পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্থ খণ্ড).pdf/৪৬৯

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439 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিল : চতুর্থ খন্ড Sheikh Mujib's speech was generally appreciated, The four demands which he had put forward were supported by all democratic forces and parties, including the Communist Party and the National Awami Party. The Communist Party had also issued an open appeal in the form of a leaflet urging upon to rally round the above four demands and at the same time asking people to remain vigilant against all conspiracies of the reactionaries and to try to resist all attacks of the enemy, if they are made. The non-co-operation movement launched by the Awami League from 8th March was also a complete success. The whole civil administration of Hast Pakistan, including the police department, had from that day acted according to the directives of the Awami League. In fact, the Awami League was then running the civil administration of East Pakistan. People also had absolute loyalty to the Awami League and they wished that it should formally take over power. Treacherous Attack While the non-violent non-cooperation movement was going on. it was announced by the Central government that Yahya Khan would soon go to Dacca to talk to Sheikh Mujib. Sheikh Mujib readily announced his readiness to meet and talk to Yahya Khan for a political settlement, if the latter came to Dacca. Yahya Khan had come to Dacca on 14th March and Mujib-Yahya talks had begun from that date. After four or five days of talks, both Sheikh Mujib and Yahya Khan publicly stated that there had been "some progress" in the talks. Yahya Khan also publicly stated that he had "agreed in principle" to the demands placed by the Awami League Chief. Discussions were also being held between the advisers of Yahya Khan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on details. So the people had expected hat a political settlement would come about and crisis would be over. But the expectations of the people were belied. Before the Mujib Yahya talks ended, the army under orders of the military junta suddenly and treacherously launched a ferocious armed attack against the people of Bangladesh from the midnight of 25" March. Liberation Struggle Begins Under these circumstances, the people of Bangladesh had no other alternative but to take up arm for their own defense of their democratic and national rights. The East Bengal Regiment, East Pakistan Rifles and the police joined the people, formed the Mukti Fouj and carried on the armed battle. The people had no other alternative but to defeat and drive away the marauding Pak army from Bangladesh and liberate their motherland if they were to establish democracy and their national rights. There was no second path left to the people. It was thus that the struggle of the people of Bangladesh for democracy and autonomy had turned into an armed battle for the liberation of their motherland. It was also under the above compelling circumstances that the Awami League leadership, who had got the unequivocal support of the people in the last general election, had to declare Bangladesh a sovereign republic, from a new government of this republic