Bengal army abandons south-west
From Brian May
Meherpur. April 18
Remnants of the East Bengal forces withdrew today from this East Pakistan town before the advancing Pakistan army and took refuge in a camp across the Indian border. By tonight all rebel troops had left the vital south-western sector.

One mile inside Pakistan territory, I found that the East Pakistan Rifles post at Ichakhali had been abandoned, although it would have made a suitable rear base for the retreating East Bengalis. But this was only the first sign that a vast area had been deserted by the rebel army and people.

Dozens of villages housing thousands of people in thatched huts were almost completely deserted. Only a few old people, howling dogs and cows had been left behind.

At dusk I found a steady stream of looters leaving Meherpur. A shouting crowd was sharing our grain from the town's storehouse. Youths were carrying away furniture from houses evacuated . earlier, and several warned me that "the Punjabis" were there.

But Mr. M. A. Bakar, a schoolteacher, told me that 20 West Pakistani troops had arrived in five jeeps early in the afternoon and had stayed only about two hours.—Agence France Presse.

Pakistan envoy flies rebel flag - Reuters

Calcutta. April 18.—Mr. M. Hossain Ali today renounced his post of Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner to India and hoisted the green, red and gold flag of Bangla Desh (Bengali nation) above his mission here. "This is now a mission of Bangla Desh", he told newspapermen. As he spoke, a crowd of about 300 Indians gathered outside the building shouting "Jai Bangla" (Victory to Bengal).

Mr. Ali said "It is clear from all the reports I have received here from people coming out [of East Pakistan] that the Pakistan Army is carrying out genocide in my country.

"They have killed hundreds of thousands. No one knows how many", he added.

Purge of Bengalis from Pakistan Civil Service — Associated Press

Karachi. April 18.--A purge of Bengalis from the Pakistan armed forces and key Civil Service posts was reported under way today. Unofficial sources said that the aim was to remove " unreliable elements" from every aspect of the Government's drive against the independence-seeking Bengalis of East Pakistan.
Republic proclaimed, page 4