Bhutto arrived in Dacca on 27 January. Several rounds of talks were held between Sheikh Mujib and Bhutto while separate parallel meeting were held between the Awami league team and the people's party team consisting of J Rahim, Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Ilanif Ramay, Abdul IIafeez Pirzada, and Rafi Raza. The Awami League team consisted of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed Mansur Ali, Khandker Mushtaq Ahmed, A H M Kamruzzaman and myself. In the discussions between the teams, the Awami league members had thought that the discussions would focus on the substance of the six-point formula. The Awami league invited the people's party leaders to state their objections against six-points. They were assured that detailed explanations would be presented on each of the points with a view to remove any misgiving they might have about them. The people's party team however led by Rahim, instead of raising specific issues launched' into abstract discussions about the meaning of socialism. Rahim, launched into an exposition of the need for a strong centre in order to build socialism. In this context, he referred to the strong centre in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries as being essential for central planning. The Awami league members pointed out to him that such comparisons were not relevant. Instead they pressed him specifically to tarn to the six-point scheme. The recollection of this meeting is that there was a marked reluctance to engage in discussions on the specific issues raised by the six- point scheme. Nor was any alternative constitutional scheme presented. The discussions therefore were totally unstructured and there was no real communication. I chided Hafiz Peerzada that as a lawyer he should appreciate the need to be more precise in discussions. IIc was urged to persuaded his colleagues to proceed in discussions point and to specifically state their objections, so that specific replies could be given. He reacted by making a jocular remark that Rahim was an old man who had to be indulged and that they would be prepare for fuller discussion when they came to Dacca for a second round of talks in February. Bhutto's main concern, Sheikh Mujib, had requested to his colleagues as to whether he could be president, if h became prime minister; and what other posts could be secured by him and his parts if they were to form a coalition.
At the conclusion of the January talks, Bhutto addressed a press Conference in Dacca stating: “We have genuine difficulties and we need time at least up to the end of February to make a comment on it. “He also stated that “it was not necessary to enter into the Constituent assembly with an agreement on different issues because negotiations could continue event when the House was in session. “It was significant that when asked whether the Awami League with its present absolute majority in the house was competent to frame a constitution, Bhutto said; “Legally speaking they can but the question has to be decided by the House as to whether the Constitution will be adopted by a simple majority or by two-third majority. Since the question of making a constitution and our geographical position is peculiar, the majority adopting the constitution should include the consensus.
At the time of leave-taking, Bhutto's delegation members indicated that they would return for consultations with their party colleagues in the different provinces of West Pakistan and after such consultations they would return for further discussions with the Awami League in February, 1971.
