DACCA: Dacca opened its heart today [June 27] when Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto arrived here on a historic three-day official visit. … Emotional scenes were witnessed as the Prime Minister and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman drove through crowds milling the streets. … After the engines of Mr Bhutto’s plane were switched off, Chief of Protocol of the Bangladesh Government … came in to escort the Pakistani leader. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, clad in kurta, pyjama and bandi, walked towards the gangway. …

Sheikh Mujib was the first to greet Mr Bhutto with a warm embrace. The Sheikh had brought a garland of red and white roses, and he garlanded his guest with a broad smile as a 19-gun salute boomed. … Tens of thousands of … Bangladeshis gave an excited welcome to the Pakistani leader. Crowds shouted “Pakistan Zindabad. …” [The] Bangladesh Press … gave prominent display to news of Premier Bhutto’s visit… . The “Bangladesh Times” … published its lead story under the caption “warm welcome awaits Bhutto today”. In a separate … story, the paper said that Dacca would make “all efforts” to reach “broad understanding over outstanding problems.”

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2024