March 10, 1971: Bangladesh flag hoisted

The situation in the then East Pakistan was rapidly changing as people from all walks of life responded to the calls of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

For the 10th consecutive day, all government and semi-government organisations and institutions remained closed.

Clashes between the Pakistan army and Bangalees were reported in different areas.

In most instances, crowds demonstrated their hostility to the soldiers by openly defying them.

They made it difficult for the troops to move around.

As a result, the army mostly stayed confined to the barracks, a demand that Bangabandhu had made at his March 7 speech.

The Bangladeshi Flag inlaid with the map of Bangladesh was hoisted on the roof of every household.

The flag was even seen at Rajarbagh Police Lines, different police stations, the High Court and residences of the justice.

Patriotic Bangalee songs played on Dhaka Betar while programmes in favour of the Bangalee cause filled the schedule of Pakistan Television's Dhaka centre.

In Dhaka, Bangabandhu, in a statement, said people were following his order to keep offices, banks and other institutions closed.

He also termed West Pakistan's attitude towards Bangalee people as a ploy to keep the country under a military rule.

In Karachi, in a press briefing, NAP chief Wali Khan told reporters that he would head to Bangladesh to meet with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 13.

The people's party chairman sent a message to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman saying that the future of the country was uncertain.

In Karachi, Air Marshall Asghar Khan said that the situation was changing and to protect the country from being separated, many steps needed to be taken.

He added that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the de facto government in Dhaka. The flag of Pakistan was flying only on cantonment premises. Unless power was handed to the party that won majority votes, the issue could not be solved.

Source: Liberation War Museum