Calcutta, Dec 21. The Bangladesh Government leaders, headed by Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, the Prime Minister, will arrive in Dacca tomorrow and start functioning from there, it was leant in Calcutta today. There has been some criticism in the Press that they did not take the earliest opportunity to go to Dacca after the Pakistan surrender, but a Bangladesh source today explained the delay. Apparently, the Indian Army wanted a few days to restore some order before a civilian government could take over its basic functions. The Bangladesh leaders had also to conclude a series of discussions with Indian Government representatives including Mr. D. P. Dhar, chairman of the policy planning committee of the External Affairs Ministry.

One of the problems discussed was the rehabilitation of refugees on their return home. It is estimated that this will cost more than £100 m and require vast quantities of construction material. One task for the Bangladesh Government will be to find a new Commander-in-Chief for its armed forces, apart from appointing army, navy and air force chiefs. Colonel M. A. Osmany, who retired from the Pakistan Army in 1967, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh forces during the liberation struggle. Now that the struggle is over, Colonel Osmany, who was elected to the National Assembly for the Awami League last December, wants to return to civilian life.

When I asked him who his successor would be, Colonel Osmany said that this was a matter for the Government to decide. It can be assumed, however, that his advice will be taken. A number of senior Bengali officers including two major-generals and a few brigadiers, are still in West Pakistan and most, if not all of them, may now wish to transfer their allegiance to Bangladesh. But if they return home their integration into the Bangladesh defence forces will be a matter of delicate adjustment.

There was no question of disowning them, Colonel Osmany said. Many of them might have wanted to join the liberation struggle but had been unable to. As in the case of civilian officials, however, there should be a process of screening to eliminate those who had been willing collaborators. Those who passed the screening would have to be fitted in to the new framework. Colonel Osmany was not unaware that complexities could arise in their relations with relatively junior officers who had assumed senior responsibilities during the liberation struggle and discharged them with
great courage, efficiency and at great personal sacrifice. But, speaking as a disciplined soldier, he could not advocate too violent an upset to the rank structure that existed before the officers and men found themselves on opposing sides.

He personally was anxious to see that the services of Mukti Bahini officers were recognised and rewarded while fitting them into the regular Bangladesh defence forces. He thought that in all selection appointments, above the rank of major, special credit must be given for service during the liberation struggle. Talking to a few Mukti Bahini commanders, one is reassured by an impression that the question of relative rank may not be an intractable issue. Experience of the past nine months has bred in them a new maturity and sense of responsibility. Most of them were majors and captains when fighting began in March and four majors were promoted to Lieutenant-Colonels last August. These four include Ziaur Rahman who was the first Bengali officer to announce his revolt in the last week of March.

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Warsaw, Dec. 21. The Pakistan Ambassador in Poland, Mr. Abul Bashirul Alam, today declared his loyalty to Bangladesh. In the presence of dozens of Polish journalists he hoisted the Bangladesh flag at his residence and played the Bangladesh anthem on a tape recorder.