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March 1971

Nat'l Assembly session postponed

Syed Badrul Ahsan
The Bangalee nation reached a decisive point in its march to history in March 1971.
Three months into an unprecedented victory in the general elections, in which the Awami League led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman obtained a clear majority in the Pakistan national assembly, the Pakistani establishment gave out
clear hints of its reluctance to hand over power to the majority party. The Awami League, with 169 seats in a legislative body of 313 members, was poised to form the first government elected in the country at a national level on the basis of adult franchise.
But that was not to be. Following the general elections held on December 7, 1970, the Pakistan People's Party led by former foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto began maneuvering for a share of power with the Awami League at the centre. The AL, for its part, would have none of it and indeed made it clear that it intended to have a constitution framed for the country on the basis of its Six-Point programme of regional autonomy. Bhutto travelled to Dhaka at the end of January 1971 and spent three days negotiating with Mujib. The results were fruitless.
Earlier, Pakistan's military ruler General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan had come to Dhaka to speak to the Awami League leadership on the nature of the future constitution and transfer of power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He went public with his pronouncement that Mujib was the future prime minister of Pakistan and would in that capacity deal
with the country's problems.
On February 13, 1971, President Yahya Khan announced that the national assembly would go into session on March 3 in Dhaka. On February 15, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared in Dhaka that the constitution of Pakistan would be framed on the basis of the Six-Point and that everyone believing in democracy should respect that principle. On the same day, however, Bhutto held out the threat that unless the Awami League came forth with concessions on the constitutional issue, his party, which held 88 seats in the national assembly, would boycott the session in Dhaka.
On February 17, Mujib noted that his party was observing the situation arising out of Bhutto's threat. For his part, Bhutto warned that if the AL did not relent in its position, the assembly would become a slaughter house.
On March 1,1971, even as the Awami League and other political parties prepared for the inaugural session of the national assembly two days later, General Yahya Khan abruptly deferred the meeting.
Mujib's reaction was one of condemnation of the postponement. He, however, informed the nation that in light of the changed situation, he would make his
stand clear at a public rally on March 7.
Meanwhile, East Pakistan exploded in fury at Yahya's announcement. Processions and demonstrations displayed a militant mood on the part of the people. The Bangalee reaction took the military leadership as well all political elements in West Pakistan by surprise.