DHAKA: The proclamation of Independence of Bangladesh came from no other person but he was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who made this historical declaration on March 26, 1971.                          

This historical information is preserved with USA foreign ministry’s classified documents archive.

It is learnt from the secret documents of USA that on March 26, 1971 an emergency meeting of the action group was under process chaired by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Richard Helms was representing C.I.A. In the lot of discussions took place regarding the declaration and the arrest of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib.

CIA representative disclosed in the meeting that from some unknown place a radio message had said that Sheikh Mujib proclaimed Independence of Bangladesh.                                   

The subject of discussion was ‘Pakistan’. The meeting was also attended by the high profile officials of the Nixon government where the CIA chief was presenting the update development in Bangladesh.                        

Henry Kissinger was making himself informed with the latest information about the emergence of a new country. In the secret documentary archive of the foreign ministry of USA this was filed in this language.  

On March 31, 2014 the foreign ministry of US has made this information in public. In this way it clears the position of USA regarding the proclamation of Bangladesh’s Independence. Special Action group had identified the declaration as of none but of Sheikh Mujib.

In that meeting Richard Helmes was describing the events of the then East Pakistan gathered from the consulate office at Dhaka.        

However, the first line of Richard’s speech has still been kept as a classified and confidential.              

The disclosure of March 31 by Richard said that- the situation in the area of the Consulate General is very quiet but that an enormous fire has been going on for hours in the old part of the city. Very few shots or explosions have been heard. Only two of the Consulate personnel had been able to get to the Consulate building by 6:30 p.m.

[1 line of source text not declassified] Mujibur Rahman was taken into custody at 1:00 p.m. by the martial law authorities. Two of his supporters were killed when the arrest took place. [2 lines of source text not declassified]

[1½ lines of source text not declassified] They say that Yahya`s speech Friday night has to be heard to appreciate the venom in his voice as he described Mujibur Rahman. The fat is in the fire. Islamabad confirms that Mujibur Rahman was successfully arrested.

It is unclear what caused the collapse of the talks.

Dr. Kissinger: Yesterday it looked as though an agreement were in sight.

Mr. Helms: Yes, an agreement appeared near on March 24. The breakdown may have been because of Mujibur Rahman`s insistence on the immediate lifting of martial law.

A clandestine radio broadcast has Mujibur Rahman declaring the independence of Bangla Desh. There are 20,000 loyal West Pakistani troops in East Pakistan. There are also 5,000 East Pakistani regulars and 13,000 East Pakistani paramilitary troops, but their loyalty is doubtful. We cannot confirm Indian press reports that a large number of Pakistani troops landed by ship. Six C–130s carrying troops were supposed to be going from Karachi to Dacca today. It will take them a long time, since they have to go via Ceylon.

There are 700 potential U.S. evacuees in Dacca and 60 or 70 in Chittagong. There has been no request for evacuation yet.

BDST: 2010 HRS, APR 04, 2014