President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh was assassinated at his residence in Dhaka, along with his wife, three of his sons, two daughters-in-law, and his brother, and 12 other people during a coup d’état led by Major Syed Faruque Rahman. Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, Mujibur’s Commerce Minister, became the new President. The assassination marked the first direct military intervention in Bangladesh’s civilian administration. The original six conspirators, all military officers, had met on August 6 and were soon joined by others, and the decision was made to act before September 1, when the nation’s district governors would be given control over the police and armed forces. At dawn, the group struck. Nearly 35 years later, on January 28, 2010, five of the coup leaders would be hanged after their convictions in 1998, including Syed Faruque, and the man who actually shot President Mujibur, Major Bazlul Huda.
The new government of Bangladesh moved swiftly today to consolidate its control following a pre-dawn coup d’état in which the country’s President, Sheik Mujibur Rahman, was killed. The country’s frontiers and the airport at Dacca the capital 150 miles northeast of here were closed and most normal lines of communications wits the rest of the world were cut off. Martial law and a 24‐hour curfew were imposed indefinitely. The Bangladesh Radio, monitored in Calcutta, repeatedly issued bulletins assuring a quick return to normality under the new President, Khondakar Mushtaque Ahmed, the former Commerce Minister, who was a long-time associate of Sheik Mujibur.
Sheik Mujibur Rahman, who was killed today in a coup d’état in Dacca, is widely regarded as the father of Bangladesh. When Sheik Mujib returned in 1972 to his native land to become its leader, after nine months in a West Pakistani prison, he told thousands of his worshipful followers, his voice choking with emotion: “My life’s goal has been fulfilled. My Bengal is independent.”
Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, reportedly has indicated that the Soviet Union will insist upon further discussions before implementing the humanitarian provisions of the European Security conference document signed at Helsinki. Some of the declaration’s provisions were “of a binding nature,” Mr. Brezhnev was quoted as having told a group of United States Representatives visiting the Soviet Union, and other provisions “will be fulfilled according to agreements on the part of the states.” Mr. Brezhnev did not say how or when such agreements might take place, or between what countries, declaring only that “all this will be seen as time goes on.” But his remarks helped explain why there has been a lack of Soviet movement so far in such areas as reunification of families and improved working conditions for journalists, which were covered in the Helsinki declaration. Such an approach suggested to one West European political specialist here that the Kremlin would interpret as selectively and literally as possible provisions of the Helsinki document that threatened to bring any change in the closed nature of Soviet society.
The Communist party, steadily attacked throughout northern Portugal in the last month, is planning a counteroffensive in the area. Alvaro Cunhal, the Secretary General of the party, called last night for unity among revolutionary forces against what he called a fascist effort to overthrow the revolution. Tomorrow, he plans to enter what has virtually become enemy territory. Mr. Cunhal will speak tomorrow at a rally in Alcobaca, 60 miles north of Lisbon, where a Communist party headquarters was wrecked two weeks ago. Mr. Cunhal plans to speak next Tuesday in Oporto, the country’s second largest city and a stronghold of anti‐Communist feeling. Also on Tuesday, the Communist‐dominated. Labor Federation has called for a half‐hour general strike to protest violent acts against the Communists. The Communist leader showed his concern last night over the campaign by non‐Communist political parties, a large part of the armed forces and the Roman Catholic Church against the party’s principal ally in the government, Premier Vasco Gonçalves.
The Birmingham Six – Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Joe Hill, Gerry Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, Billy Power and Johnny Walker- were sentenced to life imprisonment in Great Britain, after being wrongfully convicted of the murder of 21 people in the bombings of the Mulberry Bush pub and the Talk of the Town Pub in Birmingham on November 21, 1974. After a 16-year campaign that would show that the police coerced their confessions and mishandled evidence, their convictions would be overturned in 1991.
Fifty-nine persons were injured and one man killed in violence in Belfast tonight. The violence included two explosions, and the injured included four members of a Roman Catholic crowd that attacked a British Army patrol called to the scene of one of the blasts. The dead man, according to security authorities, was a 26‐year‐old workman who had gone to repair damage at the scene of the first blast, a car bomb explosion near a liquor store in the predominantly Catholic Falls section of the city. An army spokesman said the man had been pulled from his truck by the crowd and shot dead. Rioting crowds attacked the army patrol and ambulances sent to the Falls Road explosion, which injured 31 persons.
United States and Israeli officials completed work today on the draft language for a new agreement between Israel and Egypt now in the final stages of negotiation. After four days of intensive talks at the State Department, the Americans and Israelis agreed on language for points of agreement already achieved and specified what was still undecided. Ambassador Simcha Dinitz of Israel, who headed his Government’s delegation, told reporters this evening, “We have concluded going over all the major points of the projected agreement, and now we will refer of course the material to our respective governments for possible comments or remarks.” Under Secretary of State Joseph J. Sisco headed the American team. The language that was worked on here will be sent to the Egyptian Government for comment.
Strong Israeli Army patrols in armored cars and halftracks turned Hebron, the principal city of the occupied West Bank, into an armed camp today at the height of a Muslim-Jewish dispute over access to the place revered as the tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives. An expected mass demonstration by Muslim militants was averted in the face of the heavy security buildup. The Muslims had heeded a call by the Supreme Muslim Council, the religious authority for the West Bank, to make mosque services today, the Muslim sabbath, the occasion of special prayers and sermons for full control over the shrine. The worshipers, who filed out of the mosque covering the tomb in sullen, angry groups, were prevented from massing for a demonstration, Four were arrested for throwing stones at an armored car. There were small skirmishes and jostling incidents as the troops kept the crowd moving, but no major clashes. The mood of the town, reputed to be the most zealously religious in the occupied territories, was ugly, irritable and fearful.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi marked India’s independence anniversary today with her first major public speech since the government declared a state of emergency almost two months ago. In a strong defense of her emergency proclamation, she told the nation from the ramparts of the historic Mogul Red Fort that she was forced to take the extreme step because “a situation had been created which threatened the country’s integrity.” “Sometimes bitter medicine has to be administered to a patient only to cure him,” she told the thousands gathered to hear the traditional Independence Day address.
A delegation of senior Cambodian Communist leaders arrived in Peking today to a warm welcome and immediately began talks with top Chinese officials, the official Chinese press agency, Hsinhua, reported. The Cambodian delegation was led by Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, both Deputy Premiers and reportedly two of the three most powerful leaders of the new Communist regime in Phnom Penh. It was the first trip outside Cambodia by any of the country’s leaders since the Communist victory last April. Indicating the importance China evidently attaches to the visit, the delegation was met at the airport this morning by Deng Xiaoping, China’s first ranking Deputy Premier, and a cluster of other top officials.
Miki Takeo makes the first official pilgrimage to Yasukuni Shrine by an incumbent prime minister on the anniversary of the end of World War II.
Cuba and four Arab and African countries submitted a draft resolution in the United Nations Decolonization Committee today that would recognize the small movement for the independence of Puerto Rico as “representing the legitimate aspirations of the Puerto Rican people.” The text also recommended sending a fact‐finding mission to the island, preferably early next year, and requested the United States Government “to extend its cooperation.” A vote in the 24‐country committee on the draft resolution is expected Monday or Tuesday. The United States is not represented on the committee, whose members are mostly developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola said that it would not abdicate its government functions despite an announcement by the Portuguese high commissioner that he was resuming executive power. The Soviet-backed liberation movement was the only one of three rival nationalist groups with troops remaining in Luanda, the capital of Angola. There were reports of heavy fighting among the three liberation groups for the control of the vital southern port of Lobito. The liberation group’s communique was made public after General Ernesto Fereira do Macedo, the acting Portuguese high commissioner, announced last night that he was resuming executive power in the territory. Informed sources said that General Macedo had taken the step in an attempt to forestall a unilateral declaration of independence by the Popular Movement. His announcement in effect dissolved the interim government, composed of representatives of Angola’s rival nationalist movements and the Portuguese military. Portuguese sources today described the military situation in Lobito as fluid. They said heavy weapons, including mortars and bazookas, were being used in fighting in the center and on the outskirts of the city.
Joan Little was acquitted of second-degree murder in the death of her jailer, Clarence Alligood. The jury of six whites and six blacks took just under 78 minutes to return the verdict. Miss Little, who is black, had contended that she stabbed Mr. Alligood, who was white, while he was forcing her to perform a sexual act. The state had contended that she killed him to escape from jail. Miss Little, quiet and reserved throughout most of the trial, broke into sobs at the defense table as her lawyers clustered around her in congratulation. “It feels good to be free,” she said as she left the courthouse. Miss Little’s chief defense counsel, Jerry Paul, was sentenced by Judge Hamilton H. Hobgood to 14 days in jail for contempt of court stemming from derogatory comments he made about the judge during the first two days of the trial. Mr. Paul said that to go to jail would be an honor. Miss Little herself cannot count on continuing freedom She remains out of prison on $15,000 bond pending appeal of a seven‐to‐ten‐year sentence fat breaking and entering that originally placed her in the Beaufort County jail.
Although most trial observers—and even one prosecution attorney—had expected an acquittal, the relative swiftness of the decision was something of a surprise. It came just 10 seconds before noon, slightly than an hour and 18 minlutes after the jury filed out of the courtroom after hearing Judge Hobgood’s complex, hourlong charge. Because of its sexual and racial overtones, the case had drawn wide attention around the country, producing demonstrations of support for Miss Little from feminist and minority groups. “We didn’t feel that it was a race case or even a sex case —well, maybe a sex case,” said Paul Lassiter, a young Raleigh lawyer who was a member of jury, in an interview shortly after the verdict. “We just thought the state didn’t prove its case. “We were all a little worried about the number of stabbings [Mr. Alligood had been stabbed 11 times]. You know, that there might have been too much force to stop an assault, but we certainly didn’t think that the state proved that she did use excessive force.”
Twenty‐two‐year‐old Donnell Livingston, the only young black male on the jury, said, “If we had had some evidence we might have stayed in there two days.” Throughout the trial, the defense hammered relentlessly on what it contended was the failure of Beaufort County investigators to take adequate photographs of the crime scene, preserve evidence such as the bloody sheet on the cell bunk, or lift any finger prints from the icepick found in the slain jailer’s hand. Medical testimony that there had been recent sexual activity by the jailer when his body was found bolstered Miss Little’s own graphic testimony about the sexual assault she said she had endured. The defense also presented three black women, former inmates of the jail, who testified that Mr. Alligood had made sexual advances to them.
The Federal Reserve Board’s index of industrial production moved up in July for the second consecutive month, providing further evidence that the nation’s worst post-war recession has ended and that the economy has started to recover a bit of its vitality. According to preliminary figures announced by the Federal Reserve Board yesterday, output of the nation’s factories, mines and utilities moved up five‐tenths of 1 percent last month to an index level of 110.8 (with 1967 equal to 100). The June rise in production activity, according to revised data from the Fed, was five-tenths of 1 percent. Although the Fed’s announcement should cheer government economists looking for proof that the economy is on the road to recovery, the figures do not indicate as much strength in the early stages of the boom as some analysts had expected.
Law enforcement authorities and the family of Samuel Bronfman II maintained a wary silence over efforts to renew contact with his kidnappers. A week after the reported abduction in upper Westchester County there were no signs of a break in the case. A wide ground and helicopter search of Westchester’s Bedford and Pound Ridge areas, apparently prompted by an anonymous tip turned up no traces of the missing man. There were no indications from the family or authorities yesterday that the kidnappers had responded to an appeal issued Thursday by the victim’s father Edgar M. Bronfman for more explicit ransom instructions and further evidence that his son was alive and well. A ransom letter received by the family last Monday had indicated that young Bronfman was being held under some limitations that might place his life in jeopardy in the next few days if a $4.5‐million ransom was not paid.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was accused today of using illegal wiretaps, mail intercepts, prejudicial publicity and a “general pattern of governmental harassment” in its unsuccessful, 18-month search for Patricia Hearst. The charges were made in motions filed here in behalf of Jack and Micki Scott asking a Federal District Court to quash subpoenas issued for the couple by a grand jury investigating the alleged use of house in rural Pennsylvania as a hideout for the 21‐year‐old fugitive heiress last year. Mr. Scott is said to have rented the house. A spokesman for the bureau declined to comment, but other sources inside the bureau said there was reason to believe Mr. Scott could either produce Miss Hearst or lead agents to her. The source also indicated that the bureau did not place its fullest confidence in Walter J. Scott, Jack’s older brother nor endorse everything he said at an unusual press conference Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
The United States Court of Appeals upheld all the major provisions of the new federal election law that provides public funds for political campaigns and requires disclosure of campaign expenditures. The law had been challenged by prominent politicians. In the first constitutional test of what contributors can give and candidates can spend, the Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit said that whatever “incidental impact” the new regulations have on freedom of speech are fully warranted by the history of big-money abuses of American politics. “The corrosive influence of money blights our democratic processes,” the panel of eight judges said. They also dealt harshly with the challengers’ contention that the new law constitutes “massive intrusion” into the political process. The law’s challengers will take their case to the Supreme Court in the fall.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said today that it had arrested a man for attempted extortion in the disappearance of James R. Hoffa, former president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The F.B.I. did not immediately release the man’s name or any of the circumstances surrounding the arrest. But a bureau spokesman said that the arrest had been made on the “West Coast.” Meanwhile, The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press both reported that Anthony J. Giacalone, a reputed underworld figure, arranged for Mr. Hoffa to meet with him for lunch on July 30, the day the former labor leader disappeared. The Free Press said that Mr. Giacalone went to the Hoffa summer home in a Detroit suburb on July 27 and arranged for the meeting. The News said that Mr. Giacalone arranged the luncheon on July 29. Mr. Giacalone, who has been described by a Senate investigating committee as one of the top men in Detroit’s organized crime for many years, is in seclusion. He has been treated by investigators as a central figure in the 16‐day‐old mystery.
Martin H. Gerry, acting director of the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, conceded today that his office “has been taking too much time” in processing complaints of segregation against Northern school districts. But in an interview here, he cited his office’s heayy work load among other things and he said that the staff had been working on steps to speed things up. He was in town for a meeting with field representatives from New York, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. Mr. Gerry conceded that the meeting and much recent new activity were in response to a suit filed in Washington by civil rights groups charging that the Government did not enforce laws against school segregation in the North and West. While H.E.W. took tough stands against major school systems in the South in the late nineteen‐sixties, in the North, only Ferndale, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, has had all its Federal funds cut off.
Trans World Airlines, one of the most financially pressed companies in its industry, applied yesterday to the Civil Aeronautics Board for a 5 percent fare increase, to become effective October 1. At the same time, Continental and Frontier airlines, both of which are still operating profitably, asked for increases of 3 percent to become effective September 15.
Caspar W. Weinberger, whose resignation as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare became effective this month, has been elected a vice president and director of the privately held Bechtel group of companies.
The Hindi language action-adventure film “Sholay,” which set a record for highest-grossing film in India that stood for almost 20 years, was first seen in theaters. Directed by Ramesh Sippy and starring Sanjeev Kumar, Dharmendra Krishan, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, the film was initially rejected by critics but sold 250,000,000 tickets worldwide and grossed 350 million Indian rupees in ticket sales.
Major League Baseball:
The Cardinals swept the Braves, 4–1 and 2–1, to move to three games behind the Pirates. Ron Reed pitched a seven-hitter in the opener. Eric Rasmussen and Al Hrabosky teamed for a four-hitter in the second game, with Hrabosky notching a Cardinal club record 18th save. Ron Fairly singled for the first Cardinal hit off loser Mike Thompson in a two-run nightcap seventh. After Ted Simmons singled, Reggie Smith rapped an RBI single and Ted Sizemore hit a sacrifice fly.
The Reds exploded with a six-run first inning to defeat the Pirates, 8–3. Johnny Bench hit a two-run homer and winning pitcher Fred Norman added a two-run single in the first as the Reds dealt the Bucs their ninth loss in 10 games. Pete Rose singled and also hit an RBI double in the burst. Norman notched his sixth straight victory and upped his career record at Riverfront Stadium to 23–6.
The Mets salvaged a split with the Giants on a three-run homer by Wayne Garrett and two-run clouts by Rusty Staub and John Stearns for a 9–4 victory in the second game. The Giants won the opener, 6–2, on the strength of Marc Hill’s three-run homer, which capped a six-run sixth.
A two-run homer by Greg Luzinski in the first inning and solo blast by Mike Schmidt in the second started the Phillies off to a 4–3 victory over the Padres. Tom Hilgendorf tossed 3 ⅓ shutout innings for a relief triumph that put the Phils 1 ½ games behind the first-place Pirates. The final Phillie run scored in the fourth on Garry Maddox’ double and a single by Dick Ruthven.
The Astros scored three runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Cubs, 4–1, and end a three-game losing streak. The winners snapped a 1–1 tie on Cliff Johnson’s double, scoring Greg Gross, who had walked and stopped at third on a double by Cesar Cedeno. When Jose Cardenal bobbled Johnson’s double, Cedeno also scored. Milt May singled off reliever Darold Knowles for the third run of the inning.
The Expos scored five runs in the fifth inning to down the Dodgers, 8–4. Larry Parrish hit a two-run double and Larry Biittner added an RBI two-bagger after run-scoring singles by Pete Mackanin and Barry Foote. Winning pitcher Steve Rogers scattered seven hits, including a three-run homer by Davey Lopes in the ninth.
Luis Tiant pitched a seven-hitter for the Red Sox and turned in his 14th complete game in a 3–2 victory over the White Sox. Cecil Cooper, who tripled in the second inning and scored on Rico Petrocelli’s sacrifice fly, added a solo homer in the fourth. The decisive Red Sox run counted in the sixth when Fred Lynn walked, advanced to second on an infield out and came home on a single by Rick Miller.
Rod Carew singled in two runs in a four-run second inning and Steve Braun doubled in two in a three-run fifth to send the Twins past the Indians, 8–4. Oscar Gamble hit a three-run homer and Boog Powell added a solo blast for the Indians’ runs.
The Tigers’ losing streak reached 19 as the Angels’ Frank Tanana tossed a four-hitter and registered an 8–0 victory. Bruce Bochte, who hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, also doubled twice. Mickey Lolich suffered his eighth straight loss.
Chris Chambliss hit a two-out, two-run double to cap a three-run eighth inning as the Yankees edged the Royals, 5–4. The Royals had taken a 4–2 lead on a homer by Tony Solaita in the fifth and solo shot by John Mayberry in the sixth. Tippy Martinez gained the save with 1 ⅓ scoreless innings, helping end Pat Dobson’s six-game losing streak.
Doug DeCinces drove in five runs with a homer and bases-loaded triple to back Mike Cuellar’s five-hitter as the Orioles crushed the Rangers, 13–1, to split a twinbill. The Rangers won the opener, 10–6, with a four-run eighth capped by Dave Moates’ tie-breaking double and Tom Grieve’s second two-run single of the game. Orioles’ manager Earl Weaver is ejected from both games of the doubleheader by umpire Ron Luciano.
George Scott hit a pair of two-run homers as the Brewers topped the Athletics, 8–4. Jim Colborn permitted eight hits including a homer by Phil Garner, but fanned seven, including Gene Tenace four times.
St. Louis Cardinals 4, Atlanta Braves 1
St. Louis Cardinals 2, Atlanta Braves 1
Texas Rangers 10, Baltimore Orioles 6
Texas Rangers 1, Baltimore Orioles 13
Detroit Tigers 0, California Angels 8
Boston Red Sox 3, Chicago White Sox 2
Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Cincinnati Reds 8
Chicago Cubs 1, Houston Astros 4
New York Yankees 5, Kansas City Royals 4
Cleveland Indians 4, Minnesota Twins 8
Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Montreal Expos 8
San Francisco Giants 6, New York Mets 2
San Francisco Giants 4, New York Mets 9
Milwaukee Brewers 8, Oakland Athletics 4
San Diego Padres 3, Philadelphia Phillies 4
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 825.64 (+8.60, +1.05%)
Born:
Bertrand Berry, NFL defensive end (Pro Bowl, 2004; Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals), and radio broadcaster, in Humble, Texas.
Cam Cleeland, NFL tight end (New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams), in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.
Brendan Morrison, Canadian NHL centre (New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks), in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada.
Kara Wolters, Team USA and WNBA center (Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, inducted 1997; Olympics, gold medal, 2000; Houston Comets, Indiana Fever, Sacramento Monarchs), nicknamed “Big Girl” because of her stature (6’7″) as one of the tallest women basketball players; in Holliston, Massachusetts.
Ben Ford, MLB pitcher (Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers), in Cedar Rapids.
Aaron Scheffer, MLB pitcher (Seattle Mariners), in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Died:
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 55, Founding father of Bangladesh, 1st and 4th President of Bangladesh (1971-72, 1975-76), assassinated in military coup by group of junior army officers.
Joseph Tommasi, 24, American white supremacist, neo-Nazi and founder of the National Socialist Liberation Front, was shot and killed while in front of the offices of the rival National Socialist White People’s Party in El Monte, California.
History Diaries 