Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman continued to address multiple processions that arrived at his Dhanmondi 32 residence in Dhaka without any rest on this day in 1971.
People wanted to hear from Bangabandhu an announcement rather than holding more discussions with the military junta.
“If no solution is reached within tomorrow (March 25), Bengalis will find a solution for themselves. No conspiracy can now hold us back as we are united. If any decision is forced on us, that will not be accepted in any way,” Bangabandhu continued.
In the period March 23-24, the Pakistan army surrounded Syedpur cantonment, and the surrounding areas of Botlagari, Golahaat, Kundul Gram, killing almost 100 villagers and leaving thousands more injured.
A curfew was imposed and the army, along with its non-Bengali cohorts, caused arson and carnage in many houses in Dhaka.
A few civilians and the military got locked in a battle in front of Rangpur Medical College and surrounding areas, where reckless shots were fired, killing 50 unarmed civilians.
On March 24 evening, a meeting was arranged between the Awami League and the government side at President’s House where party leaders – Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad and Dr Kamal Hossain – were present.
After the two-hour-long meeting, Tajuddin Ahmad told journalists that the Awami League had clarified its stance. “The Awami League is not willing to continue the dialogue for an indefinite period.”
The chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, joined the meeting in the afternoon.
He later told journalists that the situation was dire and extremely unfortunate.
Bhutto added that he had immense love for the people of Bangladesh but he had a national responsibility in the face of such a grave crisis where he was ready to give up his life to ensure that Pakistan remained united.
