Shamsuddoza Sajen

Though protests had already begun in response to a High Court verdict reinstating quotas in government jobs, it was on July 1, 2024, that the movement for reforms to the quota system truly took shape.

On March 31, 1971, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi moved a resolution in parliament strongly criticising the military action in Bangladesh.

At 4:00am on March 30, 1971, Bangladeshi forces, comprising East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police and civilians under the leadership of Abu Osman Chowdhury, then a major and commander of the fourth wing of EPR, attacked the Pakistan occupation army in Kushtia from three sides.

In the evening, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was flown via helicopter from the cantonment, where he was detained, to the Tejgaon Airport. Afterwards, he was flown to Karachi by a special military aircraft.

On March 28, 1971, American Consul General in Dhaka, Archer K Blood, sent a telegram to Islamabad and Washington captioned “selective genocide”. He reported that they were “mute and horrified by a reign of terror by the Pakistan military” in East Pakistan. Pointing towards various pieces of evidence, Blood suggested that Awami League supporters and Hindus were being systematically targeted by the martial law administrators.

American Consul General Archer K Blood in a situation report submitted on March 27, 1971, wrote that according to numerous accounts, including eye witness reports, the Pak military crackdown on Bangalee nationalists has been carried out throughout Dacca swiftly, efficiently (despite heavy resistance from some quarters, including pro-Awami League police and East Pak Rifles), and often with ruthless brutality.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a press statement issued today, called for a general strike throughout Bangladesh on March 27 against the army’s action in certain places in East Pakistan including Saidpur, Rangpur and Joydevpur.

There was a final meeting between Awami League’s team and Yahya’s advisers on March 24, 1971, at 6:00pm.

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.