পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (পঞ্চদশ খণ্ড).pdf/১৭৯

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ পঞ্চদশ খণ্ড
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matters in the high court. Manik Mia's house was the meeting place of the opposition leaders and in particular of the political and student leaders. Manik Mia attached importance to Sheikh Mujib's release and to his participation in the Round Table Conference. In discussion with him I indicated that legal maneuvers could be initiated to assail the and thereby create further pressure for the release of Sheikh Mujib.

 While all this was under way, I received a massage that Sheikh Mujib wanted me to come to the court room, where the trail was taking place. I hastened on the following day to meet him in the Court Room. Sheikh Mujib appeared disturbed by the position adopted by Abdul Salam khan, his chief defense counsel, who represented the break away (PDM) wing of the Awami league. Salam khan had begun to press Sheikh Mujib not to insist on withdrawal of the case or his release as precondition for Awami leagues participation in the round Table Conference. He had it appeared even extended a veiled threat that he would not be able to conduct the defense further if Sheikh maintained a “rigid position” Sheikh Mujib was angered by this and urged that I should formally enter appearance as a defense counsel and should also pursue legal steps to assail the trial. He also agreed that steps might be taken obtain assistance from A, K. Brohi, who had appeared in the Ittefaq case. I acted on these instructions.

 With the movement acquiring greater and greater strength, the police and indeed Governor Monem Khan and his civil administration itself Bengal to recede into the background. It was General Muzaffaruddin, the General Officer Commanding, who began conspicuously to appear as the representative of the Islamabad authorities. It also seemed that Yahya. The commander in Chief of the army had begun to seek a direct appreciation of the situation in the east through his General Officer Commanding. I recall Muzaffaruddin in a meeting in January with Manik Miah impressing on him that Yahya had asked for an appreciation of the situation from him and he also believed that a political solution should be attempted. He undertook to convey any views that were expressed to Yahya. It seemed very significant that Yahya, who was commander-in-chief had already began to take what appeared to be independent initiatives. The importance of the withdrawal of the Agartala conspiracy case so that Sheikh Mujib would be free and only then could negotiations for a political settlement commence, was impressed upon the Genera Muzaffaruddin almost within 24 hours. Reported that he pad conveyed to Yahya the points made to him and that Yahya had indicated that if a legal way could be found for Sheikh Mujib's release, this could be considered.

 I was urged by Manik Mia t take legal measures to assail the trial with this end in view, I flew for Karachi for legal consultations with Broil and arrived in Karachi on February 14, on which a nation-wide hartal was being observed, and was impressed to see that life was completely paralyzed in Karachi, I had to walk on foot from my hotel to Brohi's residence. Brohi readily agreed to help in formulating a legal attack on the trial but said that he must come to Dacca to examine all the papers including the evidence so far recorded in the case. I flew to Dacca the same evening and Brohi arrived the following morning. After going through the papers, it was found that a strong that a strong point was available to challenge the legal validity of the trial. By now it was clear that the proclamation of emergency was being revoked. Upon the revocation of that