On March 15, 1971, Dhaka was a city in full protest. Black flags were seen flying atop public and private buildings and on vehicles.
In the afternoon, President Yahya Khan came to Dhaka from West Pakistan under tight security to hold negotiations with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He was received at the airport by the newly appointed military governor Lieutenant General Tikka Khan, infamously known as the “Butcher of Bengal”.
Yahya reached Dhaka amidst heavy security. No journalist or Bangladeshi was allowed in the airport also.
On the other hand, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman ZA Bhutto, at a press conference in Karachi, put forward a new set of demands, saying that the Awami League and the People’s Party should form a new government in conjunction with each other.
Responding to Bhutto’s proposal, in a statement leaders of the Jamiat Ulama Pakistan, NAP (Wali), Muslim League (Council), and PDP of West Pakistan strongly criticized Bhutto's role and blamed him for the situation.
In East Pakistan, Awami League General Secretary Tajuddin Ahmad, in a statement, reaffirmed the support of the people for Bangabandhu’s call for a peaceful non-cooperation movement.
On this day in 1971, the Chhatra Sangram Parishad held a rally in Dhaka in front of Baitul Mukarram Mosque to protest the issuance of a new military decree.
At the protest rally, the student leaders urged all citizens to be ready with arms to defend Bangladesh.
At the end of the meeting, a procession of agitated people marched through various important roads of Dhaka.
A meeting was held at Topkhana Road under the chairmanship of poet Sufia Kamal. Radio and TV artistes rendered patriotic songs at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Doctors and other medical practitioners formally expressed solidarity with the non-cooperation movement at a meeting held at the central Shaheed Minar and called on people to be ready for a long struggle for independence.
Apart from Dhaka, protests went on in other districts, notably Chittagong, Netrokona, Khulna, Bogra, Khulna, Rangpur, Comilla, and Kushtia as well.
A huge gathering of artistes#s, writers and journalists took place in Chittagong on this day.