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.
Substantial progress has been made by the government in scrutinizing existing laws to identify the provisions which will automatically become
Indian External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh says today that unless Pakistan recognises Bangladesh and unless Bangladesh is admitted to the
Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today presides over the cabinet meeting held at the secretariat in Dhaka.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman reiterates today that miscreants must be wiped out from the country, and corruption eradicated from
Bangladesh, a nation freed from the occupation of Pakistan rule, pays warm and rich tribute to the memory of Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, whose contributions to democracy are deeply cherished by the people of this country. Today his ninth dearth anniversary is observed.
Pakistan President ZA Bhutto has said in Islamabad that it would be unwise for Bangladesh Prime Minister Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
President Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury today says that the new nation Bangladesh would extend full cooperation to India for establishment of durable peace in the subcontinent to make it an abode of peace.
Pakistani President ZA Bhutto envisages a special relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh in which there would be certain special trade agreements and no visas for the people of one country visiting the other.
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has expressed the hope that the friendship and cooperation existing between Bangladesh and her country would grow and become an example of good neighbourly relations for the world at large.
The General Assembly adopts a unanimous resolution calling for the admission of Bangladesh to the world body at an early date. Member countries including China and Pakistan approve the resolution moved by Yugoslavia with the support of 22 countries.
