Bengali independence declared by Mujib

 

Buenos Aires Herald, Argentina, March 27, 1971

New Delhi

Sheikh Mujib ur-Rahman last night proclaimed East Pakistan the sovereign independent People’s Republic of Bangla Desh, according to a clandestine radio report monitored near the East Pakistan border.

The declaration of independence came as fighting was reported to be raging between federal troops and followers of Sheikh Mujib. Firing was heard at the border, and reports coming from across spoke of heavy fighting.

…

The PTI said it was monitoring a clandestine radio station in East Pakistan on which Mujib, who had gone into hiding, declared the province a sovereign, independent nation. He urged his followers to "struggle for freedom from the enemy."

The news agency said the broadcast was being monitored in Agartala, capital of the Indian territory of Tripura, and that an unidentified announcer was reading the message he attributed to Mujib.

The broadcast said Pakistan federal troops had attacked the Khana base of the East Pakistan Rifles and a police station at midnight on Thursday, killing many people and sparking the insurrection.