April to June

April

• The Pakistan army exacts revenge on the rebels who declared East Pakistan to be the independent state of Bangladesh. Thousands are reported dead, foreigners are air lifted out of the country

• Figures in the UK show unemployment at 814,819, the highest since May 1940

May

• In New Delhi India appeals for urgent aid for 1.8 million Bangladesh refugees. There are fears that the monsoon rains will cause a cholera epidemic

• Labour makes big gains in local elections and takes over the GLC

June

• The cholera epidemic in West Bengal is said to be out of control. Mrs Gandhi seals the border with Bangladesh to keep out the refugees

• Local authorities in the UK protest at Margaret Thatcher’s plans to end free school milk

• Figures show that Opportunity Knocks is Britain’s most popular TV show

• The government says it will extend British motorways by 1,000 miles by the 1980s

• Three Russian cosmonauts are found dead in their spacecraft