The forces within Pakistan that ruled the country were basically anti-people. They were part of conspiracy between the military and civil bureaucracies and the monopoly capitalists. These forces collaborated hand In hand and never allowed the democratic forces to gather any strength. It was a deliberate effort on the part of these vested interests to suppress the growth of political institutions and at any time when an attempt was made to establish a democratic system these forces combined together and managed to Succeed.
Ladies and gentlemen, at the time Yahya Khan took over the power from Ayub the Constitution was abrogated for the second time and the National Assembly was also dissolved; but however, restoration of democracy was promised by the junta and a legal framework order was introduced to elect a National Assembly on the basis of adult franchise. The people of Bangladesh believed the words of the Generals and the Awami League being a constitutional political party moved forward to establish a democratic system in the country. Between December 7 and January 17 this year, elections were held and according Yahya Khan they were “free and fair". At the end of the elections, Awami League secured 167 seats out of the total 313. In Bangladesh they secured 85% of the total votes cast and lost only 2 seats out of the total 169. They won 288 seats out of 300 for the Provincial Assembly of Bangladesh. Thus the Awami League not only established itself as an absolute majority party in the former province, but also an absolute majority party in the National Assembly, including West Pakistan.
The Awami League fought the election on a programme based on 6 point formula. As the people of Bangladesh suffered for 23 years and were deceived again and again by the ruling clique of West Pakistan, the 6-point formula presented a programme for an effective autonomy within the frame work of Pakistan. It reflected the hopes and aspirations of all the peace loving people of Bangladesh. The idea was that the Awami League would establish the democratic and economic rights of the people of Bangladesh through constitutional means and there would be no more exploitation of the Bengalis by the West Pakistani vested interests.
After the elections were concluded, leaders of all the political parties in the National Assembly had mutual discussions both between themselves and between individual party and President and 3rd of March, 1971 was at last fixed for the National Assembly session. In the meantime, following his decision to boycott the Assembly, Mr. Bhutto, leader of Pakistan People's Party, launched a campaign of intimidation against all other parties in West Pakistan to prevent them from attending the session. Mr. Bhutto having an electoral lead in the Sind and Punjab started behaving in a most undemocratic manner. In collaboration with Generals including Li. Gen. Umer, Chairman of the National Security Council, Lt. Gen. Pirzada, President's Chief of Staff and others, all close associates of Yahya Khan, Mr. Bhutto continued with his display of pressure tactics, but when signs of his failure were imminent and the members of the National Assembly coming from West Pakistan at last took their air seats to come to Dacca to attend the session, General Yahya Khan obliged Mr. Bhutto and the warlords of West Pakistan postponed the National Assembly session sine die through an announcement made over the radio suddenly on 1st of March, 1971.
