MARCH 21–22
Political leaders from West Pakistan, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, assembled in Dacca to have talks with the President. President Yahya Khan had a joint meeting in the President's House with Mujibur Rahman and Z. A. Bhutto.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's proposal that the National Assembly should divide into two separate committees, one for East Pakistan and the other for the from Provinces of West Pakistan, was rejected by Mr. Bhutto. Press reports, indicated that a compromise formula was being evolved.
MARCH 23
Although March 23 is Pakistan Day in observance of the anniversary of the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution by the Muslim League leaders of the subcontinent in March, 1940, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ordered that this day should be obsered as “Resistance Day".
Protest rallies were organized by Awami Leaguers all over East Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman attended a mass rally in Dacca where the green-gold-and-red flag of “Bangla Desh" was unfurled. He announced that sacrifices still will be made for achieving “Bangladesh". Awami League cadres and their student militants pulled down the Pakistan flag and hoisted “Bangladesh" flags at some foreign consulate in Dacca, including those of Soviet and British missions. Pictures of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, founder father of Pakistan, were trampled underfoot by Awami League militants para-military extremists with staves and, shot guns, looted from armouries and gun shops, paraded and pledged to achieve “Bangladesh".
MARCH 24
Z. A Bhutto sought direct talks with Sheikh Mujibur Rahm.rn, but the Sheikh did not agree.
A team of Awami League leaders nominated by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a final meeting with the President's advisers. The team's chief. Mr. Tajuddin announced at 11 p.m. that no further talks would be held.
More reports of violence and lawlessness were received. Troops fired on a riotous crowd which tried to attack the Ordnance factory near Dacca In the evening meeting between Presidential Advisers and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's aides, Awami League's attitude hardened. The Constitutional talks appeared to be collapsing owing to the uncompromising attitude of the Awami League.
MARCH 25
The Awami League leaders issued a fresh strike call for March 27. The law and order situation deterion deteriorated. The Awami League, leaders refused to make any concessions. Their insistence is on the issuance of a “proclamation" for the withdrawal of
