Yahya Khan's central government apparently lost authority over East Pakistan, except for the cantonments, with Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi residence turning into the center of political influence and power.
Even without the declaration of independence, East Pakistan became almost paralyzed owing to the non-cooperation movement led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Banks operated only after hartal hours in line with Bangabandhu’s instructions.
After the Jumma (Friday) prayers, special munajat was offered seeking peace of the souls of martyrs. Protest rallies and processions were organized all over the country, including Dhaka.
Even poets, writers and teachers took to the streets in the afternoon. Their procession started from Baitul Mukarram National Mosque premises, under the joint initiative of the Chhatra League and DUCSU.
In Lahore, a ghaibana namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayers in absentia) was offered for the martyrs of the agitation in East Pakistan.
On March 5, the third day of the nationwide hartal, four workers were martyred and 25 others were injured in the Tongi industrial area when the army opened fire. The news caused a stir among people in Dhaka.
In the evening, it was officially announced that the army had been taken back to the barracks in Dhaka.
Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan arrived in Dhaka from Karachi in the evening to hold a meeting with Bangabandhu that night at the latter’s Dhanmondi residence.
At night, Bangabandhu dismissed the news that he was willing to share power with Bhutto, broadcast on foreign radio, as 'malicious' and a 'figment of imagination'.
Meanwhile, People's Party Chairman Z A Bhutto met President Yahya in Rawalpindi for more than five hours.
After the meeting, party spokesperson Abdul Hafeez Peerzada remarked that whatever the Awami League's response to the postponement of the National Assembly session had been, it was highly undesirable and not at all reasonable.
Tofail Ahmed, one of the leaders of the 11-point movement, called on Dhaka Betar Kendra to relay Bangabandhu's speech live from the Race Course on March 7.
The same night, Awami League General Secretary Tajuddin Ahmad said in a statement that innocent people --- workers, farmers and students --- were being killed by the military in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur, Sylhet and other places in Bangladesh.
