8
The President of Pakistan came to
Dacca on 15 March, 1971 again to
hold dialogue with the leader of
Awami League, the leader of the
majority party in the Parliament.
Apparently, talks were progressing
satisfactorily between leaders of
Awami League and the military regime
to resolve the crisis. The President of
Pakistan came to an agreement on
four points: lifting of Martial law, and
transfer of power to the civilian
authority
by
a
presidential
proclamation, transfer of power in the
provinces to the majority parties,
continuation of Aga Muhammad
Yahya Khan as President and in
control of the central government,
and separate sitting of the National
Assembly members from the East and
the West prior to preparatory joint
session of the house to finalize the
constitution. That was the impression
given to the people following
discussion between leaders of Awami
League and army officers, including
the President. Meanwhile, President
of Peoples party Zulfiqar Ali landed in
Dacca on February 21 and apparently
disagreed with the decision. In
collusion with topnotch Generals of
the armed forces Zulfiqar Ali cooked
out a conspiracy to spoil the decision.
He met separately with the President.
President
again
postponed
inauguration of National Assembly
and on the night of March 25
President Yahya Khan, Z.A Bhutto
and others suddenly dashed out of
Dacca. Simultaneously, the Pakistan
army launched what was clearly a wellprepared and pre-planned brutal
attack on the unarmed, unsuspecting
and defenseless population of Dacca
and other towns of East Pakistan. The
leader of majority Awami League
surrendered to the army while he
instructed his followers to go
underground. Anthony Mascarenhas ,
who was Assistant Editor of Morning
News of Karachi and later Joined
London Sunday Time, in his book:
The Rape of Bangladesh( page 137)
said,“ in effect the President was
saying that East and West had
separate, conflicting interests and that
one man one vote had been a joke.
His absurd reasoning not only negated
Page
Law immediately, transfer of power to
the elected representatives; recall of
the troop to their barracks and to
hold an enquiry into the killings of
civilians by the army. He appealed to
the people to remain vigilant and
prepared with whatever materials they
possess to fight the enemy and
declared that this time the movement
is meant for freedom.