On March 31, 1971, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi moved a resolution in parliament strongly criticising the military action in Bangladesh.
At 4:00am on March 30, 1971, Bangladeshi forces, comprising East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), police and civilians under the leadership of Abu Osman Chowdhury, then a major and commander of the fourth wing of EPR, attacked the Pakistan occupation army in Kushtia from three sides.
In the evening, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was flown via helicopter from the cantonment, where he was detained, to the Tejgaon Airport. Afterwards, he was flown to Karachi by a special military aircraft.
On March 28, 1971, American Consul General in Dhaka, Archer K Blood, sent a telegram to Islamabad and Washington captioned “selective genocide”. He reported that they were “mute and horrified by a reign of terror by the Pakistan military” in East Pakistan. Pointing towards various pieces of evidence, Blood suggested that Awami League supporters and Hindus were being systematically targeted by the martial law administrators.
American Consul General Archer K Blood in a situation report submitted on March 27, 1971, wrote that according to numerous accounts, including eye witness reports, the Pak military crackdown on Bangalee nationalists has been carried out throughout Dacca swiftly, efficiently (despite heavy resistance from some quarters, including pro-Awami League police and East Pak Rifles), and often with ruthless brutality.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a press statement issued today, called for a general strike throughout Bangladesh on March 27 against the army’s action in certain places in East Pakistan including Saidpur, Rangpur and Joydevpur.
There was a final meeting between Awami League’s team and Yahya’s advisers on March 24, 1971, at 6:00pm.
The representatives of president Yahya Khan and an Awami League team met twice today.
Tajuddin Ahmad, prime minister of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, today said the Bangladesh issue would be resolved only by complete victory of freedom fighters on the country’s battlefields.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a proposal to suspend US aid to Pakistan. The provision, already voted by the House of Representatives,
Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, minister-counselor and head of chancery in the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi, today
The First Secretary of the Pakistani Embassy in Katmandu, Mustafizur Rahman, switched his allegiance to the Bangladesh Government on October 3. Mustafizur Rahman, a 29-year-old Bangalee, who was also head of the chancery, told a news conference at his residence that he had taken this “bold” decision after six months of “the worst mental agony in my life.”
The Bangladesh cabinet met today to review the Kremlin meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Soviet leaders,
Speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by Indian President VV Giri in Rashtrapati Bhaban in New Delhi, Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny today
Foreign ministers of about 50 non-aligned nations today approved a communique that included a plea for international action on the Bangladesh refugee problem.
The Pakistan high commission in New Delhi today lodged a “vehement protest” to India in connection with the escape of four Bangalee members of its staff with their families while being taken by road to West Pakistan.
Talks between Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Soviet leaders began today.
Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad today held meeting with secretaries of different ministries of the exiled government. The finance secretary reported on his recent visit to Delhi in connection with formalisation of trade and commerce with India.
