Pakistan, Saudis were quick to recognise Mostaq govt
Kamran Reza Chowdhury
bdnews24.com senior correspondent
Dhaka, Aug 14 (bdnews24.com)—Hours after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Aug 15, 1975, Pakistan was the first country to recognise the new government headed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, according to national media reports.
The state-owned newspaper The Bangladesh Times on its front page on Aug 16 carried a Reuters story which quoted Pakistan prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announcing his country's decision to recognise the new government.
The same newspaper on the same day published a Reuters story headlined "US ready for normal ties" filed from Washington.
The Bangladesh Times in its headline on Aug 17 reported that Saudi Arabia and Sudan recognised Bangladesh and the new government that took office after the Aug 15 killings.
A Reuters story filed from London said, "Britain today (Aug 18, Monday) recognised the new government of Bangladesh." The story was published in all the four newspapers of Bangladesh on Aug 19.
India was an exception.
"Pakistan has decided to recognise the new government of Bangladesh headed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad," said the Reuters story filed from Islamabad on Aug 15.
The report said, "Pakistan Prime Minister Z A Zulfiker Ali Bhutto in a statement announced his government's decision to immediately recognise the new Bangladesh government."
"He (Bhutto) also appealed to the 40 nations belonging to the Organisation of Islamic Conference and other third world countries to recognise the new leadership of Bangladesh."
The state-owned newspaper printed a Reuters story on Aug from Washington, "The United States is prepared to conduct normal diplomatic business with the new government in Bangladesh, State Department said Today.
"But a State Department spokesman said that the US embassy there was not contacted by new rulers in the hours immediately following the takeover.
"When we are approached, I feel sure US will be prepared to conduct normal business with them."
The spokesperson said their embassy was reporting that the situation in Dhaka was calm and that all 820 Americans were safe, according to the report.
On Aug 17, The Bangladesh Times ran the lead story captioned, "Saudi Arabia, Sudan accord recognition." The report was filed by the state-controlled news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) from Riyadh on Aug 16.
"King Khalid and the Sudanese President Gaffer Numiery who arrived here (Riyadh) for a visit had both sent messages of congratulations to the new Bangladesh President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, an official source said.
According to the reports filed by the BSS, New Delhi termed the killings "an internal affair" of Bangladesh.
The report, quoting an Indian government spokesman, said that India was "carefully studying the recent events in Bangladesh and watching the developments."
"We cannot remain un[a]ffected by the political developments in a neighbouring country. But these are internal matters of Bangladesh", said the report published in the Bangladesh Times and the daily Ittefaq.
The Indian government official said, according to the BSS report, that the people of India wished the cooperation and friendship among the countries in the sub-continent.
"We shall continue to strive for achievement of friendship with the neighbouring countries," said the report.
bdnews24.com senior correspondent
Dhaka, Aug 14 (bdnews24.com)—Hours after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Aug 15, 1975, Pakistan was the first country to recognise the new government headed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, according to national media reports.
The state-owned newspaper The Bangladesh Times on its front page on Aug 16 carried a Reuters story which quoted Pakistan prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announcing his country's decision to recognise the new government.
The same newspaper on the same day published a Reuters story headlined "US ready for normal ties" filed from Washington.
The Bangladesh Times in its headline on Aug 17 reported that Saudi Arabia and Sudan recognised Bangladesh and the new government that took office after the Aug 15 killings.
A Reuters story filed from London said, "Britain today (Aug 18, Monday) recognised the new government of Bangladesh." The story was published in all the four newspapers of Bangladesh on Aug 19.
India was an exception.
"Pakistan has decided to recognise the new government of Bangladesh headed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad," said the Reuters story filed from Islamabad on Aug 15.
The report said, "Pakistan Prime Minister Z A Zulfiker Ali Bhutto in a statement announced his government's decision to immediately recognise the new Bangladesh government."
"He (Bhutto) also appealed to the 40 nations belonging to the Organisation of Islamic Conference and other third world countries to recognise the new leadership of Bangladesh."
The state-owned newspaper printed a Reuters story on Aug from Washington, "The United States is prepared to conduct normal diplomatic business with the new government in Bangladesh, State Department said Today.
"But a State Department spokesman said that the US embassy there was not contacted by new rulers in the hours immediately following the takeover.
"When we are approached, I feel sure US will be prepared to conduct normal business with them."
The spokesperson said their embassy was reporting that the situation in Dhaka was calm and that all 820 Americans were safe, according to the report.
On Aug 17, The Bangladesh Times ran the lead story captioned, "Saudi Arabia, Sudan accord recognition." The report was filed by the state-controlled news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) from Riyadh on Aug 16.
"King Khalid and the Sudanese President Gaffer Numiery who arrived here (Riyadh) for a visit had both sent messages of congratulations to the new Bangladesh President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, an official source said.
According to the reports filed by the BSS, New Delhi termed the killings "an internal affair" of Bangladesh.
The report, quoting an Indian government spokesman, said that India was "carefully studying the recent events in Bangladesh and watching the developments."
"We cannot remain un[a]ffected by the political developments in a neighbouring country. But these are internal matters of Bangladesh", said the report published in the Bangladesh Times and the daily Ittefaq.
The Indian government official said, according to the BSS report, that the people of India wished the cooperation and friendship among the countries in the sub-continent.
"We shall continue to strive for achievement of friendship with the neighbouring countries," said the report.
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