MINUTES AND DECISIONS
OF THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22
AGENDA - 1 - budget estimated for the period October"71 to March 31, 1972.
The Acting president presided. The prime minister and all the Members of the Cabinet attended. The Cabinet Secretary was present. The following attended by special invitation:
C-in-C.
Mr. Fateh
Secretary, Defence
The budget as placed before the Cabinet by the Ministry of Finance was proved with the following observations:
a) A new head under the title "Agriculture" should be opened. The Ministry of Agriculture will place their requirement of funds before the Ministry of finance.
b) The counter-part agencies are expected to provide assistance, both in cash and kind for the Youth and Reception Camps as well as for the Ministry of Health. The funds sanctioned for Youth and reception Camps and for the ministry of Health will not be normally utilized. Effects should be made to arrange assistance from the counter-part agencies before utilizing our own resources for their purpose.
MISCELLANEOUS - Civil Administrativo set-up in liberated Bangladesh
The Acting president presided. The prime minister and all the Members of the Cabinet attended. The Cabinet Secretary was present. The following attended by special invitation:
C-in-C.
Mr. Fateh
Secretary, Defence
The problems in setting up a civil administration in the liberated
areas were discussed. The following points were made :
a) No piece-meal solution of the problems will have any effect. While trying to tackle those problems we must take up the entire gamut of civil administration.
b) Law and order, rehabilitation, arrangement for food and other essential supplies, housing, essential services such as medical facilities, etc. will pose problems of inconceivable dimensions.
c) Before drawing up plans we should also have the minimum data available to us.
d) A technical paper on the basis of the guide-Iines given by the Cabinet may be prepared by the Secretaries, who have direct knowledge and experience of the working et civil administration,
e) While establishing law and order the question or screening collaborators will naturally come up. It is suggested by some people that the collaborators have been mostly forced to help
the enemy in the interest of their very existence. It has been reported by various agencies, both national and international, that the majority of Government employees are Bangladesh supporters at heart and are, in fact, covertly helping the cause.
f) Very large scale purge of the Government employees may create an administrative vacuum which may be difficult to fill in. It may also create political problems.
g) In spite of these problems where Administrative vacuum is found To be inevitable some kind of arrangement has to be worked out. Political workers may also be utilized.
h) Whatever the problems, the revolution must be carried forward to build the country.
DECISION
A Sub-Committee at the Secretaries, either directly concerned, with the problems or having administrative expertise will be formed to examine the facets of the problem of setting up a civil administration in liberated Bangladesh of maintaining law and order, arranging essential supplies and services, providing food and accommodation to the temporarily uprooted People, arranging relief and rehabilitation for the displaced persons, restoring normalcy, and creating a sound base for net only a quick recovery of the economy, but for future development of the country on the lines of the principles already enunciated by the Government.
The Sub-Committee will submit a comprehensive report containing their findings and recommendations to the Government as early as possible. Mr. A. Fateh will act as the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, with the following as Members:
l. Secretary, Defense,
2. Secretary, Home
3. Secretary, cabinet.
4. Secretary, Finance
5. Secretary, G.A.
More members may ve co-opta, if necessary. The C-in-C, the planning cell, and other functionaries of the Government will also be associated with the work of the Sub-Committee.
ACTING PRESIDENT