BANGLA DESH, it Ben gal nation, may rise out of the ashes and blood and terror of the India‐Pakistan War. If it does, the eight labels re leased last July 29 are likely to be recognized as the first definitive issue of the new nation, although there were earlier overprinted Bangla Desh stamps on Pakistan issues.

As a matter of fact, the commercial entrepreneurs of the Bangla Desh emissions have announced that the labels will be overprinted “Bangladesh Recognized,” to commemorate India's action, at the start of the current subcontinent war, of recognizing the insurgent Bengali government. Bhutan, the tiny Asian state that lies Just north of India and what has been East Pakistan, and which rests its foreign policy decisions in the hands of India, has also recognized the Bangla Desh government.

[Overprinting is a practice, frequently unwarranted, and undertaken by some postal administrations (and one may exist for Bangla Desh) for allegedly significant events for which time has not permitted issuance of normal postage stamps. Excepting India and Bhutan) Bangla Desh has not been recognized by other nations; and the July labels were not accorded recognition by any postal administration, nor the Universal Postal Union, although some letters bearing the labels did pass through the mails.]

With the appearance of the eight Bangle mesh labels in July, this commentator observed that “no matter the hopes, dreams or aspirations of the Bangla Desh; these are not postage stamps… Some day, if there ever is a Bangle Dash, they may be recognized as the ‘first definitive stamps’ of the Ben gal Nation.” Maybe this comment will now be a reality. There were “first day covers” of these labels postmarked as from ‘Mujibnagar,” a floating capital of Bengali insurgents—a capital that existed wherever the leaders gathered, which may have been anywhere in East Pakistan's countryside that had not yet been overrun by the armed forces from West Pakistan.

Prior to the appearance of the London‐produced labels, the Bangla Desh insurgents seized stocks of Pakistan stamps and overprinted them in Bengali and English, “Bangla Desh” with new de nominations, double or triple bars striking out the name “Pakistan.”

Data compiled from a correspondent of Herman Herst Jr., Shrub Oak, N. Y., has provided the following data:

The overprinted stamps, some of which are illustrated, including a cover, were produced in Chuadanga‐in April 1971, and the Indian Government recognized them, some mail having been delivered in India. The correspondent says he was present at the opening sale in Benapole on April 15, stating that he posted letters to the United States, England, Switzerland and Germany through post offices of the Liberation Army.

According to the correspondent, the West Pakistan army swept into Chuadanga on April 24, and reportedly destroyed the overprinted stamps found there. The West Pakistanis were driven out on April 30. Whether or not the Bangla Desk guerrillas overprinted more stamps is not known.

Some covers were post marked at Benapole, others bear the “Mujibnagar” Army Post Office cancel, and a horizontal boxed carrier's imprint, “Mail Carried by Bangle Dash Mukti Fouz,” with Bengali wording below.