Election promise for Bangladesh

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33966, 6 October 1975, Page 15

Election promise for Bangladesh

(New Zealand Press Association—Copy right) DACCA (Bangladesh), October 5. The Bangladesh Government has announced the release of 1000 political prisoners and has promised to review the cases of other detainees.

A Government spokesman said that all prisoners under sentence of death would have it commuted to 14 years “rigorous imprisonment.”

The Government released all juvenile delinquents under the age of 16 and prisoners over 55 who were ill.

The developments came after President Khandakar Moshtaque Ahmed’s pledge that Parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh would be restored and General Elections held in February, 197".

Mr Ahmed, who came to power after a bloody coup d'etat on August 15, said in a national radio broadcast that he set the election date “to restore democracy and hand over power to an elected Government.” Mr Ahmed also said that current restrictions on political activity would be lifted on August 15, 1976.

He said that he believed in freedom of the press and responsible journalism. "Along this line, steps are being taken to release three newspapers brought under Government control by the former Government

of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Mr Ahmed said. Sheikh Rahman was killed in the August coup.

Mr Ahmed said that the [nation’s Judiciary would be restored to its previous “exalted position.”