Shamsuddoza Sajen

The representatives of president Yahya Khan and an Awami League team met twice today.

On the morning of March 22, 1971, Bangabandhu called on Yahya. Bhutto was also present at the meeting.

In an unscheduled meeting, Yahya told Mujib and Tajuddin that Bhutto had been informed that the representatives of Awami League and the government reached an agreement on the formation of the central cabinet and that Bhutto should be present for the discussion on the interim constitutional instrument and cabinet formation.

The fourth round of talks between Yahya and Mujib was held.

Curfew was imposed this evening in Joydevpur town following a clash between the local people and army personnel, resulting in the death of at least three people.

On the morning of March 18, 1971, Major General Khadim Hussain Raja, the then general officer commanding of the 14th division in East Pakistan, and Major General Rao Farman Ali, the then military adviser to the governor of East Pakistan, assembled at the former’s office to work on the plan for military action -- the infamous Operation Searchlight.

On the morning of March 17, Mujib-Yahya talks resumed. It was Sheikh Mujib’s 51st birthday.

Bangabandhu met Yahya on the morning of March 16. He arrived at the president’s house in a car flying a black flag to mourn the death of those killed during the ongoing non-cooperation movement.

President Yahya Khan arrived in Dhaka. No local political leader went to the airport to meet him. All the entries to the airport were heavily guarded.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, stated at a public meeting in Karachi that if power was to be transferred to the people before any constitutional settlement, as demanded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it should be transferred to the Awami League in the East and the PPP in the West. He was quoted as saying, “Idhar hum, Udhar tum” (we here, you there).

Mujib’s demands garnered widespread support in both wings of Pakistan.

BBC reported that Yahya would visit Dhaka soon with a “package deal” to resolve the ongoing crisis in East Pakistan. The report also indicated the handover of power to elected representatives before the commencement of the National Assembly session.

In a telegram sent to Mujib on March 11, 1971, Bhutto expressed his willingness to come to Dhaka immediately to work out a solution so that the National Assembly session could be held soon.

In a press statement issued on March 10, 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman urged the UN chief to take action to avert the threat of genocide in East Pakistan.

Tikka Khan was handed over the responsibilities of both the governor and martial law administrator in East Pakistan. He was also the chief of Eastern Command. However, the all-powerful governor could not find a judge to swear him in as Justice BA Siddiqui, chief justice of the East Pakistan High Court, refused to administer the oath, citing “ill health” as the reason.

It was the afternoon of March 7, 1971 -- the day Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the historic speech that would resonate throughout the annals of history, changing its course forever.

Yahya Khan’s speech aired on Radio Pakistan on March 6, 1971, was both provocative and offensive. Blaming Sheikh Mujib and the Awami League for the deteriorating situation in East Pakistan, Yahya attributed the non-cooperation movement to the actions of a few individuals aiming to “destroy the homeland of millions of innocent Pakistanis.”

Air Marshal (Retd.) Asghar Khan, leader of the National Movement for Solidarity party, called on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his Dhanmondi residence on March 5, 1971.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman issued a statement on March 4, 1971, requesting that government and non-government offices where employees had not yet been paid remain open between 2:30pm and 4:30pm to disburse salaries during the next two days of the hartal.

At a meeting organised at Paltan Maidan, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman urged the authorities to withdraw forces from the city and hand over power to the elected representatives of the people.