DOCUMENT: Press Release (26 July 1971)
Monday, July 26th - 1400 hrs.
PHILATELIC DEBUT OF BANGLA DESH
Definitive Issue
The Government of Bangla Desh, which in April broke away from West Pakistan and proclaimed itself an independent State, has authorised the international distribution of its first Definitive Issue and subsequent issues of postage stamps.
This first issue of stamps depicting recent tragic events in Pakistan and the dramatic Declaration of Independence of the new State of Bangla Desh is expected to create enormous world-wide interest when it has its release on Thursday, July 29th, 1971.
Not only enthusiasts and collectors of historic stamps but everyone stirred by a unique human situation will want to collect this special first issue.
The first ever stamps from Bangla Desh will by postally issued for carrying mail internally in the areas it controls inside the territory formerly known as East Pakistan. The stamps to be issued are fully authorised and official. They will be used for internal mail and for external postage, being accepted by the Government of India for onward transmission.
The first Definitive Issue of eight Bangla Desh stamps is at face value of 21 rupees 80p (paisas), equivalent to £1-09p. (Rate of exchange --20 Bangla Desh rupees to £1. 100 paisas to 1 rupee.)
Simultaneous release of the stamps will take place in Bangla Desh, Europe, United Kingdom, The Americas, Israel, Australia and the Far East.
The eight separate designs for this first issue colourfully illustrate the great struggle for independence of the new State of Bangla Desh and include poignant themes--principally the massacre at Dacca University on March 25th-26th; the breaking of links with West Pakistan; and the Proclamation of Independence on April 10.
These designs are the work of Biman Mullick, the Bengalee graphic designer who designed the Gandhi Memorial stamp for the British Post Office in 1969, winning two gold international medals for the best Gandhi stamp issued by any country in the world. He won the highest award for Fine Art in an All-India inter-university art exhibition when he was studying literature at Calcutta University. Biman Mullick came to London in 1960 to study at St. Martin's School of Art and has been practising in London as a graphic designer ever since. He is now Visiting Lecturer in Graphic Design at Folkestone School of Art and at Harlow Technical College. He lives in London S.E.23.
The new definitive stamps are in the following denominations:
10p (paisas). Blue, scarlet, purple. Map of Bangla Desh.
20p. Yellow, scarlet, dark green, blue. Massacre at Dacca University on 25th-26th March 1971.
50p. Orange, light brown, dark brown, grey. Bearing the numerals 75, denoting a new nation of 75 million people.
1Re. (rupee). Yellow, scarlet, green. The Flag of Independence, incorporating map of Bangla Desh.
2Rs. (rupees). Blue, dark blue, magenta. Election 1970. Shows a ballot paper and stylised ballot box inscribed Results - 167 Seats out of 169 for Bangla Desh. On side of box is highlighted 98%.
3Rs. Green, dark green, blue. Depicting the breaking of links with West Pakistan and Proclamation of Independent Government on 10th April 1971.
5rs. Assimilated gold, orange, dark brown, half-tone black. Portrait of Sheikh Mujibar Rahman, leader of Bangla Desh.
10Rs. Assimilated gold, magenta, dark blue. A Support Bangla Desh stamp, for both stamp enthusiasts and sympathisers.
The first issue of Bangla Desh stamps (25.5mm × 38.5mm) is printed by a lithographic process on white coated unwatermarked security paper and perforated 14½ × 14½. Printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.
Bangla Desh stamps will be distributed exclusively to the philatelic trade in Britain by the Bangla Desh Philatelic Agency who will sell direct at face value (£1-09 a set). Orders for the stamps with remittance of £1-09p per set, plus 25p per order for registration and postage should be set to: Bangla Desh Philatelic Agency, Chobham, Woking, Surrey.
Accredited philatelic agents have been appointed throughout the world for international distribution of the new issue.
ACTION PUBLIC RELATIONS
Monday, July 26th - 1400 hrs.
PHILATELIC DEBUT OF BANGLA DESH
Definitive Issue
The Government of Bangla Desh, which in April broke away from West Pakistan and proclaimed itself an independent State, has authorised the international distribution of its first Definitive Issue and subsequent issues of postage stamps.
This first issue of stamps depicting recent tragic events in Pakistan and the dramatic Declaration of Independence of the new State of Bangla Desh is expected to create enormous world-wide interest when it has its release on Thursday, July 29th, 1971.
Not only enthusiasts and collectors of historic stamps but everyone stirred by a unique human situation will want to collect this special first issue.
The first ever stamps from Bangla Desh will by postally issued for carrying mail internally in the areas it controls inside the territory formerly known as East Pakistan. The stamps to be issued are fully authorised and official. They will be used for internal mail and for external postage, being accepted by the Government of India for onward transmission.
The first Definitive Issue of eight Bangla Desh stamps is at face value of 21 rupees 80p (paisas), equivalent to £1-09p. (Rate of exchange --20 Bangla Desh rupees to £1. 100 paisas to 1 rupee.)
Simultaneous release of the stamps will take place in Bangla Desh, Europe, United Kingdom, The Americas, Israel, Australia and the Far East.
The eight separate designs for this first issue colourfully illustrate the great struggle for independence of the new State of Bangla Desh and include poignant themes--principally the massacre at Dacca University on March 25th-26th; the breaking of links with West Pakistan; and the Proclamation of Independence on April 10.
These designs are the work of Biman Mullick, the Bengalee graphic designer who designed the Gandhi Memorial stamp for the British Post Office in 1969, winning two gold international medals for the best Gandhi stamp issued by any country in the world. He won the highest award for Fine Art in an All-India inter-university art exhibition when he was studying literature at Calcutta University. Biman Mullick came to London in 1960 to study at St. Martin's School of Art and has been practising in London as a graphic designer ever since. He is now Visiting Lecturer in Graphic Design at Folkestone School of Art and at Harlow Technical College. He lives in London S.E.23.
The new definitive stamps are in the following denominations:
10p (paisas). Blue, scarlet, purple. Map of Bangla Desh.
20p. Yellow, scarlet, dark green, blue. Massacre at Dacca University on 25th-26th March 1971.
50p. Orange, light brown, dark brown, grey. Bearing the numerals 75, denoting a new nation of 75 million people.
1Re. (rupee). Yellow, scarlet, green. The Flag of Independence, incorporating map of Bangla Desh.
2Rs. (rupees). Blue, dark blue, magenta. Election 1970. Shows a ballot paper and stylised ballot box inscribed Results - 167 Seats out of 169 for Bangla Desh. On side of box is highlighted 98%.
3Rs. Green, dark green, blue. Depicting the breaking of links with West Pakistan and Proclamation of Independent Government on 10th April 1971.
5rs. Assimilated gold, orange, dark brown, half-tone black. Portrait of Sheikh Mujibar Rahman, leader of Bangla Desh.
10Rs. Assimilated gold, magenta, dark blue. A Support Bangla Desh stamp, for both stamp enthusiasts and sympathisers.
The first issue of Bangla Desh stamps (25.5mm × 38.5mm) is printed by a lithographic process on white coated unwatermarked security paper and perforated 14½ × 14½. Printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.
Bangla Desh stamps will be distributed exclusively to the philatelic trade in Britain by the Bangla Desh Philatelic Agency who will sell direct at face value (£1-09 a set). Orders for the stamps with remittance of £1-09p per set, plus 25p per order for registration and postage should be set to: Bangla Desh Philatelic Agency, Chobham, Woking, Surrey.
Accredited philatelic agents have been appointed throughout the world for international distribution of the new issue.
ACTION PUBLIC RELATIONS