WASHINGTON, Dec. 17—The chief representative of Bangladesh in Washington called a news conference today to ask for diplomatic recognition and economic assistance from the United States.

But the Nixon Administration, which worked in vain to prevent the splitting of East Pakistan from West Pakistan, was not believed to be in any hurry to extend formal recognition to Bangladesh, as the Bengali seccessionists call their territory.

Senior officials said, however, that recognition of what was formerly East Pakistan Was probably inevitable over a period of time once a framework for the new alignment of forces on the Indian subcontinent became clear in the wake of the war that ended today.

With the war over, the Administration sought to avoid any public statement that might worsen the situation. Ronald L. Ziegier, the White House press secretary, said he did not want to say anything “that would in any way inhibit an environment in which a peaceful solution can be worked out.”

In the last week, the United States worked to keep the fighting limited to East Pakistan. Senior analysts had predicted that it would be easily captured by the Indian forces.

Administration officials said that they had reliable information that the Indians at first planned to carry the war to West Pakistan as soon as they had won in the East, and this led to statements of concern both at the United Nations and by Mr. Ziegler.

It was also learned that Mr. Nixon had made this concern known’ to Premier Aleksei N. Kosygin of the Soviet Union in a series of confidential messages warning him that the future of Soviet‐American relations, including his trip to Moscow next May, might be imperiled if the fighting did spread to West Pakistan.

Henry A. Kissinger, the President's assistant for national. security affairs, has said that Mr. Nixon was annoyed by Moscow's apparent desire, through its support of India, to gain advantage on the subcontinent instead of seeking to ease world tensions.

The Soviet actions in the crisis have become a sore point in. Soviet‐American relations. Mr. Nixon is expected to raise this issue with Soviet leaders in Moscow.

Meet in Cramped Quarters

The Bangladesh representative, M. R. Siddiqi, met with newsmen at his mission's cramped quarters. He appealed to the United States and other nations to extend recognition, which he said would be “a step forward in restoring peace, stability and normalcy in the strife‐torn region.”

“We hope that even those countries which could not support our cause in the past will look to the future and readjust their policies to the realities of the situation,” he said.

Both the White House and the State Department refused to comment on whether the United States would recognize Bangladesh. Mr. Ziegler, at the Florida White House, stressed, however, that the United States continued to seek a withdrawal of Indian forces from East Pakistan.

“We now look forward to a (their of forces behind their national borders in an orderly and systematic way,” he said.

Apparently urging Moscow to cooperate in this, Mr. Ziegler said there were many problems ahead “and we feel the cooperation of all members of the United Nations will be essential.”

Aid When Ports Open

Robert J. McCloskey, the State Department spokesman, said that American humanitarian aid to East Pakistan and India prior to the fighting had been funneled through the United Nations, and he said this aid would be resumed once ports were reopened.

He avoided questions on what government officials the United States Consulate in Dacca would deal with and avoided being drawn into discussing the imprisoned East Bengali leader, Sheik Mujibur Rahman.

The Indians have said that the refusal of the West Pakistani authorities to release Sheik Mujib was a major factor leading to the war. India and representatives of Bangladesh have said that there could be no political solution without Sheik Mujib's participation.

Mr. McCloskey said he doubted that there would be any early decision to resume aid to India. The United States cut off $87.6‐million in aid to show its displeasure with India.

Presumably, American aid to India will be one of the elements in a final solution of the crisis. Other issues of concern to the Administration involve India's intentions in East Pakistan.

In another matter. the aircraft carrier Enterprise, which had been sent into the Bay of Bengal as a show of force to the Indians, received orders today to alter course away from the East Pakistani area, a Congressional source said.