Dhaka city sees wave of protests

On the 20th day of the agitation movement, Dhaka city was riding on a wave of freedom crazed processions chanting slogans -- “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu”.

Thousands of people took to the streets during the meeting between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Yahya Khan.

A significant development of the day was the arrival of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Dhaka. The chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party had been asked by President Yahya Khan to come to Dhaka and join the negotiations the regime was conducting with the Awami League.

In preparation for Bhutto's arrival, military was disposed in the airport.

Soon after his arrival, Bhutto met Yahya, who apprised him of the talks he had been having with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman since March 16.

Before holding meeting with Pakistani President Yahya Khan for the fifth time, Bangabandhu met lawyer AK Brohi in a short dialogue and Tajuddin Ahmed was present during the meeting between Bangabandhu and Yahya Khan.

On the same day, the junta let it be known to the Awami League that a draft proclamation had been prepared, a copy of which was made available to the party.

The Awami League thought the draft proclamation had quite a few serious loopholes in it and therefore made its own suggestions, the gist of which was that the proclamation should come into force seven days after it was issued or seven days after five new governors for the provinces took the oath of office.

[Sources: Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Genocide Archive and The Daily Star archive]