In the announcement of Bangladesh’s independence on April 10, 171
Whereas
free elections were held in Bangladesh from 7th December, 1970 to 17th
January, 1971, to elect representatives for the purpose of farming a constitution,
And
Whereas at these elections the people of
Bangladesh elected 167 out of 169 representatives belonging to the Awami League,
And
Whereas General Yahya Khan summoned the elected
representatives of the people to meet on the 3rd March 1971, for the
purpose of framing a constitution,
And
Whereas
instead of fulfilling their promise and while still conferring with the representatives
of the people of Bangladesh, Pakistan authorities declared an unjust and
treacherous war,
And
Whereas
in the facts and circumstances of such treacherous conduct Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the 95 million people of Bangladesh,
in due fulfilment of the legitimate right of self-determination of the people of
Bangladesh, duly made a declaration of independence at Dacca on March 26, 1971,
and urged the people of Bangladesh to defend the honour and integrity of
Bangladesh,
And
Whereas in the conduct of a ruthless and
savage war the Pakistani authorities committed and are still continuously
committing numerous acts of genocide and unprecedented tortures, amongst others
on the civilian and unarmed people of Bangladesh,
And
Whereas
the Government by levying an unjust war and committing genocide and by other
repressive measures made it impossible for the elected representatives of the
people of Bangladesh to meet and frame a constitution, and give to themselves a
Government,
And
Whereas
the people of Bangladesh by their heroism, bravery and revolutionary fervour
have established effective control over the territories of Bangladesh,
And
We
the elected representatives of the people of Bangladesh as honour bound by the mandate
given to us by the people of Bangladesh whose will is supreme, duly constituted
ourselves into a Constitution Assembly,
And
Having
held mutual consultation,
And
In
order to ensure for the people of Bangladesh equality, human dignity and social
justice, Declare and constitute Bangladesh to be sovereign peoples’ Republic
and thereby confirm the declaration of independence already made by Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
And
Do
hereby affirm and resolve that till such time as a Constitution is framed, Bangabandhu
Sheik Mujibur Rahman shall be the President of the Republic and the Syed Nazrul
Islam shall be the Vice-President of the Republic,
And
That
the president shall be the Supreme Commander of all the Armed Forces of the Republic,
Shall exercise all the Executive and Legislative powers of the Republic including
the power to grant pardon, Shall exercise all the power to appoint a Prime Minister
and such other Ministers, as he consider necessary, Shall have the power to levy
taxes and expend monies, Shall have the power to summon and adjourn the Constituent
Assembly,
And
Do all other things that may be necessary to
give to the people of Bangladesh an orderly and just Government, We the elected
representatives of the people of Bangladesh do further resolve that in the
event of there being no President or President being unable to enter upon his
office or being unable to exercise his powers and duties due to any reason what
so ever, the Vice-President shall have and exercise all the powers, duties and
responsibilities herein conferred on the President, We further resolve that we undertaker
to observe and give effect to all duties and obligations that devolve upon us a
member of the family of nations and under the Charter of United Nations. We further
resolve that his proclamation of independence shall be deemed to have come into
effect from 26th day of March 1971. We further resolve that in order
to give effect to this instrument we appoint prof. Yusuf Ali our duly Constituted
Potentiary and to give to the President and the Vice-President oaths of office.
PROF. YUSUF ALI
Duly Constituted Potentiaty
By and under the authority of the
Constituent Assembly of
Bangladesh.
( The final decision for the formation of the provisional Government of Bangladesh was taken on April 10, 1971 and the formal declaration was made in a public ceremony on April 17,1971)