Most of the East's foreign exchange earning and taxes went for development projects in the West and for the support of the army which consumes more than 60 per cent of the national budget. Fewer than 10 per cent of the troops are Bengalis.
The army has acquired most of its weapons from the United States, the Soviet bloc and Communist China. So far, none of the major powers have criticized the army's action in East Pakistan.
Heavy secrecy surrounded the political talks in Dacca whose breakdown was followed by the army's surprise attack. But the bits and pieces that have come to light make it clear that the power establishment in the West never intended to let Sheik Mujib win a significant measure of autonomy for East Pakistan President. Agha Mohammed, Yahya Khan- whose image as a potentially decent general, sympathetic to the Bengali's grievances, has changed drastically- said that the talks had broken down because Sheikh Mujib refused to let an agreement be negotiated at a session of the newly elected National Assembly. But Sheikh Mujib knew that he had to get an agreement in writing before the Assembly met.
The talks dragged on for 10 days and the Bengali “bush telegraph" said that they were taking too long, that something was wrong.
During this time, Sheikh Mujib and his Awami League defied the martial-law administration by leading a nonviolent movement of non-cooperation with the virtually unanimous support of the population.
Sheikh Mujib's followers took over certain Government agencies, closed others and ignored directives, such as the one that ordered civilian defense employees to report to work or face 10 years “rigorous imprisonment."
The green, red and gold flag of Bangladesh-Bengali for Bengal Nation was unveiled and militant students and workers began demanding complete independence, not simply semi-autonomy
But those buoyant days for the Bengalis ended quickly. After initial reports of progress the talks slowed and fears of an army crackdown revived.
Troops were flown in daily from West Pakistan and many Bengalis began to believe that the negotiations were being deliberately prolonged to give the Government in West Pakistan time to get heavy reinforcements to the East.
Clashes between civilians erupted in several towns and a number of deaths were reported. Sheikh Mujib denounced what he called “a reign of terror" in a statement distributed last Thursday just before 7 P. M. Four hours later, the troops moved into the streets and began firing.
