48. Aide-Mémoire1 2

[Page 1]

As the result of the damage done in December, 1972, and January, 1973, to four United States Information Service Centers in Bangladesh, the United States Government (Embassy Note No. 010 of March 13, 1973) requested compensation in the amount of $128,804.72 from the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Government agreed to pay this amount in a Note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (No. AP (US)-POL/5/73) date May 2, 1973. On October 24, 1973, a partial payment equivalent to $27,305.04 was made to the Embassy.

In view of the long period that has passed without further payment, the Embassy wishes to remind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this outstanding debt and requests that the remaining amount be paid as soon as possible. Such payment will facilitate the Embassy’s acquisition of new property for the United States Information Service in Dacca.

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 84, Dhaka Embassy Files: Lot 79 F 54, Decentralized Subject Files, 1976, POL 15, Bangladesh-United States, 1976. No classification marking. It was cleared by Cochran and Fawcett; and approved by Boster. For background on the January 5, 1973 student attack on the USIS center in Dhaka see Document 29.
  2. The Embassy pointed out to the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs that compensation for the USIS centers damaged in the December 1972 and January 1973 attacks had not yet been made.