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.
The Liberation War in Bangladesh formally ended with the unconditional surrender by the Pakistan army in Dhaka today.
In a letter dated December 15, 1971, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi expressed her deep frustration to US President
The entire regional government of East Pakistan headed by Dr AM Malik resigned today, disassociating itself from the central administration of Pakistan President Yahya Khan.
In a letter to the UN Secretary General U Thant, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said “there can be a ceasefire and withdrawal of Indian armed forces” if Pakistan withdraws its troops from Bangladesh and reaches a political solution with the leaders there.
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily V Kuznetsov held talks on Bangladesh with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi today in New Delhi.
The Bangladesh government today banned four communal parties -- the Muslim League, the Jamaet-i-Islami, the Nizami Islam and the People’s Democratic Party. The announcement was made by acting president Syed Nazrul Islam in Jashore.
In a backchannel message, Henry Kissinger, the US president’s Assistant for national security affairs, informed US
Pakistan informed the United Nations today that she had “decided to accept” the General Assembly’s call for ceasefire and for a withdrawal of hostile troops to their own soil.
A senior Indian spokesman today disputed statements by a White House spokesman that Indian military intervention in East Pakistan had foiled American efforts to persuade the Bangalee “insurgents” and the Pakistan authorities to reach a political settlement.
The UN General Assembly today held an emergency debate on the Indo-Pakistan war with Argentina proposing an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops of both sides.
