It was Bangabandhu's fifty-first birthday on this day in March 1971. That he was a

leader who mattered, that in his hands lay the destiny of Pakistan was made obvious by the glowing

tributes paid to him by such leading national newspapers as the Karachi-based Dawn. His sagacity and his vision were all remarked upon. That said, it was for the first time in the Bengali leader's life that his birthday was being observed in the two wings of Pakistan.

In the morning, Bangabandhu drove down once more to President’s House for another round of talks with President Yahya Khan. At the meeting, he reiterated his demand that power be transferred immediately to the elected representatives of the people if the crisis were not to be prolonged. For his part, General Yahya Khan repeated his old argument

that a withdrawal of martial law and transfer of power at that stage would create a constitutional vacuum in the country. Yahya also informed Mujib that he had summoned his constitutional advisor, Justice AR Cornelius, for consultations on the issue.

A meeting between an Awami League team and the president's advisors took place in the evening. The Awami League was represented by Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed and Dr Kamal Hossain. Speaking for the regime were Justice Cornelius, Lt Gen SGMM Peerzada and Col Hasan, judge advocate general of the army.

According to Kamal Hossain, Yahya's advisors

told the Awami League team that in light of the president's meeting with the Awami League chief, a proclamation would be issued by the president. They also noted that Mujib had proposed to the president that the national assembly sit in session in two segments, that is, members elected from East and West Pakistan convene in session separately, with each side empowered to prepare a draft of a future constitution of Pakistan. Following the preparation of the two drafts, the national assembly would meet as one body and thrash out the details of the constitution to be eventually adopted for Pakistan.