April 1971

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="text-align: justify;"><b>April 1:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.docstrangelove.com/uploads/1971/foreign/19710330_nyt_heavy_killing_reported.pdf">New York Times reports</a> heavy killing in Dhaka.<br /> Muslim League President <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0402_daulatana_commitment.htm">Mumtaz Daultana</a>:<br /> <blockquote> Mujib’s demands were much as President Yahya had spelled out in his address to the nation, except that Yahya had not detailed Mujib’s views on an interim central government. Mujib had wanted Yahya to remain as President with no political government at the Center. Mujib was not “particularly concerned” about the Six Points and was willing to accept an interim arrangement based on the 1962 Constitution. However, he envisaged that the President would allow the Awami League to exercise full control over the affairs of East Pakistan, while the President would perform a coordinating role for inter-provincial affairs of the West Wing. On the “two-Assembly” proposal, Daultana said Mujib had been rather vague as to whether he really envisaged two separate assemblies or two subcommittees of the National Assembly. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Mujib replied, and Daultana accepted his response as sincere, that while he was under great pressure to declare an independent Bangla Desh, he wanted to maintain Pakistan. Mujib was convinced the West Pakistan establishment as represented by Yahya and Bhutto would never permit Bengalis to rule Pakistan.</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 3:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0403_1971_rogers.htm">Background to the Thinning Out of the U.S. Presence in East Pakistan</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 4:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Pakistani ambassador to USA Agha Hilaly <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0406_71_telegram_dep_state.pdf">tells</a> Assistant Secretary (USA) Sisco:<br /> <blockquote> The army had to kill people in order to keep the country together.</blockquote> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0403_71_the_slaughter_in_east_pakistan.htm">The Slaughter in East Pakistan</a>“, Editorial, The Times, London<br /> <blockquote> “From the evidence available one must conclude that the aim was so to wipeout the Awami League leadership that it could no longer provide an effec­tive leadership for any resistance movement.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 6:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Archer Blood, the US Consul General, officers of USAID and USIS sents the famous <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0406teleuscon2.htm">blood telegram</a> to the Department of State condemning the failure of the US to denounce the suppression of democracy and the widespread attrocities. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0406_conversation_nixon_kissinger.htm">Converstaion between Nixon and Kissinger</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 7:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0407_71_grim_fight.htm">Foreign evacuees from East Pakistan tell of grim fight</a>“, Sydney H. Schanberg, in New York Times.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 8:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0408_1971_telegram22.htm">Telegram From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State</a>:<br /> <blockquote> “Two weeks after Yahya sent army into action, Pak military has control major cities in east, but Bengalis still hold major areas, especially in countryside. Bengali grievances now etched in blood. For present, Awami Leaguers leading resistance forces. If AL movement crumbles before it able consolidate position on ground, resistance movement likely to pass to more radical and left extremist groups such as Naxalites. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Bhutto is eager for power and he may be prepared make deal with military to play key, if not leading role, in new central government.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 10:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0410_proclamation.htm">proclamation of independence order from Mujib Nagar</a> (which was issued on April 10 shall be deemed to have come into effect from March 26, 1971).<br /> US Consul General <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0410_71_telegram1249.htm">Archer Blood’s telegram from Dhaka</a>:<br /> <blockquote> “It is, in our opinion, a minor miracle that no American was killed or injured by trigger-happy Pak troops fresh from killing and looting during the delay caused by our accetance of Govt. of Pakistan arrangements.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 11: </b></li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0411_radio_taj.htm">Radio adress by Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed,</a> Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government of Bangla Desh headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, broadcast by Swadhin Bangla Desh Betar Kendra to the people of Bangladesh.<br /> <blockquote> “Today a mighty army is being formed around the nucleus of professional soldiers, from the Bengal Regiment and E.P.R. who have rallied to the cause of the liberation struggle. These have been joined by the Police, Ansars and Mujahids and now by thou­sands of Awami League and other volunteers and are being trained into a fighting force ready to use the captured weapons from the defeated West Pakistani mercenaries and fresh arms being purchased from funds collected by our Bengali Brothers overseas. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> In Chittagong and Noakhali we have commissioned Major Zia Rahman of the Bengal Regiment to take full command of operations. His heroic defence of Chittagong City against overwhelming odds, which included attacks from the air and sea, will take its place with the defence of Stalingrad in the annals of warfare.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/April/2nd%20Week/NYbangla_71April2.jpg">Mujib is the Head of War Cabinet for Bangladesh</a>.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 12:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0412_prospectsforpak.htm">CIA’s assessment about the present and prospective state of Pakistani civil war and role of India and other powers</a>.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 13:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “Chinese government holds that what is happening in Pakistan at present is purely internal affair of Pakistan, which can only be settled by Pakistan people themselves and which brooks no foreign interference whatsoever.” -<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0413_71_chou_letter.htm">Chou En Lai</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 14:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0414_71_rhetoric_and_reality.htm">Rhetoric and Reality</a>”, Editorial, Guardian, London </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “Nobody can tell precisely what Yahya’s strategists whispered in his ear three weeks ago. They appear to have thought that cutting off the head would kill Bengali nationalism: precisely the reverse. They appear to have forgotten about world opinion. They appear, most insanely of all, to have ruled India out of the military calculations, so that the uncontrolled border and aid seeping in has them as much by the throat as proliferatin- diplomatic complications.” </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/April/3rd%20Week/BG_April3Week.jpg">Liberation forces organized, General MAG Osmani made Chief in command</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 16:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0416_71_blood_of_bangladesh.htm">Blood of Bangla Desh</a>“, New Statesman, London:<br /> <blockquote> “If blood is the price of a people’s right to independence, Bangla Desh has overpaid. The Bengalis’ case for statehood may be hard to refute, but it is inconvenient to every one else. And yet, by an unusual combination of circum­stances, Bangla Desh has managed to obey all the rules. So, this may be the moment to consider what we, and other countries, mean by those splendid words which recur like a chorus in the United Nations charter: `the right to self-deter­mination of peoples’. Objectively or subjectively, in Chinese or English, in capi­talist or socialist jargon, it is hard to fault the East Bengalis, or justify their abandonment by all the major powers.”</blockquote> Memorandum from Senior Review Group meeting regarding <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0416_71_pakistan_american_relations.htm">Pakistan – American relations</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 17:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The formation of Bangladesh Government: </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The First Bangladesh Government is Formed in exile. Awami League leaders convene in the district of Meherpur near the Indian border in Jessore, in the village of Baidyanathtala later renamed Mujibnagar, and affirm Sheikh Mujib’s March 26 proclamation for an independent Bangladesh. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is declared the President of the newly formed Republic, and Syed Nazrul Islam the Vice-President. Nazrul Islam assumes the reponsibilities of the Interim President, and appoints Tajuddin Ahmed as the Prime Minsiter to lead the provisional government. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> * <a href="http://1971.uttorshuri.net/clippings/Congressional_Record.jpg">Tajuddin Ahmed’s April 10, 1971 Proclamation</a><br /> * <a href="http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0359.HTM">Members of The Mujibnagar Government</a> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> More here: </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “<a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=107">Mujibnagar Day: A milestone in our liberation war</a>”<br /> BANGLA DESH BECOMES A REPUBLIC -<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0417_decl_taj.htm"> THE SUNDAY STATESMAN, New Delhi-April 18, 1971</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 18:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0417_1971_telegram2.htm">Telegram</a> from the Department of State to the embassy in Pakistan on the Provisional Government of Bangla Desh.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 19:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0419_1971_srg_meeting.htm">Minutes of Senior Review Group meeting regarding Pakistan</a>.<br /> <blockquote> Kissinger: “I agree I used to think that 30,000 men couldn’t possibly subdue 75 million, which I suppose is the Western way of looking at it. But if the 75 million don’t organize and don’t fight, the situation is different.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 20:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0420_pstatementmuzaffar.htm">Press Statement issued</a> by Professor Muzaffar Ahamed, President of National Awami Party (NAP), Bangla Desh concerning full support to Bangla Desh Government:<br /> <blockquote> “We declare in unequivocal terms that the government headed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the only legally constituted government of Bangla Desh. And urge upon all the democratic and progressive nations of the world ‘to recognise the newly-born state and its government and to render all material help and moral support.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 21:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0421_71_bhasani_appeal.htm">Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani’s appeal to world leaders</a>:<br /> <blockquote> “I appeal to you. Mr. Secretary-General (UN), in the name of humanity to issue an immediate appeal to stop these brutal massacres of innocent people and to extend all possible help for the relief of the victims of dictator General Yahya Khan against military rule in Bangla Desh. I would welcome sending your observers inside Bangla Desh to see the nature and volume of looting, arson, mass killings and molestation of women by West Pakistani Army so that they can reveal the true picture of the sordid tale of Bangla Desh to the people of the world through the United Nations.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/April/4th%20Week/BG_April4Week2.jpg">Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury made special representative of Bangladesh Government</a>.<br /> <br /></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 22:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0422_71_bhasani.htm">Press statement of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani</a>, President of National Awami Party, Bangladesh:<br /> <blockquote> “The question is whether the people of the world and nation of the world will support the struggle of the 71 crore people of Bengal for independence or support the abominable conspiracy of the dictatorial exploiting ruling clique which is indulg­ing in mass murder. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Yahya, who is a Muslim himself, in the name of religion is mercilessly killing lakhs of Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. His soldiers who say that they are Muslims are raping women, including Muslim women. Though Muslims themselves, they are destroying mosques. They kill Muslims who are offering prayers. What will the Muslim world do about this ? Will they support the un-Islamic antihumanity abominable policy of Yahya ? Or will they support the cause of truth, justice and love as preached by Islam ?”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 27</b>: </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Maulana Abdul Mannan, General Secretary of Muslim League issued a statement saying that “patriotic” (by which he meant Islamic minded) people imbued with the zeal of crusading (Jihad) had come forward to welcome the (maurauding) army of West Pakistan.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 28:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Tajuddin <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0428_71_tajuddin_plea.htm">pleas for arms aid</a> and thus help a new-born country to free itself from the clutches of a murderous army. (The Times of India- New Delhi-April 29, 1971)<br /> Henry Kissinger wrote in a <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0428_71_memo_president.htm">secret memo to President Nixon</a>:<br /> <blockquote> The Pakistani army was poised to “retake” physical control of the major towns and that the ressistance was too poorly organised. He also said that the West Pakistanis were afraid that their economy would crash without emergency foreign aid. Till this day the country survives on foreign aid, like Bangladesh. Kissinger feared that Yahya might be forced to let East Pakistan (Bangladesh) go if this news leaked out.</blockquote> Kissinger recommended Give serious assistance to Yahya Khan to end the war and bring about an arrangement which would be transitional to autonomy in Bangladesh. He suggested sending aid to Pakistan so that later the US would be in a position to pressurize Pakistan into adhering to the arangement. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The feedback from Nixon was an instruction not to squeeze Yahya Khan at the moment.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li> <b>April 29:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0429_71_memo_haig.htm">Memorandum from Haig to President Nixon</a> on relief assistance for East Pakistani refugees in India:<br /> <blockquote> According to the Indians, there are now over 500,000 East Pakistani refugees and they expect their numbers could eventually total one to two million. The magnitude of this problem-coming suddenly as it does-is beyond India’s limited resources. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> It is recommended that you approve this $2.5 million modest program of assistance to East Pakistani refugees to be administered through appropriate international and voluntary agencies.* </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> * President Nixon initialed his approval of the recommendation on April 29. The Embassy in India was informed of the President’s decision in telegram 75479 to New Delhi, May 1.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">   </div> </div>

April 1971

April 1:   New York Times reports heavy killing in Dhaka. Muslim League President Mumtaz Daultana : Mujib’s demands were much as P...

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জাগরণের গান

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> এখানে বিভিন্ন সময়কার দেশাত্মবোধক গানের সংগ্রহ থাকবে । আপনারাও বিভিন্ন গানের সন্ধান দিয়ে আমাদের সাহায্য করতে পারেন।<br /> <br /> ১। <a href="http://voiceof71bd.blogspot.com/2013/07/blog-post_28.html">আমার সোনার বাংলা</a><br /> ২। <a href="http://voiceof71bd.blogspot.com/2013/07/blog-post_31.html" target="_blank">আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাঙ্গানো</a><br /> ৩। <a href="http://voiceof71bd.blogspot.com/2013/08/blog-post_6.html" target="_blank">আমি বাংলার গান গাই</a><br /> ৪। <a href="http://voiceof71bd.blogspot.com/2013/08/blog-post_764.html" target="_blank">ওরা আমার মুখের ভাষা কাইড়া নিতে চায়</a><br /> ৫। <a href="http://voiceof71bd.blogspot.com/2013/08/blog-post_22.html" target="_blank">মোরা একটি ফুলকে বাঁচাবো বলে যুদ্ধ করি</a><br /> ৬। <a href="http://voiceof71bd.blogspot.com/2013/12/bangladesh-joan-baez.html" target="_blank">Song of Bangladesh - Joan Baez</a> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /></div>

জাগরণের গান

এখানে বিভিন্ন সময়কার দেশাত্মবোধক গানের সংগ্রহ থাকবে । আপনারাও বিভিন্ন গানের সন্ধান দিয়ে আমাদের সাহায্য করতে পারেন। ১।  আমার সোনার বাংলা...

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December, 1971

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 1:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1201_71_telegram_amconsul_calcutta.htm">Telegram from Amconsul Calcutta to Secretary State</a><blockquote> “Qaiyum said MEA policy planning chairman DP Dhar in his latest visit to Calcutta had questioned BD “Foreign Minister” Mushtaq Ahmed about allegations that Mushtaq was negotiating with USG, saying that in so doing, Mushtaq was “traitor.” According Qaiyum, Mushtaq denied everything, but Dhar said he knew all about “negotiations” because State Department had told everything to In­dian Embassy in Washington. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> He told Indians BDG had not sold its soul to India and that as independent government, it could talk with any other government it wished.”</blockquote> Memorandum from <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1201_71_memorandum_kissinger.htm">Kissinger to President Nixon</a> on summary of the exchange between Prime Minister Gandhi and Ambassador Keating in New Delhi on November 29:<blockquote> - Yahya’s problems had been self-created and “we are not in a position to make this easier for him.” That was one of the reasons why India could not withdraw its troops. India was being asked to allow the misdeeds of Yahya to stand and “we are not going to allow that.” </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> - No one in all of India was more opposed to war than she was. “I wouldn’t like to take this country to war”, but, added, “this war and this situation are/4/ not of our making.” </blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 2:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Memorandum from <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1202_71_memorandum_kissinger.htm">Kissinger to President Nixon</a>:<blockquote> “India-Pakistan Situation: there are indications that the situation is starting to deteriorate in the interior where the guerrilla forces are operating more freely now that most of the Pak forces have been drawn off to defend the frontiers. Some towns as close as 17 miles from Dacca reportedly have been abandoned to the guerrillas and there are reports of the Bangla Desh flag flying in a number of towns elsewhere in the interior. The Indians have also set up a “Mukti Bahini navy” with their own forces with the priority objective of blocking shipping into East Pakistan. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The disparity in manpower and supplies apparently is taking its toll on the Pak forces and they reportedly have abandoned a number of contested locations in the face of relentless pressure in the direction of several major provincial cities.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1203_71_telegram_embassy_pakistan.htm">Yahya’s letter to Nixon</a> pleads for US support to resist aggression launched by India which has enormous superiority of arms and equipment over Pakistan.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 3:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1971">The 3rd India Pakistan war broke out</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/3/newsid_2519000/2519133.stm">Pakistan intensifies air raids on India – BBC report (including video)</a> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> In a speech to the nation on December 3, 1971, Prime Minister Gandhi charged that Pakistan had launched a full-scale attack against India earlier in the day, shortly after 5:30 p.m. She said that Pakistan’s Air Force had struck at six Indian airfields in Kashmir and the Punjab and that Pakistani artillery was shelling Indian positions at several locations along the border between India and West Pakistan. India, Gandhi said, had no option but to adopt a war footing. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Pakistan responded to the Indian charges in a note conveyed to the United States Embassy in Islamabad on December 3. Pakistan alleged that the Indian Air Force had been carrying out aggressive reconnaissance over the territory of West Pakistan for 3 or 4 days as a prelude to attacks launched by the Indian army between 3:30 and 4 p.m. on December 3 at several points on a front that stretched from Kashmir in the north to Rahim Yar Kham in the south. Pakistan represented the attacks on Indian airfields as necessary countermeasures. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> In Washington the question of responsibility for the initiation of warfare along the front between India and West Pakistan bore on policy considerations. The Central Intelligence Agency weighed the evidence on December 4 and concluded that it was not possible to determine with certainty which side had initiated hostilities on December 3. (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1203_71_editorial_note.htm">Source</a>) </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1203_71_telephone_conversation_nixon_kissinger.htm">Telephone Conversation between President Nixon and Kissinger</a>:<blockquote> It appears that West Pakistan has attacked because situation in East collapsing.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_326.shtml">Details on the India-Pakistan war in 1971 from Indian-Subcontinent Database </a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 4:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/December/1st%20Week/dec1_005.jpg">Letter from Government of Bangla Desh to Indian Prime Minister</a>.  </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1204_71_telegram_amembassy_new_delhi.htm">Telegram from American Embassy New Delhi to Secretary State</a>:<blockquote> The (Indian) Foreign Secretary Kaul said that Pakistan had issued a proclama­tion that they were in a state of war against India at 0900 December 4. The government of India had not declared war. Furthermore, he said, the GOI had not yet recognized Bangla Desh, but would do so at the appropriate time and would keep us informed.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1204_71_wsag_meeting.htm">Washington Special Actions Group Meeting</a>:<blockquote> Helms briefed from notes that described a combined Indian-Mukti Bahini offensive in East Pakistan and the beginning stages of the fighting along the border between India and West Pakistan. Pakistani troops were being hard pressed in the east, but there was little beyond artillery exchanges in the west. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The CIA prepared a chronology and covering memorandum entitled, “India- Pakistan: Responsibility for Initiating Hostilities on 3 December 1971″ and the chronology runs through December 4. The covering memorandum concluded that it was difficult to determine conclusively which country initiated hostilities, but the weight of evidence tended to support Indian claims that Pakistan struck first in the west with air strikes.</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 5:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1205_71_letter_indira_gandhi.htm">Letter from Indian Prime Minister Gandhi to President Nixon</a>:<blockquote> On the afternoon of 3rd December 1971, the Government of Pakistan led by President Yahya Khan ordered a massive attack on India across its western frontiers. This has been followed by a gazette extraordinary published by the Government of Pakistan on the forenoon of the 4th December 1971, declaring that it is a state of war against India. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> hat this aggression is premeditated and planned is evident from the fact that President Yahya Khan had declared on November 25 that he would be “off to fighting in ten days’ time”. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> I am writing to you at a moment of grave peril and danger to my country and my people. The success of the freedom movement in Bangla Desh has now become a war on India due to the adventurism of the Pakistan military machine. It has imposed upon my people and my Government the imperative responsibility of safeguarding our security and territorial integrity. We are left with no other option but to put our country on a war footing. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> May I request Your Excellency to exercise your undoubted influence with the Government of Pakistan to stop their aggressive activities against India and to deal immediately with the genesis of the problem of East Bengal which has caused so much trial and tribulations to the people not only of Pakistan but of the entire sub-continent.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1205_71_telegram_sec_state.htm">Pakistan Request for Jordanian Military Assistance</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 6:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_telegram_amembassy_london.htm">British Reaction to USG Position on Indo-Pak Conflict:</a> America had been too critical to India. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Brit­ish <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_telegram2_amembassy_london.htm">stance on South Asian crisis</a>, is based on firm assumption that India will win and that Bangla Desh will be established as independent country. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_indira_gandhi_statement_parliament.htm">Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s Statement in Parliament</a> recognizing Bangladesh:<blockquote> “I am glad to inform the House that in the light of the existing situation and in response to the repeated requests of the Government of Bangla Desh, the Government of India have after the most careful consideration, decided to grant recognition to the GANA PRAJATANTRI BANGLA DESH. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Our thoughts at this moment are with the father of this new State-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The Bangla Desh Government have reiterated their anxiety to organise the expeditious return of their citizens who have found temporary refuge in our country, and to restore their lands and belongings to them. We shall naturally help in every way in these arrangements.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.nybangla.com/Weekly%201971/December/1st%20Week/dec1_004.jpg">Bangladesh Foreign Minister’s letter on recognition</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_memorandum_kissinger_232.htm">Memorandum from Kissinger to President Nixon</a>:<blockquote> - In East Pakistan the Indian forces are making gradual progress on several fronts. They are pressing the outnumbered Pak forces on several strategic fronts and the Indian gains so far may be laying the basis for more dramatic successes in the near future. The Indian objective is to force a Pak surrender in East Pakistan within the next week, if at all possible. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> - Ground action on the Indian-West Pakistan front has been increasing, but it is not yet as widespread as in the East and neither side appears to be making clear-cut major gains. The Indian strategy is to maintain an essentially defensive posture in the West until the battle is won in the East, but there are indications that the Paks may be preparing a major offensive thrust in Kashmir that would undoubtedly force an Indian counter.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_policy_council_meeting_234.htm">Secretary of Defense Laird’s Armed Forces Policy Council Meeting</a>:<blockquote> “The Indian government is trying for a rapid and successful conclusion of the fighting in East Pakistan. Indian Premier Gandhi, on 3 December, stated that Indian objective was to complete action within 10 days and redeploy Indian troops to the borders with West Pakistan. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The West Pakistan objective is to overwhelm Indian forces in Kashmir. They feel Kashmir might be sufficient compensation for the loss of East Pakistan to India.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_minutes_nsc_meeting_237.htm">National Security Council Meeting</a>:<blockquote> “Director Helms (CIA) completed his briefing by noting that India’s recognition of Bangladesh provided a justification for intervention in East Pakistan. Helms felt that 10 days was a conservative estimate of how long it would be before the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan would be forced to surrender.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1206_71_message_ussr_241.htm">Message from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the United States</a><blockquote> “In accordance with the above the Soviet representative in the Security Council has been instructed to seek such a solution that would closely combine two questions: a proposal for an immediate cease-fire between Pakistan and India and a demand that the Government of Pakistan immediately recognize the will of the East Pakistani population as expressed in the December 1970 elections. The Soviet leaders express the hope that the President will give instructions to the U.S. representative in the Security Council to act in the same direction.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1207_71_telegram_amembassy_new_delhi.htm">Meeting between</a> Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh and Keating of USEmbassy:<blockquote> “We are quite clear on what we are doing. India was making no territorial claims of any type. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The Indian army was being welcomed as lib­erators. Indian recognition of Bangla Desh also was an effort to curb local extremist elements. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> In response to my question whether the Bangla Desh government would be led by the same people as were now in Mujibnagar, the Foreign Minister said that he didn’t know, but it was for them to de­cide. The GOI did not need to replace the existing administrative set­up. It didn’t want to interfere.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 7:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Jessore, Sylhet and Moulovi Bazar are liberated by the Indian troops with the help of Muktibahini. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Message from Yahya to Nixon:<blockquote> If India should succeed in its objective, the loss of East Pakistan with a population of 70 million people dominated by Russia will also be a threat to the security of South Asia. It will bring under Soviet domination the region of Assam, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia.</blockquote> On December 7th the General Assembly by a vote of 104 to 11 with 10 abstentions called on India and Pakistan to institute an immediate cease-fire and to withdraw troops from each other’s territory. Pakistan has accepted the resolution. India has refused. </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 8:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> General Manekshaw, chief of Army staff calls on Pakistani army in Bangladesh to surrender immediately to Indian army in view of the hopeless position they are situated. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Indian troops acting in concert with Mukti Bahini liberated Comilla and Bramhonbaria. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> UN General Assembly votes a resolution calling upon India and Pakistan to cease fire immediately. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1208_71_editorial_note_252.htm">President Nixon and Henry Kissinger’s telephone discussion</a> on the crisis on the Indian subcontinent:<blockquote> “Kissinger pointed to the threat to West Pakistan: “At this stage, we have to prevent an Indian attack on West Pakistan.” Nixon agreed. Kissinger continued: “We have to maintain the position of withdrawal from all of Pakistan.” He concluded that if the United States held firm in its approach to India and the Soviet Union, the administration would achieve its overall goals, even if it failed to prevent India from dismembering Pakistan: “If they maintain their respect for us even if you lose, we still will come out all right.” For Kissinger, it was a question of preserving credibility and honor. By introducing United States military power into the equation, in the form of a carrier and other units from the Seventh Fleet, the United States was seeking to prevent “a Soviet stooge, supported by Soviet arms” from overrunning an ally.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1208_71_telegram_sec_state.htm">Telegram from Secy of State to UNMission NATO:</a><blockquote> Yahya proceeding with his blueprint for transfer of power. Has sent Bhutto on short visit to UNGA. Yahya said that the emergency had brought about a greater unanimity of opinion among Pakistani politicians than had heretofore been in evidence, and that he was hopeful. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> He said the GOP armed forces in East Pakistan would fight qte to the last Muslim, for not only their country but their faith is in jeopardy. </blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 9:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Indian troops acting in concert with Mukti Bahini liberated Chandpur and Daudkandi.  </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1209_71_memorandum_kissinger_254.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon</a>:<blockquote> “Indian forces in East Pakistan are now making steady progress on several fronts and are at one point 22 miles from Dacca. At the UN, yesterday’s activity was highlighted by a strong appeal from U Thant for a Dacca area cease-fire to permit the evacuation of international community personnel there. Thant asked both the Indians and Paks to agree to a 24-hour stand-down to permit repair of runways for evacuation of foreigners. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Both India and Pakistan are preparing for another round of debate at the UN. Indian Foreign Minister Singh is on his way to New York as is Bhutto, the new Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1209_71_telegram_sec_state.htm">Bhutto’s views on eve of departure for New York</a>:<blockquote> People’s Party leader Z.A. Bhutto­Newly designated by Yahya as vice Primin-said he will do utmost to bring about ceasefire and withdrawal of forces. He is also ready to do what he can to achieve satisfactory political accommodation with East Pakistan. Including active negotiation with Mujib.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1209_71_conversation_nixon_kissinger.htm">Discussion with Nixon and Kissinger</a>:<blockquote> Kissinger: Well, they will lose East Pakistan. There’s nothing to be done about that. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Nixon: We all know that. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Kissinger: The Brezhnev letter says the negotiations should start at the point at which they were interrupted on March 25, 1970. At that point, East Pakistan was part of Pakistan. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Kissinger: Now if we, if you and Brezhnev, could make a joint declaration. The way I see this thing evolving. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Kissinger: So then we’ve got the Indians at a disadvantage. And we’ll have separated the Soviets from the Indians to some extent.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1209_71_memorandum1.htm">Alleged US military assistance to Pakistan</a> was not true. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1209_71_memorandum_CIA.htm">Memo from CIA – implications of Indian victory over Pakistan:</a><blockquote> An intelligence report says that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has indicated that India’s war objectives are: </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> A. Liberation of Bangla Desh </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> B. The incorporation into India of the southern area of Azad (Pakistani-held) Kashmir </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> C. The destruction of Pakistani armored and air force strength so that Pakistan can never again threaten India.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1209_71_memorandum_president.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon:</a><blockquote> “Bhutto has earlier received instructions to work for simple cease-fire resolution with the provision that the Security Council would later take up other aspects. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Latest reports from Dacca indicate that the Indians are preparing for a final all-out assault on the city that could begin in a few hours (down Dacca time) unless last minute efforts to obtain a cease-fire are successful. Yahya has confirmed, via his Foreign Secretary to Ambassador Farland, that General Niazi’s cease-fire formula from East Pakistan can be transmitted to the Indians. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Our carrier task force is transiting the Straits of Malacca and will ar­rive at a point near the center of the base of the Bay of Bengal tomor­row evening. Rumors about this move are already widespread in the area where they are being combined with stories that the US is con­sidering military assistance to Pakistan. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The British are also moving some naval vessels into the area — a commando carrier and a frigate off the southern coast of Ceylon. So­viet task force, consisting of a guided missile cruiser, an oiler and diesel powered submarine continues to steam through the South China Sea toward the Indian Ocean where if it continues on that course it should arrive in about three days. The Soviets have 12 other naval ships in the Indian Ocean but none of these is in or known to be heading for areas near the Indo-Pakistani conflict.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1210_71_telegram_dep_state_262.htm">Indian ambassador Jha meets undersecretary Sisco</a>:<blockquote> “Jha noted that India had recognized Bangla Desh, but there was no intention of annexation in the East or what he termed a protectorate relationship with Bangla Desh. With respect to Azad Kashmir, he could not give any answer totally free of uncertainty. Jha then asked what are the Pak aims? Under Secretary pointed out that Pak aims were made very clear today in note to Secretary General accepting General Assembly resolution calling for ceasefire and withdrawal.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 10:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Laksham is liberated. The Pak commanding officer surrenders with his officers and 416 men.  </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1210_71_memorandum_kissinger_267.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon</a>:<blockquote> The war in the East has reached its final stages. The Indian forces are encircling Dacca and preparing for the final assault if the Pak forces in the capital area refuse to surrender. Pak resistance elsewhere in the province appears on the verge of total collapse, although they continue to hold some isolated areas. Faced with this desperate situation, the top Pak military official in Dacca has called on the UN to arrange </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (a) peaceful transfer of power to the “elected representatives of East Pakistan,” </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (b) an immediate cease-fire, </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (c) repatriation of the Pak forces to West Pakistan, </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (d) repatriation of all other West Pak personnel who desire to leave, </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (e) the safety of the others settled in East Pakistan since 1947 and </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (f) a guarantee of no reprisals. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> In the West, the Indians seem to be successfully repulsing Pak attacks in Kashmir, but show no signs yet of initiating a major offensive of their own. Repeated Indian air strikes and shellings from naval forces on Karachi have dealt a major blow to Pakistan’s POL supply. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The Indians have announced a bombing pause over both Dacca and Karachi for evacuation purposes. Evacuation planes will be given safe conduct into Karachi for four-hour periods today and tomorrow and the Dacca airport is to be free from attacks for 24 hours so that it can be repaired. Foreign evacuation planes bound for Dacca will then be given safe conduct for 10 hours on Saturday on the condition that they land at Calcutta before and after going to Dacca. UN personnel reportedly will remain behind in Dacca for possible assistance in arranging a cease-fire or surrender.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1210_71_editorial_note_266.htm">Discussion with Kissinger and Nixon</a>:<blockquote> I’m going to hand him a <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1210_71_letter_nixon_269.htm">very tough note</a> to Brezhnev and say this is it now, let’s settle the, let’s get a cease-fire now. That’s the best that can be done now. They’ll lose half of their country, but at least they preserve the other half.” Nixon agreed that “our desire is to save West Pakistan.” </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Nixon asked for an assurance that the necessary steps were being taken to “keep those carriers [sic] moving.” Kissinger assured him that “everything is moving.” In addition to the carrier group, Kissinger reported that “four Jordanian planes have already moved to Pakistan, twenty-two more are coming. We’re talking to the Saudis, the Turks we’ve now found are willing to give five.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1210_71_backchannel_message_271.htm">Ambassador to Pakistan (Farland) to Kissinger</a>:<blockquote> Yahya proposes </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (a) India and Pakistan should agree to an immediate ceasefire with the separate armed forces “standing fast”; and that the United Nations or other international organization provide observers to see that the ceasefire is effective; </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (b) that India and Pakistan “at any effective level” immediately open negotiations aimed at a settlement of the war and troop withdrawal; and coincident therewith simultaneously enter into negotiations looking towards the political satisfaction of Bengali aspirations, i.e., a political settlement.</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 11:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Indian troops acting in concert with Mukti Bahini liberated Hilli, Mymenshingh, Kushtia and Noakhali. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Maj. Gen Rao Forman Ali request U-Thant, UN secretary general for help in repatriating troops and West Pakistani civilians. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1211_71_memorandum_kissinger_275.htm">Kissinger to Nixon</a>:<blockquote> Sixteen Soviet naval units are now in the Indian Ocean area, including three space support ships. Communications intelligence indicates that most of the ships are near Ceylon and Socotra, although one space-related unit may be monitoring British naval units in the Arabian Sea. However, of the sixteen ships less than half are combatants.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1211_71_conversation_kissinger_bhutto_280.htm">Telephone Conversation between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Deputy Prime Minister Bhutto</a>:<blockquote> Kissinger: Now after our original resolution is defeated, however, Mr. Minister, then I think you have to decide whether you want to go to a simple ceasefire resolution, because it isn’t that we don’t want to help you, it is that we want to preserve you. It is all very well to stand for principles, but finally we have to assure your survival. And that is the Chinese problem.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1211_71_memorandum3.htm"> The Indo-Pakistan Conflict — East and West</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 12:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Indian Para-troopers arive in East Pakistan to mount an assault on Dhaka.<br /><a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1212_71_editorial_note_281.htm">White house Update</a>:<blockquote> “Haig learned that the Chinese initiative did not mean that China had decided upon military action in support of Pakistan. Instead, Huang Hua indicated that China was prepared to support the United Nations procedure Kissinger had outlined in the December 10 meeting, which was to ask for a cease-fire and mutual troop withdrawal but to settle for a standstill cease-fire.”</blockquote> Ambassador Bush introduced a resolution which, in its operative paragraphs, called for an immediate cease-fire, the withdrawal by India and Pakistan of their armed forces from each other’s territory, and the creation of conditions necessary to safeguard the lives of civilians and to facilitate the safe return of the refugees to their homes. (UN doc. S/10446 and Rev. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> 1) The Security Council voted 11-2 in favor of the resolution, with 2 abstentions. The resolution was not adopted because of the negative vote of the Soviet Union. (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1212_71_memorandum_conversation_285.htm">Source</a>) </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1212_71_telegram_mission_un_289.htm">Bush meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Singh</a>:<blockquote> On UN action: UN cannot take useful action at this time. Further debate will only harden positions and create additional frictions. UN tied to precedent and formalistic rites and cannot deal with such complex issues. If UN has to meet in future, Bangla Desh reps must be present; it is a reality. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Indian Aims in East. Indian aims are simple: Surrender of Pak forces with repatriation to follow; recognition of Bangla Desh. GOI very much aware need protect Biharis. Will establish safe areas under Indian control and assist in repatriation to West Pakistan if they desire. India had not attacked on ground in West. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> US was still attempting to see whether UN action “could be useful”.</blockquote> Memorandum from the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger): </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1212_71_memorandum_kissinger.htm">India Pakistan refugee problems</a>:<blockquote> There are four classes of refugees/ displaced persons who will probably require assistance on an international basis following the termination of hostilities. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> 1. Up to 10 million refugees from East Pakistan who are now in India. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> 2. Over 600,000 non-Bengali Muslims in East Pakistan who may want to move to West Pakistan, as well as West Pakistani government officials and military in the East. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> 3. Some 50-100,000 Bengalis living in West Pakistan, most of whom will almost certainly wish to return to East Pakistan. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> 4. An undetermined number of persons who are being displaced by the fighting within East Pakistan.</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 13: </b></li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> General Manekshaw asks Rao Forman Ali to stand down to prevent shedding of innocent bloods. Dhaka is surrpounded by Indian troops.<br /><a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1213_71_message_soviet_leadership_291.htm">Message from the Soviet Leadership to President Nixon</a>:<blockquote> We have attentively examined your message over the direct communications link. In accordance with the confidential exchange of opinions existing between us, we are advising you that at the present time, we are conducting a clarification of all the circumstances in India. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> We will inform you of the results of the clarification without delay. </blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 14:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Top intellectuals of the country were were taken from homes by Razakars, Al Badr and Al Shams and slaughtered in killing fields with the vain objective of cripling the nation. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Bogra is liberated. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Indian casualty figures of the 10 day war is announced by Indian defence minister in parliament: </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Killed – 1978, Wounded 5025, Missing 1662. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Pakistani causalty figures are much higher, he claims. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Highest officers of the Pakistani administration in Bangladesh resigns from their posts and seeks refuge to Red Crescent.  </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1214_message_soviet_leadership_295.htm">Message from the Soviet Leadership to President Nixon</a>:<blockquote> “It would be good if the American side on its part stressed to the Pakistani Government the necessity of embarking on the path towards political settlement in East Pakistan on the basis which is now rather clear.”</blockquote> The Soviet Union vetoes for the 3rd time to block US resolution for an immediate Indo-Pakistani ceasefire. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Letter from Pakistani President Yahya to President Nixon:<blockquote> “The Russian proposal about the cease-fire, withdrawal and negotiations has by now clearly been demonstrated to have been only a hoax….The passage of time is clearly playing into the hands of the Russians. We are convinced that, after acquiring East Pakistan, they would let the Indians turn their might single-mindedly against West Pakistan for which they have already begun to equip the Indians. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Time has come for the United States to go beyond warnings and démarches if its determination to punish aggression across international borders is to have any effect on the Soviet Union and India. The Seventh Fleet does not only have to come to our shores but also to relieve certain pressures which we by ourselves are not in a position to cope with.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1214_71_telegram_embassy_pakistan_301.htm">Discussion with Pres. Yahya and US ambassador re Ceasefire:</a><blockquote> “President Yahya acknowledges that military situation in East Pakistan has hopelessly deteriorated. He provided me with Governor Malik’s Dec. 13 report of chaotic conditions. Because military situation now irretrievable and for over-riding humanitarian reasons, Yahya is giving Bhutto widest possible latitude at UN to effect ceasefire and troop withdrawal.”</blockquote> Soviet first deputy foreign minister came to India on December 12 to discuss the political recognition of Bangladesh. Soviet Union continued to Veto any cease fire to give India time to liberate Bangladesh. However they were growing impatient by now. (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1215_71_cia_information_187.htm">CIA information</a>)</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 15:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Bhutto, on a diplomatic visit to the US since December 8, makes an agitated speech at the UN Security Council: (<a href="http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/?p=411">Full text and video of speech here</a>) <br />“So what if Dacca falls? So what if the whole of East Pakistan falls? So what if the whole of West Pakistan falls? We will build a new Pakistan. We will build a better Pakistan… We will fight for a thousand years.” Afterwards, he tears up his notes and walks out. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1215_71_conversation_189.htm">Discussion with Nixon and Kissinger</a>:<blockquote> “Brezhnev said in a letter: “The Soviet Union guarantees there will be no military action against West Pakistan.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1215_71_telegram_dep_state.htm">Telegram from the Consulate General in Dacca to the Department of State</a>:<blockquote> “I have been informed by Governor Malik and General Farman Ali that President Yahya Khan strongly desires to put a end to hostilities in EP. For this purpose he wishes to arrange with the Indian Govt an immediate cease-fire period of at least two hours in which discussions for this purpose can take place between the military commanders concerned. The President desires honorable conditions for Pakistani troops and protection of civilians.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1215_71_memorandum_kissinger.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon</a>:<blockquote> “Foreign Minister Bhutto declined to pass General Niazi’s ceasefire proposal to the Indians in New York, so our UN mission was instructed to communicate it to Foreign Minister Singh, and subsequently Ambassador Keating was instructed to pass its text to Mrs. Gandhi’s secretary, Haksar. In this as in the negotiations on the Security Council resolution, Bhutto is apparently being careful to sidestep onus for the surrender of East Pakistan. Meanwhile, latest Indian reports indicate that Dacca is receiving heavy artillery fire, and three Indian columns have advanced to within a few miles of Dacca where they are preparing for attack. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Our carrier task force is transiting the Straits of Malacca and should arrive at a point near the center of the base of the Bay of Bengal this (15 Dec) evening. Rumors about this move are already widespread in the area where they are being combined with stories that the US is considering military assistance to Pakistan.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1214_71_telegram_cs_300.htm">The Niazi Cease-Fire Proposal</a>:<blockquote> “In order to save future loss of innocent human lives which would inevitably result from further hostilities in the major cities like Dacca, I request you to arrange for an immediate cease-fire under the following conditions: </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (A) Regrouping of Pakistan armed forces in designated areas to be mutually agreed upon between the commanders of the opposing forces; </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (B) To guarantee the safety of all military and paramilitary forces; </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (C) Safety of all those who had settled in East Pakistan since 1947; </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (D) No reprisals against those who helped the administration since March 1971. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> In those conditions, the Pakistan armed forces and paramilitary forces would immediately cease all military operations.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1215_71_telegram_embassy_india_to_dep_state.htm">Indian response to Niazi ceasefire proposal</a> from General Manekshaw to General Niazi:<blockquote> “I had previously informed General Farman Ali in two messages that I would guarantee </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (a) the safety of all your military and paramilitary forces who surrender to me in Bangla Desh. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> (b) Complete protection to foreign nations, ethnic minorities and personnel of West Pakistan no matter who they may be. Since you have indicated your desire to stop fighting I expect you to issue orders to all forces under your command in Bangla Desh to cease fire immediately and surrender to my advancing forces wherever they are located. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Immediately I receive a positive response from you I shall direct General Aurorea the commander of Indian and Bangla Desh forces in the Eastern theatre to refrain from all air and ground action against your forces. As a token of my good faith I have ordered that no air action shall take place over Dacca from 1700 hours today. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> I assure you I have no desire to inflict unnecessary casualties on your troops as I abhor loss of human lives.”</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1215_71_message_jha_314.htm">Letter from the Indian Ambassador (Jha) to President Nixon</a><blockquote> “The tragic war, which is continuing, could have been averted if during the nine months prior to Pakistan’s attack on us on December 3, the great leaders of the world had paid some attention to the fact of revolt, tried to see the reality of the situation and searched for a genuine basis for reconciliation. Our earnest plea that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman should be released, or that, even if he were to be kept under detention, contact with him might be established, was not considered practical on the ground that the US could not urge policies which might lead to the overthrow of President Yahya Khan. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> We are asked what we want. We seek nothing for ourselves. We do not want any territory of what was East Pakistan and now constitutes Bangla Desh. We do not want any territory of West Pakistan.”</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 16</b><a href="http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/auroraniazi3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="auroraniazi3.jpg"> </a></li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Pakistani commander Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi surrenders to Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora, the Commander of the Joint Forces, at the same Dhaka Racecourse where Sheikh Mujib had made his historic call for independence only nine months and nine days earlier. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> * <a href="http://1971.uttorshuri.net/images/InstrumentOfSurrender.jpg">The Instrument of Surrender</a> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> More than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers are taken prisoner of war by Indian forces. The president of Bangladesh is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is still in prison somewhere in West Pakistan where he is denied all information about the outside world. He knows nothing of the bloodshed that has preceded the creation of his state. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> * <a href="http://1971.uttorshuri.net/images/Pak_surrenderNIC-in.WMV">December 16, 1971: A few moments from a historic day</a> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> People begin their search for the remains of the missing ones at the numersous execution grounds and mass gravesites around the country.<br /><br />Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi speking at Lok Sabha hailed Dacca as “the free capital of a free country.” At the same time, the Indian Government announced a cease-fire on the front between India and West Pakistan to take effect the following day. In making the announcement a government spokesman stated that India had no territorial ambitions in the conflict.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 17:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> When US ambassador Farland saw President Yahya on the morning of December 17 and urged him to accept the Indian cease-fire offer, Yahya took the position that he had previously indicated his willingness to accept a cease-fire in accepting the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on December 7. He did not see the necessity to reiterate that position and respond to what he referred to as Mrs. Gandhi’s dictates. Upon further urging from Farland, he agreed to consider responding to the Indian offer. At 3 p.m. local time on December 17, Foreign Secretary Sultan Khan brought Farland the news that Yahya was prepared to accept the Indian offer publicly. (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1217_71_telegram_dep_state_323.htm">Source</a>) </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1217_71_memorandum_kissinger_325.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon</a>: <blockquote> Indian Foregn Minister Singh said that in the east India planned to install a civilian government of officials elected in 1970. He asked whether the U.S. could get Mujib released to head it</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1217_71_intelligence_note.htm">US Intelligence note on Bangladesh leadership:</a></blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 18:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1218-71_memorandum_327.htm">Nixon meets Bhutto</a>:<blockquote> “The Deputy Prime Minister was critical of past policies in Pakistan which he claimed were the result of the will of a clique of military leaders who were no longer in touch with the people of Pakistan. All of this contributed in large measure to the calamity which befell his nation.<a href="http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/feer-18-12-71.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="feer-18-12-71.jpg"> </a></blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 17-20:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Pakistanis in general and young military officers in particular made it clear that they wanted Yahya Khan and his regime to go. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> At one point, General Abdul Hamid Khan, chief of staff of the Pakistan army (the army was then headed by a commander-in-chief, in this case Yahya), called a meeting of army officers in Rawalpindi cantonment and attempted to explain the causes behind the debacle in Bangladesh. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> He was greeted with expletives, one more profane than the next, and eventually was forced to leave the room. Hamid, who had after the Dhaka surrender begun nurturing ambitions of taking over from Yahya, now knew that the end was near. Officers like General Gul Hasan, in contact with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, were already planning to dominate the new circumstances.</blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 20:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Bhutto arrived back in Rawalpindi around noon and was immediately whisked away to the president’s house for a meeting with General Yahya Khan. He emerged a few hours later as Pakistan’s new president and, incongruously, chief martial law administrator. Late in the evening, President Bhutto addressed the nation, and in a rambling speech promised his people that he would build a new Pakistan for them. He extolled the bravery of Pakistan’s soldiers in the just concluded war and asked forgiveness of his “brothers and sisters” in “East Pakistan.”<br /><br />He showed absolutely no contrition over his role in the making of the crisis in Bangladesh but appeared keen to reassure Pakistanis that their future was safe in his hands. He placed Yahya Khan under house arrest and appointed new chiefs of staff for the army, air force and navy. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1221_71_memorandum_kissinger_329.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon</a>:<blockquote> Meanwhile, there is still considerable public resentment about the way the war ended. In Karachi, for example, bands of demonstrators have been roving in and out of the major business and residential areas setting fires and causing disruptions. Many educated Pakistanis are still openly attacking Yahya and saying that the people will never allow the return of a military government under any circumstances. At the same time, even those who oppose and distrust Bhutto seem inclined to give him a chance. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The situation is still fluid in the East. The Indian Army seems to be gradually restoring a minimum of law and order in Dacca and reorganizing the administrative apparatus. The “Bangla Desh” cabinet, however, has still not arrived from Calcutta, although there are reports that it may proceed to Dacca by mid-week. The Bangla Desh “Prime Minister” is quoted by Dacca Radio as saying that there is a great need for foreign aid but that they will “not touch” any part of U.S. aid because of the “hateful and shameful” policy that the U.S. has followed toward the Bangla Desh “freedom struggle.</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 22:</b> </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Bangladesh’s provisional government arrived in Dhaka from exile. Bhutto decreed that detained Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman be moved from solitary confinement in prison to house arrest. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> At the UN, the Security Council was finally able to agree on a resolution last night by a vote of thirteen to nothing with the Soviet Union and Poland abstaining. The operative paragraph in effect formalizes the cease-fire and demands that it “remain in effect until withdrawals take place, as soon as practicable, of all armed forces to their respective territories and to the cease-fire line supervised by UNMOGIP.” </blockquote> </div> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li><b>December 27:</b>  </li> </ul> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/1227_71_memorandum_kissinger_334.htm">Memo from Kissinger to Nixon</a>:<blockquote> Bhutto is reported to have announced plans for a judicial inquiry into the causes for Pakistan’s defeat. It is not to submit its findings for three months and may be Bhutto’s effort to satisfy public opinion with a minimum move.</blockquote> Bhutto arrived at the rest house where Mujib had been moved. Surprised Mujib asked Bhutto: “Bhutto, how are you here?” Bhutto’s response did not fit the question: “I am president of Pakistan.” An even more surprised Mujib teased him: “But you know that position belongs to me.” He was evidently referring to the Awami League’s victory at the general elections of a year earlier. This time Bhutto told him: “I am also chief martial law administrator.”<br />In the next hour or so, Bhutto gave Mujib to understand that the Indian army had occupied “East Pakistan” and that the two men needed to be together in the coming struggle to drive the Indians off. Mujib, ever the astute politician, knew better. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> (Source: <i>Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent – Kuldip Nayar</i>)</blockquote> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">   </div> </div>

December, 1971

December 1:   Telegram from Amconsul Calcutta to Secretary State “Qaiyum said MEA policy planning chairman DP Dhar in his latest vis...

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March 1971

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <ul> <li> <b>March 01:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> People tuned their radios and turned their TVs on because President Agha Yahiya Khan was supposed to address the nation. However, someone else read out a statement that President Yahya Khan has <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0301_71_yahya_press_statement.htm">announced</a> the postponement until “a later date” of the National Assembly. He termed it Pakistan’s “<a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=100">gravest political crisis</a>.” Hundreds of thousands of enraged people took the streets.  </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0301_71_mujib_calls.htm">Mujib reacts and calls for emancipation of Bengalees</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib held a press conference and said that this was not democracy but dictatorship and as a sign of revolt the people would observe general strike on 2nd March in Dhaka and the whole country on the 3rd. He also said further announcements would be held on March 7th. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mr. Shirajul Alam Khan (the man with the idea), ASM Rab and Shajahan Shiraj of Chhatra (Student) League believed that only an armed revolution to create an independent socialist Bangladesh was the way. They demanded the indepndence of Bangladesh right away. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> For the first time in Bengali history, slogans demanding independence for Bangladesh were heard: “Bir Bangali ostro dhoro Bangladesh shwadhin koro (Courageous Bengalis, take up arms and free Bangladesh)”. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Governor East Pakistan Admiral S.M.Ahsan, who refuses to open fire on the Bengalis if they go on strike, is replaced by General Sahibzada Yaqoob Khan.<br /> “In response to a request from the Government of Pakistan, a decision was reached in Washington on March 1 to divert to West Pakistan 150,000 tons of wheat intended for disaster relief in East Pakistan. The request was triggered by grain shortages and rising prices in West Pakistan.” -<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0326_specialactionsgroup.htm">WSAG minutes</a></blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 2:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Curfew was clamped in Dhaka from 8 am to 7 pm. However, the indomitable Bangalees took to the streets. Many were gunned down by the Pakistani troops. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=101">Bengalees reacts</a>. Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0302_mujib_condemns_firing.htm">denounced firing on unarmed men and declares province-wide Hartal</a> on each day from 3rd March 1971 to the 6th March, 1971 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. in all spheres.Defiant students (Central Students Action Committee) at Dhaka University led by A. S. M Abdur Rab (VP of the student government), Shajahan Siraj (GS of student govt), Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui, and Abdul Kuddus Makhan held a massive rally. Here for the first time the Independent Bangla Flag (currently Bangladesh flag is the same just without the golden map of Bangladesh inside the red circle) was raised by Rab at the historic Battala at the University of Dhaka.</blockquote> <ul> <li><b>March 3:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Rab and Siraj read out the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh at a public rally in the presence of Sheikh Mujib fearing that since Mujib was in negotiations with Yahiya the revolutionary spirit was on the wane. But Mujib called for <a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=102">a non-violent non-cooperation movement</a> instead of revolution. This day which was to have been the day for the sitting of the National Assembly was observed as a day of national mourning. Mujib demands in a meeting “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0303skspeechpbmeeting.htm">Withdraw forces, transfer power</a>“.<br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Curfew imposed in Sylhet, Rangpur, Chittagong, and Khulna. Angry mob burned the Pakistani flag angered by the decision to postpone the Assembly session.<br /> Yahya Khan continues to posture for negotiations while non-bengali regiments of soldiers are surreptitiously flown into Dhaka from West Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0303m_reject_invite.htm">rejected the invitation of President Yahya Khan</a> to attend the proposed meeting of the leaders of all the parliamentary groups in the national assembly on March 10.</blockquote> </blockquote> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <ul> <li> <b>March 4:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=96">Non cooperation movement continued</a>. <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0304_71_mujib_congratulates.htm">Mujib congratulates people for stirring response to his call</a>. He had asked the Govern­ment and non-Government offices where employees have not yet been paid their salaries, to function between 2-30 p.m. to 4-30 p.m. for the purposes of disbursing salaries during the next two days of Hartal.<br /> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0304_71_haroldsaunders.htm">US Embassy’s communication confirms</a>:<blockquote> “Mujib has admitted to several foreign correspondents “off the record” that he will announce the equivalent to independence for East Pakistan on Sunday (March 7). He did, however, go on to say that the East and West wings should write their respective constitutions and thereafter discussions over the form of linkage could take place. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> At least one Pakistani air force C-130 has been seen flying into Dacca and there are recurrent reports of forces being flown into Dacca via the Pakistani commercial airline and of the movement of troops from the West via ship….It is known that there is pressure from some elements in the military to make a quick repressive strike against the East Pakistani leaders in hopes of cowing them and the rest of the province.”</blockquote> General Khan resigns protesting Yahya’s refusal to visit East Pakistan; General Tikka Khan takes over as Governor East Pakistan.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 5:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Public demonstrations against a West Pakistani scheme to prevent the Bengalees from forming a Government are brutally suppressed. <a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=97">300 killed in army actions on protesters</a>. <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0305_71_army_withdrawn.htm">Army Withdrawn to Barracks- East Wing protest continues- Firing in Tongi, Rajshahi.</a></blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 6:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> President Yahiya Khan announced that the Assembly session would be held on the 23rd of March and appointed General Tikka Khan as the Governor of East Pakistan. <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0306_71_text_yahya_broadcast.htm">Text of the address to the nation by the President Yahya Khan, broadcast over</a><br /><a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0306_71_text_yahya_broadcast.htm"> Radio Pakistan network.</a> Minutes of senior review group meeting in US Department of state including <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0306_71_minutesreview.htm">Henry Kissinger</a>:<br /><blockquote> Another reason for our not taking the lead is that West Pakistan is very suspicious that we are supporting a separate East Pakistan state. If we tell Yahya to call off the use of force, it will merely fuel this suspicion.</blockquote> </blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 7:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0307_71_minority_group.htm">Mujib said after two day long AL working committee meeting</a>:<blockquote> “It is only too clear to the people of the country and indeed the world that it is a minority group of Western Wing which has obstructed and is continuing to obstruct the transfer of power”.</blockquote> Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced his decision to participate in the National Assembly session provided his four-point demand was accepted before the session. This negligence, <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0307_skdecision.htm">he said</a>, towards the leaders of the majority party was in fact a dishonour shown to the seven crore people of Bangla Desh.<br /><a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=99"></a></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://genocidebangladesh.org/?p=99">Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech at the Racecourse Ground in front of about a million people</a>.<br /> <br /><blockquote> “Mujib announced 4 preconditions for participating in the Assembly session. 1. Withdrawal of the martial law 2. Return of the troops back to their barracks. 3. Power handed back to the elected people’s representatives. 4. Proper investigation into the killings of unarmed civilians. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Finally, raising his fist Bangabandhu cried out at the top of his voice : “OUR STRUGGLE THIS TIME IS A STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, OUR STRUGGLE THIS TIME IS A STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE. JOY BANGLA.”</blockquote> He asked that every house become a fort and attack the enemy wherever they can.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 8:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “People’s rule” by Bangabandhu, became the order of the day. The Bangalis were supremely disciplined and dedicated in this matter. Every man, woman and child scrupulously following the dictates of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib asked for black flags to be raised on roof-tops for a week. He again asked for total shutdown and that no money be transmitted from the East to the West for an indefinite period. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> In the evening Tajuddin Ahmad issued several clarifications and exemptions to mitigate public hardship and to prevent damage to the East Bangla economy.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 9:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Maulana Bhasani held a mammoth rally at Paltan Maydan extending his support to Mujib. 2 Bhasani asked Yahiya Khan to acknowledge the independence of Bangladesh. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Tikka Khan had arrived in Dhaka a few days after the non-cooperation movement had started, to take up the dual role of Governor and Martial Law Administrator for the Eastern part. But he had not yet sworn it. Finally he decided to be formally sworn in as Governor and summoned the chief justice of East Bangla for the purpose of administering the oath. Justice Siddique very politely declined. So did the other judges of the Dhaka High Court. This proved that Bangabandhu’s directives were being obeyed even at that top level. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Leftist forces of Bangla in exile formed the Bangladesh Jatiyo Mukti Songram Somonnoy Committee (Bangladesh National Freedom Struggle Organizing Committee) with Bhasani as the leader at Beleghata, Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Bangladesh government in exile also formed the All Party Advisory Committee under Bhasani’s leadership. The others were Moni Singh (Founder of the Communist Party of Bangladesh) and Muzaffar Ahmed (NAP), Monoranjan Dhar, Tajuddin Ahmed and Khondokar Mushtaq Ahmed.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 10:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sent a telegram to the UN Secretary General informing him that the human rights of the Bangalees (Bengalis) were being trampled. He asked for UN Secretary General’s help in stopping the flow of arms and ammunition from the west that were being used to kill the Bangalee civilians. Japanese, German and UN workers were withdrawn to their respective countries.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 11:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0311_71_keep_economy_full.htm">Keep economy in full gear in the name of Bangladesh: Tajuddin</a><br /> <a href="http://www.icdc.com/%7Epaulwolf/pakistan/blood11mar1971.htm">Chances of a political situation</a> – from a telegram of US consulate:<blockquote> It is difficult to be completely objective in Dhaka in March when, out of discretion rather than valor, our cars and residences sport balck flags and we echo smiling greetings of ‘Joy Bangla’ as we move about the streets. Daily we lend our ears to the outpouring of the Bengali dream, a touching admixture of bravado, wishful thinking, idealism, animal cunning, anger and patriotic fervor. We hear on Radio Dacca and see on Dacca TV the impressive blossoming of Bengali nationalism and we watch the pitiful attempts of students and workers to play at soldiering.</blockquote> </blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 12:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Air Marshall Asgar Khan at Lahore said that if Bangladesh gains independence then, West Pakistan wont survive 5 years.<br /> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0312_71_political_solution.htm">Memorandum from U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to Secretary of State on possible outcomes of the crisis.</a></blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 10-13:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Pakistan International Airlines canceling most of it’s international services, concentrated all available aircraft of ferrying “Government Passengers” to Dhaka. But those were the troops in civilian dress. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Yahia gives <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0313_memo_kissinger_nixon.htm">explicit warning</a> that force would be used against any move for separation. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Asked by a foreign journalist if he planned to go for a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI), Mujib sounded ambiguous: “Independence? No, not yet.” At around the same time, when another foreign newsman questioned Mujib’s challenging of the authority of the Pakistan government in the province, the Awami League chief snapped: “What do mean by government? I am the government.”</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 14:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> People did not go to work in defiance of <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0313_71_civilian_staff.htm">martial orders</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mian Mumtaz Muhammad Khan Daultana, Chief of the Council Muslim League said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s demands were quite reasonable and should be accepted to end the present political crisis in Pakistan. (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0313_71_mujib_demands.htm">The Dawn, Karachi March 14, 1971</a>) </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Syed Siddiqul Hasan Gilani, Chief of the Parliamentary Affairs of the Jamaati­Islami, said that the responsibility for the present crisis lay with Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, the People’s Party Chief, who had aggravated the situation by threatening to boycott the National Assembly session on March 3. (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0313_71_jamaat_leader_blames.htm">The Dawn, Karachi March 14, 1971</a>) </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0314_71_report_meeting.htm">Maulana Mufti Mahmud, leader of the Jamiatul Ulema-i-Islam Parliamentary Party</a> said:<br /><blockquote> “In spite of the disastrous gravity of the situation in East Pakistan, of the tremendous heat and pressure generated there and the scope thus given to disrup­tive forces, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has shown his stature and his firm commit­ment to the solidarity of Pakistan, by putting in the present crisis four demands that are not in the least parochial or regional, but exclusively based on a national approach.”</blockquote> Mr. Zulfikar All Bhutto, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0315_71_speech_bhutto.htm">addressing a public meeting in Nishtar Park</a> said there were two Wings of the country. The People’s Party was in majority in this Wing and the Awami League in East Pakistan. If power was to be transferred to the majority parties of the two Wings, it should be given to the Awami League in East Pakistan and to People’s Party in West Wing.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 15:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib claims he has taken over administration of East Pakistan except for the cities of Dhaka, comilla and Jessore – <a href="http://www.icdc.com/%7Epaulwolf/pakistan/mujib15mar1971.htm" target="_blank">Central Intelligence Bulletin</a> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Announcement of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – issued 35 directives (laws) to carry on with civilian rule.(<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0315_71_non_cooperation_movement.htm">THE DAWN, Karachi-March 16, 1971</a>):<blockquote> - Non-co-operation movement to go on.<br /> - Peoples determination commended.<br /> - Fresh action programme as struggle enters 3rd week.</blockquote> President Yahiya Khan <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0315_sisco.htm">arrived</a> along with several other generals at Dhaka at 2:20 pm to meet Mujib for “negotiations”.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 16:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib arrived at the President House hoisting a black flag to protest the horrendous massacre for the so called negotiations. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0316_71_rule_majority.htm">Pakistan’s Peoples Party cannot be ignored in country’s governence</a>” says Bhutto in a press conference. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Minority parties leaders in West Pakistan <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0316_71_minority_parties.htm">criticise Bhutto’s speech</a>.<br /> Air Marshal Asghar Khan says “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0316_71_statement_asghar_khan.htm">Bhutto’s stand is self contradictory</a>“:<br /><blockquote> On the one hand, Mr. Bhutto has opposed the “grouping” of provinces in West Wing and on the other is suggesting transfer of power to the “majority party in West Pakistan”. “Politically there is no West Pakistan. There are four provinces in this Wing of the country. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is at present “holding the Country together.” Because, if East Pakistan goes, West Pakistan will also disintegrate.</blockquote> West Pakistan political leaders slate Bhutto-Press report on March 16, 1971 (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0316_71_wali_urges.htm">THE DAWN, Karachi-March 16, 1971</a>)<br /><blockquote> Professor Ghulam Azam, Amir of the Jama’at-i-Islami said that it had been crystal clear from the statement of Mr. Bhutto that he did not want to see Pakistan United. The Jama’at leader alleged that Mr. Bhutto had engaged himself in ” a conspiracy” immediately after the last general elections to divide the nation to fulfil his desire. He made an appeal to the President “not to help Mr. Bhutto in any way to break Pakistan”. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Prof. Azam said that immediate lifting of Martial Law and transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people could only save the nation from crisis.</blockquote> </blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 18:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Second day of “negotiations”. Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0319_71_mujib_declines.htm">declines to accept probe body</a> set up by the Martial Law Administrator Zone B “to go into the circumstances which led to the calling of the Army in aid of civil power in various parts of East Pakistan between March 2 and March 9″. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Meanwhile, Sheikh Mujib has sent Capt. Mansur Ali, leader of Parliamentary party in the East Pakistan Assembly. Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed, Vice-President, East Pakistan Awami League and Mr. Abidur Reza Khan, MNA-elect to Chittagong to make an on the spot enquiry into the recent firings and other incidents there.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 19:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Clash near Dacca – <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0320_71_clash_near_dacca.htm">Curfew clamped in Joydevpur</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> After <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0320_71_dacca_talks.htm">90 minutes of heated discussion</a> with Yahiya, Mujib heard that the military had fired upon people at Tongi, Joydebpur and other places. Hearing this he found no reason to continue talks. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib condemned the killings <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0320_71_mujib_condemns_firing.htm">and said</a>:<br /><blockquote> No sacrifice would be considered enough to emancipate the people of “Bangla Desh”. Bangla Desh can not be suppressed by force. If necessary we shall give the last drop of our blood to see that our posterity lived happily as a free citizen in a free country.</blockquote> </blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 20:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib and Yahiya talked for 2 hours, this time with their advisors.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 21:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib and Yahiya talked again as thousands agitated in the streets of Bangladesh. Pakistan People’s Party chief Z. A. Bhutto came to Dhaka for “talks” with Mujib. With Bangabandhu finally consenting to Bhutto’s joining the talks, Yahya Khan had him come over to Dhaka. Angry crowds of Bengalis dogged Bhutto and his team all the way to the Sheraton.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 22:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The concept of a united Pakistan had dwindled, owing to the stiff position adopted by the Awami League, to the issue of a confederal arrangement for the two wings of the country. After talks, Yahiya again postponed the session of the National Assembly. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0322_71_daultana_wali_mufti_resent_postponement.htm">Daultana, Wali, Mufti resent postponement of the National Assembly</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0322_71_political_crisis_will_be_resolved.htm">Political crisis will be resolved</a>” – says President Yahya Khan in a message. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> In the message given on the occasion of bringing out of special supplements captioned, “Emancipation of Bangla Desh” by most dailies, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman described the present movement as the struggle for total emanci­pation of seven crore Bengalees. This struggle will continue until the final goal is achieved, he said and added, the people of Bangla Desh could no more be silenced by bullets, guns and bayonets because they are united today (<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0323_71_victory_is_ours.htm">THE DAWN, Karachi-March 23, 1971</a>). </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Bhutto said in a <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0322_71_agreement_subject.htm">press conference</a> he had a “satisfactory meeting” with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and hoped to meet him again. Bhutto said they were examining the broad agreement reached between the President and Awami League Chief Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and assured that his party would make every effort to reach an understanding to end the present crisis.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 23:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib declared 23rd March as a holiday. At his residence in Dhanmondi, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman raised the Bangladesh flag, to the cheers of the crowd gathered on the road outside his gate. It was the Bangladesh flag that was displayed on his car as it wound its way through the streets and into the President’s House for a fresh round of negotiations with President Yahya Khan. The Awami League submitted a draft of what was considered its final proposals regarding a transfer of power to the Yahya Khan team on the day. General Peerzada promised to get back to the AL the next day.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 24:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The advisors of Yahiya and Mujib met. Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0324_71_mujib_warns.htm">warns against bid to impose decision</a>:<br /><blockquote> “Whatever conspiracy you indulge in you will not succeed in suppressing the demands of the people. We would not bow our heads to any force. We will free the people of Bangla Desh”.</blockquote> Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, General Secretary of East Pakistan Awami League, <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0324_71_tajuddin_call.htm">urged the people to be vigilant</a> and to be ready to make any sacrifice to defeat the conspiracies of anti-people forces. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Rumours abounded that Yahiya would hand over power on the 25th. Bhutto and his heavy body guard stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel (Sheraton Hotel). </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Major Ziaur Rahman and M. R. Choudhury asked Major Rafiq to abandon his (Rafiq’s) plans of pre-emptive attack on the Pakistanis to disarm them before they got a chance to attack. Zia and Choudhury said that the Pakistanis would not do anything and Rafiq’s ill-conceived plans would result in all of their deaths.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 25:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Daytime - newspaper headlines read that 150 people were killed in various parts of the country by the armed forces. Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325_regretsdelay.htm">regrets delays</a> and fears that the talks were decoys. Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325_71_mujib_regrets_delay.htm">condemns attempts to divide Bengalees and Mohajir</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Sheikh Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325mujibcallsstrike.htm">gave a call for a general strike throughout ‘Bangla Desh’</a> on March 27th as a mark of protest against heavy firing upon the civilian population in Saidpur, Rangpur and Joydevpur. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mujib <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325_71_mujib_orders_resumption.htm">orders resumption of jute trade telecom links</a> to function via Manilla.<br /> “Only way out is to accept Awami League demands”, <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325_71_only_way_out.htm">statement by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The staff and employees of the Hotel Intercontinental ceremoniously hoisted a regular sized ‘Joy Bangla flag’ replacing the smaller one at the main mast. The new flag measuring 100 x 60 inches was unfurled in the presence of a large number of people including foreign journalists. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Rumours flew around of imminent military action against the Awami League, indeed against the population. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Mr. Z. A. Bhutto’s <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325_71_p-p-p_a-l_direct_talks.htm">Press conference in Dacca on March 25, 1971</a>: Mr. Bhutto said that the quantum of autonomy sought by the Awami League was some thing which could be termed as “more than autonomy “. It was bordering on sovereignty. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Yahiya and his generals secretly fled Dhaka by 6 pm. Three battalions took up position in Dhaka as per previous plans. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Around 11 PM the army pounced on sleeping citizens of Dhaka to execute <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Searchlight">operation searchlight</a>. The goal was to “crush” Bengali resistance in which Bengali members of military services were disarmed and killed, students and the intelligentsia systematically liquidated and able-bodied Bengali males just picked up and gunned down. By midnight, Dhaka was literally burning, especially the Hindu dominated eastern part of the city. Although the violence focused on the provincial capital, Dhaka, the process of ethnic elimination was also carried out all around Bangladesh. Hindu areas all over Bangladesh suffered particularly heavy blows. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Death squads roamed the streets of Dacca, killing some 7,000 people in a single night. It was only the beginning. Within a week, half the population of Dacca had fled, and at least 30,000 people had been killed. Chittagong, too, had lost half its population. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Thus began the worst genocide of history… a genocide that many would like to forget and many would like that the new generation not hear about. The international media and reference books in English have published casualty figures which vary greatly, from 5,000–35,000 in Dhaka, and 200,000–3,000,000 for Bangladesh as a whole. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The main phase of Operation Searchlight ended with the fall of the last major town in Bengali hands in mid May. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> These systematic killings served only to enrage the Bengalis, which ultimately resulted in the secession of East Pakistan later in the same year. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested by the Pakistani Army late at night. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto watched from the window of his suite at the Sheraton and saw the offices of The People newspaper blazing. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> More on <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/mar_71_operation_searchlight.htm">operation searchlight</a> -from the “Witness to Surrender” by Siddiq Salik. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0325_71_hamoodur_comision.htm">Hamoodur Rahman Commission’s report</a> on the state of preparedness of the<br /> armed forces.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 26:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The violence unleashed by the Pakistani forces on March 25, 1971, proved the last straw to the efforts to negotiate a settlement. Following these outrages, a declaration from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was distributed widely:<br /><blockquote> Today Bangladesh is a sovereign and independent country. On Thursday night, West Pakistani armed forces suddenly attacked the police barracks at Razarbagh and the EPR headquarters at Pilkhana in Dhaka. Many innocent and unarmed have been killed in Dhaka city and other places of Bangladesh. Violent clashes between E.P.R. and Police on the one hand and the armed forces of Pakistan on the other, are going on. The Bengalis are fighting the enemy with great courage for an independent Bangladesh. May Allah aid us in our fight for freedom. Joy Bangla. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_War_of_Bangladesh#cite_note-35">source</a>)</blockquote> A telegram containing the text of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s declaration reached some students in Chittagong in 26th of March early hours. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Soon after the Pakistan army took over Dacca Betar Kendro in the early hours of March 26, 1971. The Pakistanis renamed the radio station as “Radio Pakistan Dacca” and used it to announce martial law orders. On the evening of that same day a small radio station started broadcasting defiantly in the face of the Pakistan military’s bloody onslaught on the Bengalis. The clandestine radio station, located in Kalurghat north of the city of Chittagong called itself Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro -SBBK (Free Bengal Radio Station). </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The first persons to broadcast that “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has declared the 75 million people of East Pakistan as citizens of the sovereign independent Bangla Desh.” in the evening on March 26, 1971 from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro in English were Ashikul Islam, a WAPDA engineer, and in Bengali, Abul Kashem Sandwipi. Later in the evening M. A. Hannan also broadcast the declaration from the telegram in a speech. (<a href="http://www.docstrangelove.com/uploads/1971/bo/19720423_bo_swadhin_bangla_betar_kendra.pdf">Bangladesh Observer</a>, April 23, 1972) </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> March 26, 1971 is considered the official Independence Day of Bangladesh.<br /> As evening descended on March 26, Bhutto arrived back in Karachi, to tell waiting newsmen: “Thank God, Pakistan has been saved.” In the evening, <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0326_71_yahya_broadcast.htm">General Yahya Khan addressed Pakistanis</a> to announce an outlawing of the Awami League and a determination to punish Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his “act of treason” in challenging the authority of the government of Pakistan.<br /> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0326_memo_kissinger_nixon.htm">Memorandum</a> from Kissinger to Nixon:<br /><blockquote> “The West Pakistani army has moved to repress the East Pakistan secession movement. Our embassy believes that the military probably has sufficient strength to assert immediate control over Dacca and other major cities, but is not capable of maintaining control over an extended period.”</blockquote> Minutes of the <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0326_specialactionsgroup.htm">Washington special actions group meeting</a>: </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> “After reviewing the situation in East Pakistan, the WSAG agreed that the U.S. should continue its policy of non-involvement in the dispute between West and East Pakistan. In particular, the U.S. should avoid being placed in a position where it could be accused of having encouraged the break-up of Pakistan. The WSAG agreed that the U.S. should delay action on any request that might be forthcoming for recognition of an independent East Pakistani regime.”</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 27</b>: </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> The Kalurghat Bridge area was controlled by an East Bengal Regiment under Major Ziaur Rahman who revolted against the Pakistani army. Bengali soldiers were requested to gueard the station. On request of Belal Mohammed of the SBBK, at 19:45 hrs on 27 March 1971, Major Ziaur Rahman broadcasted the announcement of the declaration of independence which is as follows. <br /><blockquote> This is Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendro. I, Major Ziaur Rahman, at the direction of Bangobondhu sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hereby declare that the independent People’s Republic of Bangladesh has been established. At his direction, I have taken command as the temporary Head of the Republic. In the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I call upon all Bengalis to rise against the attack by the West Pakistani Army. We shall fight to the last to free our Motherland. By the grace of Allah, victory is ours. Joy Bangla.</blockquote> <i>Major Ziaur Rahman’s declaration of independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a moral boosting impact to the nation considering the fact that an army major is on the side of Sheikh Mujib. He was <a href="http://www.docstrangelove.com/2008/01/09/swadhin-bangla-betar-kendro-and-bangladeshs-declaration-of-independence/#foreign_news">quoted</a> in international media as the provisional Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation Army.</i> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <i>Source:</i>  </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <ol> <li><i><a href="http://www.library.shuchinta.com/germanRadio.mp3">Audio of Zia’s announcement</a> (An interview with Belal Mohammed) </i></li> <li> <i><a href="http://www.docstrangelove.com/2008/01/09/swadhin-bangla-betar-kendro-and-bangladeshs-declaration-of-independence/">Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro And Bangladesh’s Declaration Of Independence</a> – Mashuqur Rahman & MMR Jalal (also published in Prothom Alo and the Daily Star)</i></li> </ol> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaheed_Minar">Shaheed Minar </a>(Monument to commemorate the martyrs of the Language Movement) was blown up by the army with demolition charges.<br /><div> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_telegram">Archer Blood</a>, the American Consular General sent <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0328_selectivegenocide.pdf">a telegram</a> to different American consulate offices and embassies around the world expressing extreme horror at the systematic killing.<br /><blockquote> 1. Here in Decca we are mute and horrified witnesses to a reign of terror by the Pak[istani] Military. Evidence continues to mount that the MLA authorities have list of AWAMI League supporters whom they are systematically eliminating by seeking them out in their homes and shooting them down. </blockquote> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <div> <blockquote> 2. Moreover, with the support of the Pak[istani] Military. non-Bengali Muslims are systematically attacking poor people’s quarters and murdering Bengalis and Hindus.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0327_telegram.htm">A telegram from the Embassy in India</a> to the Department of State on the subject of Government of India’s reaction to East Pakistan Developments. </div> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <div> During the debate in Lok Sabha Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India made an intervention and <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0327pminterventionloksobha.htm">talked</a><a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0327pminterventionloksobha.htm"> about the political situation in East Pakistan</a>. She also discussed about it in <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0327pminterventionrajsabha.htm">Rajya Sabha</a>:<br /><blockquote> “We are interested in this matter for many reasons, firstly as one Member has said, that Shri Mujibur Rahman has stood for the values which we ourselves cherish the values of democracy, the values of secularism and the values of socialism. We are also concerned with the truly wonderful and unique way in which the people there had stood behind him and behind these values. We are no less full of sorrow and grave concern and even agony at what is happening there but I can only appeal to the Hon. Members that this is not a moment when the Government can say anything more and whatever the Government may or may not be able to do it would not be wise if this becomes a matter for public debate.”</blockquote> </div> </blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 28:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0328_71_samuelhoskinson.htm">Memorandum</a> From Samuel Hoskinson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger). </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Sidney H. Schanberg was one of 35 foreign newsmen expelled Saturday morning from East Pakistan. He cabled his dispatch from Bombay, India titled “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0328_71_artillery.htm">IN DACCA, TROOPS USE ARTILLERY TO HALT REVOLT</a>”</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 29:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> New York Times said 5,000-7,000 people were killed in Dhaka. The Sydney Morning Herald said, 10,000 – 100,000 were killed. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Rain exposed two mass graves, one at Zahrul Huq Hall and the other at Rokeya Hall. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0329_indian_reaction.htm">US department of State secret memo predicts</a> Indian future response to situation:<br /><blockquote> a. Tolerate privately provided cross-border assistance to the East Bengalis ; This assistance could range from propaganda support to weapons and explosives.<br /> b. Permit East Bengal dissidents to use India as a refuge and to conduct cross­border activities from within India.<br /> c. Covertly provide supplies, including weapons, and perhaps some training, to East Bengal dissidents.</blockquote> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0329_71_telconv1.htm">Telephone conversation between President Nixon and Kissinger</a>.<br /> Archer Blood sends <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0329_crackdown.pdf">another telegram</a>:<br /><blockquote> American priests in old Dacca reports that army acted with no provocations on part of Bengalis except barricade erection. Army exclusively responsible for all fires. Technique was to set houses afire and then gun down people as they left their homes. Stated army looking for Awami Leaguers but more indiscriminate rather than selective in approach. Most army destructions on 25th and 26th night, lesser on March 27th and March 28th. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> We have received reliable reports of troops engaged in looting homes. Military reportedly is standing by while non-Bengalis looting Bengali dwellings. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Police were simply executed in Mohammadpur and elsewhere as Army considered them as potential threat. 800 Police killed in surprise attacks. The East Pakistan Rifles camp in Peelkhana had 1000 EPRs present. 700 Killed, 200 overpowered and 100 escaped.<br /> House to house searches underway with ex Bengali servicemen being special target and shot at site whenever found. “No police seen anywhere in Dhaka”.</blockquote> “<a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0329_71_chronicle.htm">26 hour chronicle of Dacca drama</a>” -A diary through the eyes of Robert Kaylor of UPI of what happened in Dacca when the Pakistani Army took control.</blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 30:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Telegram from <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0330_71_telegram_amconsul.pdf">Archer Blood</a>:<br /><blockquote> The university professors believed they were subject to a pre-planned purge and the burning of university documents suggested that the army wanted to eliminate all traces of the current “trouble making” elements at the university. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Six naked female bodies were found with bits of rope dangling from the ceiling fans at Rokeya Hall. Apparently the girls were raped, shot and hung from the heels. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> The army burned Hindu and Bengali (Bangalee) areas in the Old Dhaka and shot ocupants as they came out. Hindus undeniably were specual focus of military brutality. Large fires burned on 30 and 31 March mostly in Hindu predominant areas. There were steady gunfire (1 shot every 10 seconds) in those areas. Large number of prisoners were taken into the EPR (East Pakistan Rifles) base.</blockquote> First signs of ressistance: A British report said that army unit faced ressistance was in a desparate situation near Pabna. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0330_71_nixon_kissinger.htm">Telephone conversation between Nixon and Kissinger.</a></blockquote> <ul> <li> <b>March 31:</b> </li> </ul> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0331_71_telegram_amconsul_dacca.pdf">Another Telegram</a> from American consulate in Dhaka on the number of atrocities prdicts 4000-6000 death. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0331_71_telegram2_amconsul_dacca.pdf">More on Army terror campaign</a> and evidence that military faced some difficulties elsewhere. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Letter from <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0331_1971_letter_hilaly.htm">Yahya Khan to Kissinger</a>. </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> Minutes of meetings at <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0331_1971_minutes.htm">US Deaprtment of state</a>:<br /><blockquote> Dr. Kissinger: Does the government have Mujibur Rahman? </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Mr. Blee: They captured him. Presumably he is in West Pakistan, perhaps in Quetta. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Dr. Kissinger: Will they execute him? </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Lt. Gen. Cushman: Yahya accused him of treason. Possibly he has been shot already or was shot inadvertently. </blockquote> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <blockquote> Dr. Kissinger: Are we going to keep VOA quiet about reports coming from our Consul?</blockquote> From an editorial in <a href="http://www.profile-of-bengal.com/p-b/www.profile-bengal.com/0331_71_in_the_name_of_pakistan.htm">New York Times</a>:<br /><blockquote> The United States, having played a major role in training and equipping Pakistanis armed forces, has a special obligation now to withhold any military aid to the Yahya Government. Economic assistance should be continued only on condition that u major portion be used to help bind up East Pakistan’s grievous wounds.</blockquote> </blockquote>   </div> </div>

March 1971

March 01:   People tuned their radios and turned their TVs on because President Agha Yahiya Khan was supposed to address the nation...

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