পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্থ খণ্ড).pdf/৪৬৮

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438 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিল : চতুর্থ খন্ড the intervention of the Awami League, National Awami Party, Communists and other democratic that the riots subsided and stopped. These parties and forces democratic had always tried to maintain absolute peace amongst the people. The killings of unarmed people, etc., on 2nd March could not however demoralize the people. The general strike from 2nd March was a complete success. All section of the people as well as the police, Government officers, etc, had joined the strike. Besides from 2nd March onwards, spontaneous processions of thousands of people were taking place throughout the length and breadth of Bangladesh. The whole people of Bangladesh had demonstrated unprecedented unity against the military Junta. Threats by Yahya Khan While the peaceful strike struggle was going on, Yahya Khan made a broadcast on 6th March. In that Yahya Khan against summoned the National Assembly session on 25th March. But he had, at the same lime, blamed the people and leaders of East Pakistan for the incident from 2nd March, while he fully exonerated Bhutto, who had precipitated the crisis. He had also threatened military action "for safeguarding the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan". Together with such threats, a reshuffle was made ill the military administration of East Pakistan and Lt.Gen. Tikka Khan, a man notorious for his ruthlessness, was sent to Dacca as Governor as well as the Chief of the military administration. The above things showed that it was from the first week of March the military junta was making practical preparations for an armed onslaught against the people. Their talk of "transfer of power", etc., was merely to hoodwink the people. Mujib's Four Demands and Non-Co-operation Movement On 7th March, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his speech in Dacca Race Course Maidan, where about one million people had gathered to heat the Awami League Chief. The people expected that Sheikh Mujib would declare the independence of Bangladesh. But in his speech Sheikh Mujib had made three important announcements: (i)He called upon the people to undauntedly carryon the struggle for ending the 23 years of oppression and exploitation. (ii)He laid down four demands-such as (a) transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people; (b) lifting of Martial Law; (c) withdrawal of army to the barracks; and (d) inquiry into mass killings from 1st March. He had also said that if these four demands were accepted, then he would – consider whether he and his party would attend the National Assembly session on 25th March. (iii)He declared a peaceful non-co-operation movement against the government and the army from 8th March till the above demands were fulfilled. Basides, the three above important announcements he had warned the people that the reactionaries were hatching a conspiracy and if the army attacked the people, the latter should resist with whatever means they had at their disposal.