পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (তৃতীয় খণ্ড).pdf/৯০৯

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ তৃতীয় পত্র
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 Sheikh Mujib, however, once again opted for the path of political settlement in spite of massive public sentiment for independence. In presenting his 4-point proposal for attending the National Assembly he not only had to contain the public mood but to leave a way open for Yahya to explore this last chance for a peaceful settlement.

 It is now clear that Yahya and his Generals never had the slightest intention of solving Pakistan's political crisis peacefully but were only interested in buying time to permit the reinforcement for their military machine within Bangladesh. Yahya's visit to Dacca was a mere cover for his plan of genocide It now becomes clear that contingency plans for such a crisis had already begun well in advance of the crisis.

 As part of this strategy of deception Yahya adopted the most conciliatory posture in his talks with Mujib. In the talks beginning on 16th March, he expressed regrets for what had happened and his sincere desire for a political settlement. In a crucial meeting with Sheikh Mujib he was asked to positively state the Junta's position on the Awami League's 4-point proposal. IIc indicated that there were no serious objections and that an interim constitution could be worked out by the respective Advisers embodying the four points.

 The basic points on which agreement was reached were:

 (1) Lifting of Martial Law and transfer of power to a Civilian Government by a Presidential Proclamation.

 (2) Transfer of power in the provinces to the majority parties.

 (3) Yahya to remain as President and in control of the Central Government.

 (4) Separate sittings of the National Assembly members from East and West Pakistan preparatory to a joint session to finalize the Constitution.

 Once this agreement in principle had been reached between Sheikh Mujib and Yahya there was only the question of defining the powers of Bangladesh vis-a-visa the Centre during the interim phase. IIcre it was again jointly agreed that the distribution of power should as far as possible approximate to the final constitution approved by the National Assembly which it was expected would be based on 'Six Points'.

 While negotiations were not yet declared to be complete, on 25th March at approximately 11 p. m. Yahya Khan committed an act of treachery that has no parallel in human history. A well-trained and mechanized army of West Pakistan clamped down over the weak and unarmed civilian population of Dacca. Without any warning or announcement or any order of curfew, tanks, mortars, artillery, machineguns, and rockets were indiscriminately used to kill the innocent people in the dark of the night. The major areas where the attacks took place were Police Barracks at Rajarbagh Headquarters, East Pakistan Rifles Headquarters at Peelkhana, University student's hostels and teacher's quarters, Tejgaon Industrial Area, ferry ghats, stations, roadside slums. Malibagh, Maghbazar, Babubazar. Nayabazar, etc. wherever there was concentration of population. The approximate number of people killed on the first two nights in and around Dacca is estimated to be 100,000. On the first night two daily newspaper offices ("The People” and “Ittefaq") were shelled and completely burned down and two days later another Bengali daily newspaper ("Sangbad") was also set on fire.