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.
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today reiterates his government’s intention to reduce the huge discrepancies in salaries of various grades of government officials.
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman receives a warm and hearty welcome when he flies into his hometown Gopalganj today.
The prestigious weekly Time Magazine predicts that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will sweep the first general elections of Bangladesh scheduled for March 7, 1973. It writes,
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today rejects the opposition’s suggestion of an all-party government before the polls to ensure free and fair elections. He refuses to grant the status of a “political party” to the opponents of the present government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today says that some elements are trying to create disorder and communalism. He adds that those
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today says some have realised that people would not vote for them and they are trying to create disruption to foil the elections.
Two students are killed and seven others are injured when the police on duty open fire upon a procession of students organised by DUCSU and Bangladesh Chhatra Union in observance of Vietnam Day today.
The import policy for the shipping period January-June, 1973, announced by Commerce Minister MR Siddiqui today envisages import of goods worth Tk 219 crore.
Golam Rasulkar and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, minister for supplies and minister for public works respectively, of the Indian State of Kashmir who are now on a private visit to Bangladesh call on Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today.
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today says the country is fast recovering from devastation and destruction wrought by the occupation of forces during the Liberation War and is making steady economic progress.
