Under intense security, the fourth meeting between president Yahya Khan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took place on this day in 1971.
Five of Bangabandhu’s associates – Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Khondokar Moshtaque Ahmed, M Mansur Ali, and Kamal Hossain – were also present at the meeting.
The talks started with a heated discussion when Bangabandhu brought up the issue of the military attack on civilians in Joydebpur.
In reply, Yahya said it was the Bengalis' fault because they had blocked the movement of troops and therefore, the troops had retaliated.
Bangabandhu suggested that the military personnel should stay in their barracks.
Yahya then switched to another topic, saying he wanted a solution to the problem. He ignored what Bangabandhu suggested. He also asked that he be permitted to invite the People's Party leader, ZA Bhutto, to Dhaka.
However, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman remained firm about not wanting to negotiate with Bhutto.
People in Bangladesh had been bringing out procession after procession, chanting slogans as demands for freedom grew stronger.
They headed towards Bangabandhu’s residence, where in a brief statement he said that no force in the world could stop seven and a half crore people from achieving an independent Bangladesh.
