Assembly Activities
On Food Crisis – Speaking on an Adjournment Motion ( 20th September, 1956 )
Major Abdul Ghani: Mr. Speaker, while speaking on food in
adjournment motion, first I will talk about those, who are sitting on my right, but I will blame those who were there earlier and who could not solve the food problem. At the same time, I am not sparing those who are sitting on this side as well (Treasury bench) (laughter).
When hundreds of people are dying of hunger in the villages, we are doing politics with food. It was the duty of United Front government
to try
to solve the problem by seeking co-operation of all. But they could not
tackle the problem
that way. We gave them suggestion. Even
we
told them that the situation
would turn serious, but they paid no
heed
to that. If I have
to blame anyone, then they are
responsible.
Those of us who are the members of the assembly,
those who are determining the fate of the people, we are now
doing politics with food meant
for the people. Today we are blaming
one another. United Front
is blaming Awami League and Awami League is blaming United Front.
When’s national crisis descends on us, should
we behave like this? Say for
example, any foreign country Invades us today;
will we not be united then Till the time our objective is achieved, will we not co-operate‘?
I attended a meeting of Awami League. Mr. Suhrawardy narrated his plan and policy and he said, if his party goes
to power, they will solve the food problem
in that way. We took it that he had understood the food problem well and if they go to power, they will be able to
solve the food problem. At that time, they used to sit in opposition. Now they are sitting In this place i.e. in Treasury Bench.
With the psychology of opposition, if you sit in the treasury
bench, that will not suffice. Mr. Khairat Hussain, you
have to sit in the middle (laughter).1Since you are now in power, you must not lose your head. The way
Assembly is
conducted peacefully, the way our problems can be solved; you have to pay attention
to that.
How the food problem
has turned precarious, let me now explain. I went to Burichang, Brahmenbaria and Feni. People there are selling
their own home-stead, cattle and everything. There are certain
families who did not see the face of rice for 2 months;
they are just surviving by eating boiled
grams and beans. Some families consisting of 10/12 are surviving by
eating 250 grams of atta-made bread.
I am telling you, if you want our co-operation, then we are fully ready to
co-operate with you to solve the food problem.
In order to solve the food problem, we have to take into account two things. one is short term and another is
long term plan. Only shouting will not suffice.
We have to work as well for bringing rice from abroad. By expecting aid from abroad, we cannot protect
our Independence. So I request
my friends, I am telling you all, please try to do that.
Those who are in government, please
co-operate with them. 1et them be given a scope and
opportunity. Mere blaming them
or criticizing them will not suffice, by
saying that Awami League has
done this, has done that. You have to render them co-operation. They have promised
to the people. They promised in Paltan
Maidan. They drew up a resolution in their working committee that, the areas where food problem has turned very serious,
those areas would be declared
as famine area.
Now they are in power. I am confident that Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan and 11 of your young ministers will be able to tackle the food problem of the country.
About long term plan, I
apprised about that in Karachi Food Seminar. In the waste lands of the country, you have to settle the landless
peasants. You have to drain out water from the marshy land and utilize
those places.
From now, till next monsoon, we have to get one harvest. We have to lead a movement
for “growing more food” countrywide.
I will put up another
request to Chief Minister. The schemes that he will implement from now onward, should
not be restricted within Awami League alone. I hope he will take co-operation of all. He will engage every one. We only want that the promise that you made, you will fulfill. You will declare East Pakistan as famine zone.
Those who are un-fed in
the villages, those who are without
money, you will help them. Those who became weal‹ due to hunger
and those who have no ability to receive medical aid in far flung areas,
you will arrange for them emergency hospital and mobile medical units.
The problems that we are facing, friends of Awami. League are well aware of those. We hope you will try your best, so that there is an early solution and the promises you made, those can be fulfilled