move forward towards progress.

"You have done a lot to have sufficient elasticity in the Constitution while protecting basic rights," he adds. Replying to a question, the minister refers to the provision in the Bangladesh Constitution putting curbs on the floor crossing in the parliament and says they themselves are contemplating in India to have such legislation.

PLAN FOR MERCHANT NAVY

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation has drawn up a comprehensive plan for building up an effective Merchant Navy of its own as early as possible. Under this plan the corporation has proposed to acquire 43 ocean-going vessels including three oil-tankers with approximately a total tonnage of five lakh by 1978.

Source: December 29, 1972 issues of Dainik Bangla, The Bangladesh Observer and Ittefaq.