DACCA: Members of the ruling Awami LeaguehavevotedtogiveBangladeshPremier Sheikh Mujibur Rahman blanket powers to deal with problems facing the country. An announcement issued after a ... meeting of the parliamentary party ... said the members had deliberated on all the outstanding problems of the country and have unanimously authorised Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to take such steps as are necessary to resolve them. ... A state of emergency was declared last month because of what the Government described as a state of lawlessness and internal subversion in the country, with secret killings. ... The state of emergency regulations provide for the death penalty for people hoarding food or other basic commodities. News agencies [Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Washington,] President Ford said ... that the so-called `detente` between the United States and Soviet Union would continue despite the breakdown ... of a proposed trade agreement between the two countries. `It`s my judgement that the detente with the Soviet Union will be continued. ... I think it is in our interest and the interest of the [USSR].

Mr Ford said he was disappointed with the breakdown of the proposed trade agreement.