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Background: The annual monsoon rains have broken early in the eastern part of East Pakistan and are hampering the movement of Pakistani troops, according to an Indian news agency. Reports also indicate that the Pakistan Army has launched an all-out offensive against the Bangladesh (Bengali Nation) fighters in areas near the East Pakistan border with India. Reports reaching Calcutta said that Pakistan troops had moved from the town of Jessore to clear the road to Benapole, near the Indian border.

Yesterday (12 April) Visnews cameraman Prem Prakash was at the border point near Benapole in the Jessore district. He reported that the secessionist proponents of Bangladesh have removed or altered all signs bearing the name of the Pakistan government, replacing it with "Bangladesh". While there, the cameraman was able to film Subodh Mitra, of the banned Awami League, talking to troops of the self-styled "Liberation Forces". Subodh Mitra is a close lieutenant of the head of the Awami League, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As the meeting was concluding, a sniper's bullet hit the windscreen of a nearby jeep.

999999,SYNOPSIS: At the border checkpoint in East Pakistan near Benapole on the Indian border, it is clear that the secessionist forces of the Awami League are in control.

Soldiers of the self-styled "Bangladesh Liberation Fores" have come here in the face of an advance by soldiers of the pakistan Army. One of the leaders of the Awami League, Subodh Mitra, was on hand to greet soldiers of the "Liberation Forces."
During the meeting a sniper's bullet pierced the windscreen of a nearby jeep. Subodh Mitra is one of the closest lieutenants of the Head of the Awami League, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Mr. Mitra talked to the tired soldiers in dan attempt to boost their morale.

While some of the soldiers talked with the Awami leader, others enjoyed a hot meal or a bath. An Indian news agency reported that the annual monsoon rains had started early in the eastern part of East Pakistan. It has been reported that the rains are already hampering the movement of Pakistani troops--good news for these "liberation Forces" soldiers.

News from various areas of East Pakistan is often conflicting. Soldiers of the "Liberation Army" have to rely on newspapers and pamphlets that may be outdated by the time they receive them. Visits by personalities such as Subodh Mitra are therefore very important to these men.