In Chittagong I was the president of District Awami League. Soon an Action Council (Sangram Parishad) was formed and I was elected Chairman of the Action Council. All non-Bengali firms had to take clearance from me to draw money from the bank. Even the Army Officers’ family needed permission from us to leave East Pakistan. Bengalees got very agitated and started demonstrating by processions and slogans. In Chittagong there is a large Bihari community living in the Railway colony. While a procession was passing by the Bihari colony they were attacked with lathis, swords and guns. Each Bihari family was supplied with guns by Pakistani authoritics which was not known to the Bengali residents. Many Bengalees were injured and killed. Riots broke out between the Biharies and Bengalees. Riots got worse every day. Army was deputed in the area. The contingent was headed by Col. Choudhury, an East Pakistani who apparently tried to protect the Bengalees. They were soon removed and replaced by a West Pakistani contingent who started siding with the non-Bengalees. Armed forces set up Head quarters at the Government Circuit House. The Navy joined forces.
When a lot of Bengalees dead and wounded were being brought in from Pahartali area to Medical College Hospital I went personally to the Circuit House seeking their protection. They assured help. When I asked for a lift to my house they put me in a Navy truck which was heading straight to Bihari Colony. I was sure they were going to hand me over to the Biharies to be killed. I told them to stop but they would not listen. At one point another military truck was coming from the opposite direction. When they slowed down to exchange information” I seized the opportunity and jumped out of the truck to safety.
Situation in Dhaka and rest of Bangladesh was worsening every day and was getting more and more tense. Non co-operation with the Government was more or less complete and universal. A kind of parallel Government came to the functioning.
Meantime President Yahya Khan proposed a dialogue with Awami League and flew into Dhaka on 15th with all Military colleagues and leading political leaders of West Pakistan like late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. While the dialogue went on they started flying in Army personal by plane load in civilian clothes and by ships.
In Chittagong Major Rafique then Capt. of the EPR contacted us and conveyed that the entire LPR Officers and Jawans will be with us. He undertook to contact his counterparts in Rangamati, Kaptai, and Cox's Bazar and arrange for their joining the fight as soon as the signal is given to them.
In the Cantonment Brigadier Mazumdar was in charge. He sent Captain Amin Ahmed Chowdhury to be in touch with us every night and pledged their support. The then D. C. Mustafizur Rahman and SP......... of Chittagong also pledged their support. The S. P. was late killed by Pak Army for Collaboration with Awami League.
One Ship M. V. “Swat” carrying arms, ammunition, explosives and soldiers arrived Chittagong. Being alerted Awami League Action Committee urged the port workers not to unload the ship. Army tried to force the workers at gun point but without success. They asked the EPR Jawans to shoot which they refused. Then the Army shot 7 EPR Jawans
