DACCA: Fifty-five University professors, college teachers, writers, journalists and artistes of East Pakistan today [May 16] said they were distressed at the way the International Committee of University Emeritus, New York, had responded to malicious Indian propaganda regarding recent happenings in East Pakistan. In a joint statement they expressed surprise at a statement issued by I.C.U.E. expressing anxiety at what it chose to describe as “massacre of scholars at Dacca”.

“Some of us were very intrigued to find ourselves listed as among those shot and killed”, they said adding that many of them had already appe­a­red on the Dacca Television to prove the contrary.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Cairo,] The new War Minister of the UAR, Gen Mohamed Ahmed Sadek, last night [May 15] pledged the full support of the nation’s Armed Forces to Pre­si­dent Anwar Sadat. … The former Chief of Staff was appointed War Minister after President Sadat accepted resignation of Gen Mohamed Fawzy two days ago and placed him under house arrest.

President Sadat, who has accused Fawzy of complicity in the attempt to force him out of power, is understood to have got full pledges of support from key officers he talked to in a recent visit to the frontline.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2021