Indomitable March: Indira pledges support for Bangladesh
On March 31, 1971, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi moved a resolution in parliament strongly criticising the military action in Bangladesh.
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Indomitable March: The battle of Kushtia
At 4:00am on March 30, 1971, Bangladeshi forces, comprising East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police and civilians under the leadership of Abu Osman Chowdhury, then a major and commander of the fourth wing of EPR, attacked the Pakistan occupation army in Kushtia from three sides.
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Indomitable March: Bangabandhu flown to Karachi
In the evening, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was flown via helicopter from the cantonment, where he was detained, to the Tejgaon Airport. Afterwards, he was flown to Karachi by a special military aircraft.
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Indomitable March: Pak atrocity continues
On March 28, 1971, American Consul General in Dhaka, Archer K Blood, sent a telegram to Islamabad and Washington captioned “selective genocide”. He reported that they were “mute and horrified by a reign of terror by the Pakistan military” in East Pakistan. Pointing towards various pieces of evidence, Blood suggested that Awami League supporters and Hindus were being systematically targeted by the martial law administrators.
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Indomitable March: Archer K blood’s situation report
American Consul General Archer K Blood in a situation report submitted on March 27, 1971, wrote that according to numerous accounts, including eye witness reports, the Pak military crackdown on Bangalee nationalists has been carried out throughout Dacca swiftly, efficiently (despite heavy resistance from some quarters, including pro-Awami League police and East Pak Rifles), and often with ruthless brutality.
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Indomitable March: The gates of hell cast open
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a press statement issued today, called for a general strike throughout Bangladesh on March 27 against the army’s action in certain places in East Pakistan including Saidpur, Rangpur and Joydevpur.
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Indomitable March: Final meeting
There was a final meeting between Awami League’s team and Yahya’s advisers on March 24, 1971, at 6:00pm.
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Indomitable March: ‘Let us hope for best and remain prepared for worst’
The representatives of president Yahya Khan and an Awami League team met twice today.
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March 20, 2024
Indomitable March: Yahya blames Bangalees
The fourth round of talks between Yahya and Mujib was held.
March 19, 2024
Indomitable March: Firing at Joydevpur
Curfew was imposed this evening in Joydevpur town following a clash between the local people and army personnel, resulting in the death of at least three people.
March 18, 2024
Indomitable March: ‘The military solution’ inked
On the morning of March 18, 1971, Major General Khadim Hussain Raja, the then general officer commanding of the 14th division in East Pakistan, and Major General Rao Farman Ali, the then military adviser to the governor of East Pakistan, assembled at the former’s office to work on the plan for military action -- the infamous Operation Searchlight.
March 17, 2024
Indomitable March: Mujib-Yahya talk continues
On the morning of March 17, Mujib-Yahya talks resumed. It was Sheikh Mujib’s 51st birthday.
March 16, 2024
Indomitable March: Bangabandhu calls on Yahya
Bangabandhu met Yahya on the morning of March 16. He arrived at the president’s house in a car flying a black flag to mourn the death of those killed during the ongoing non-cooperation movement.
March 15, 2024
Indomitable March: A cold welcome to Yahya
President Yahya Khan arrived in Dhaka. No local political leader went to the airport to meet him. All the entries to the airport were heavily guarded.
March 14, 2024
Indomitable March: Bhutto’s formula for transfer of power
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, stated at a public meeting in Karachi that if power was to be transferred to the people before any constitutional settlement, as demanded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it should be transferred to the Awami League in the East and the PPP in the West. He was quoted as saying, “Idhar hum, Udhar tum” (we here, you there).
March 13, 2024
Indomitable March: Growing support for Mujib’s demands from both wings
Mujib’s demands garnered widespread support in both wings of Pakistan.
March 12, 2024
Indomitable March: Meeting Yahya or not?
BBC reported that Yahya would visit Dhaka soon with a “package deal” to resolve the ongoing crisis in East Pakistan. The report also indicated the handover of power to elected representatives before the commencement of the National Assembly session.
March 11, 2024
Indomitable March: Bhutto’s urgent appeal to Mujib
In a telegram sent to Mujib on March 11, 1971, Bhutto expressed his willingness to come to Dhaka immediately to work out a solution so that the National Assembly session could be held soon.
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