The Daily
Morning News
04 MARCH 1971
News headlines and details from the Daily Morning News.
News Headlines:
- Prompt transfer of power urged.
- Asghar to meet Bhutto, Mujib.
- Askari, Ahsanollah meet Mujib.
- Dacca Varsity exams put off.
- Frustrate conspiracy : University teachers' appeal to people.
- Mujib reiterates appeal for disciplined struggle.
- Slogans break calm of night.
- Yahya calls conference in Dacca, Mujib says no.
- Life at standstill.
- Mujib visits injured in Hospital.
- Curfew clamped on Rangpur, Dacca, Sylhet, Khulna and Daulatpur.
- Sabur meets Mujib.
Other Headlines:
- 60 killed in Chittagong.
- Hartal at Chittagong.
(Staff Rep.)
Ghulam Azam yesterday appealed to authorities to transfer power to the elected representatives immediately.
In a press statement issued in Dacca the provincial Jamaat chief said if the beloved country is to be saved from further catastrophe transfer of power must precede framing of the constitution let the representatives rule the country and framed constitution. The present situation of certainty must not be allowed to continue even for a single day.
(APP)
Rawalpindi, March 3 (APP) : Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar will shortly meet P.P. chairman Bhutto and Mujib in a bid to resolve the constitutional impasse, tehrik soures said here today.
The retired Air Marshal is leaving here tomorrow for Karachi where he intends to meet Bhutto. He will then fly to Dacca to meet SK. Mujib, the sourses said. The tehrik chief earnestly believed that it was the bounden duty of every patriot at the present national crisis to bring the two major political parties close to each other for framing a constitution for the country.
They said the retired Air Marshal was not taking any formula with him nor would he suggest any. His meetings with leaders of the two major political parties would be a modest effort to save the country from confusion, bloodshed and disintegration, they added.
The retired Air Marshal plans to hold discussions with leaders of other political parties also in this connection.
(Staff Rep.)
Hasan Askari and Ahsanollah called on Sheikh Mujib yesterday at Awami League chief's Dhanmondi residence and offered him their full support in the struggle for the "achievement of full right for Bangladesh" under Sheikh Mujib's leadership.
They said they were prepared to make any sacrifices in the services of the country, and the people of Bangladesh. They appealed to people to rally round Mujib to strengthen his hands and to follow his advice in a disciplined manner.
(APP)
M.A. and M.Sc. Examinations scheduled to be held today have been postponed, it was announced here yesterday by the controller of examinations, D.U., reports APP.
B.A.(Hons), B.Sc. (Hons.) and B.Com. (Hons.) exams scheduled for March 6 have also been postponed.
Fresh dates for all these examinations will be announced later on.
(Staff Rep.)
One hundred and twenty-
In a joint statement issued in Dacca yesterday the teachers expressed their grave concern at the gradual deterioration of the political situation in the country.
It is now crystal clear that this exploiters and the vested interests are solely responsible for this situation. They are engaged in frustrating the political and economic demands of the oppressed people of East Bengal, the teachers said.
The teachers regretted that the National Assembly session had to be postponed on the unreasonable demands from certain known political forces of Pakistan.
The teachers of the D.U. had met on Tuesday to protest against the postponement of
the National Assembly session. In the meeting presided over by Prof. Sarwar Murshid
pledged itself to lend its full support to the struggle for right of self -
Yesterday the teachers held another meeting at the central Shahid Minar Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury presided.
(Staff Rep.)
Mujib, yesterday reiterated his appeal for maintaining complete peace and discipline in their struggle for the realisation of the right of the 70 million people of Bangladesh.
Addressing a massive protest rally at Paltan Maidan Sheikh Mujib said, "Without discipline in movement you will only sacrifice life but will not be able to realise your demands."
The meeting held under joint sponsorship of East Pakistan Students League and the
Jatiya Sramik League was organised to observe the day of National Mourning presided
over by Nur-
In his call for maintenance of peace and discipline, Sheikh Mujib said that whoever
lived in Bangladesh were sons of the soil. The non-
Condemning the acts of hooliganism, loot and arson that took place during the last
few days, the Awami League chief said that the anti-
The Awami League chief in his 15 minute speech gave a fresh call to the leaders of west wing to come and sit together for finding a solution to the existing constitutional crisis.
Constitution
Mujib said that he wanted property and wellbeing of the poor masses of West Pakistan : "I want to live together like brothers," but the conspirators stood in the way. They do not want us to be together. They have exploited us up to the end and now they themselves want us to be separated.
The Sheikh, however, sounded a note of caution to those "refusing to frame the constitution together" and said that if they did not come we ourselves will frame the constitution."
Expressing his sympathy for the Shaheeds "of Tuesday night", he said , "unarmed people were killed".
He said firing on unarmed masses was nothing but an act of cowardice. "You cannot kill seven crore people if you can't leave us alone," he said.
The Awami League chief appealed to the martial law authorities to withdraw the Army
to the barracks. He said that the armed forces had been raised on our money "not
to kill the people of Bengal." If you fail to maintain law and order hand over the
power to us. We know how to maintain peace and harmony," he said. The Awami League
chief called for a non-
Mujib while reiterating his party's programme for observance of hartal against postponement of the NA session called upon the people to stop paying all taxes and revenues till government changes its attitude.
He also asked the officials and employees of all government and other organisations
to refrain from attending their duties. He, however, urged the people to maintain
peace and to resist all sorts of lawlessness and anti-
March 7 Rally: Mujib said that he would address a rally on March 7 at Ramna Race Course. If the government does not change its mind by that time, he said, " I will make my announcement" in that meeting.
(Staff Rep.)
The calm of a curfew imposed night was broken by slogans for the second consecutive day yesterday from different parts of Dacca city. There were reports of firing and demonstrations.
Demonstrations were reported from Tejgaon, Kaoranbazar, Nakhalpara, Industrial Area, Malibagh and Nawabpur.
The hospital ambulances were seen moving in the streets. No official confirmation of any death was, however, available till the time going to the press.
At least 17 persons injured in firing either brought dead or died at the Dacca Medical College Hospital between Tuesday and yesterday afternoon. All of them had received bullet injuries. The persons who died at or were brought dead to Dacca Medical College Hospital were: Hanif (25). Faruq Ahmed (18), Abdul Huq (50) Humayan (25), Abdur Rashid (25) ,Eleven other persons were still unidentified. Dacca Medical College Hospital had admitted about 120 persons with bullet injuries.
Mitford Hospital admitted ten persons with bullet and gunshot injuries between Tuesday
and Wednesday. Five of them were admitted yesterday. Five persons were admitted with
injuries sustained in stabbing. Mitford Hospital admitted one person who was a victim
at "bomb-
Mitford Hospital gave first aid to 70 other persons who had received minor injuries.
(APP)
Rawalpindi, March 3 (APP) : The President General A.M. Yahya Khan today issued immediate, personal to 12 elected leaders of all parliamentary groups in the National Assembly to meet at Dacca on March 10 to solve the constitutional tangle.
A president house announcement said : "the president sees no reason why the National Assembly should not be able to meet within a matter of couple of weeks after the conference."
The following announcement has been made by the president's House:
" Pursuant to the president's declaration of first March that he will do everything in his power to help the political leaders in achieving our common goal, he has issued immediate personal invitations to the elected leaders of all parliamentary groups in the National Assembly to meet at Dacca. In the light of Ashura falling on 8th March, the date for this conference has been fixed for 10th March.
The president sees no reason why the National Assembly should not be able to meet within a matter of couple of weeks after the conference.
The parliamentary group leaders invited for the conference are:
(1) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Awami League.
(2) Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan People's Party.
(3) Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan, Pakistan Muslim League.
(4) Mian Monammad Muntaz Daultana, Council Muslim League.
(5) Maulana Mufti Mahmood, Jamiat -
(6) Khan Abdul Wali Khan, National Awami Party (Wali).
(7) Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, Jamiatul Ulema-
(8) Janab Abdul Ghafir Ahmed , Jamat-
(9) Mr. Mohammad Jamal Korefa, Pakistan Muslim League.
(10) Mr. Nurul Amin, Pakistan Democratic Party.
(11) Major General Janaldur representing MNAs elected from Tribul areas.
(12) Malik Jahangir Khan; representing MNAs elected from tribal Areas.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a press statement issued yesterday rejected the invitation to attend the proposed conference of the political leaders convened in Dacca on Wednesday next.
Following is the text of this statement issued to the press on Wednesday : "The radio announcement of a proposed invitation to political leaders to sit with the Government of Pakistan in a conference in Dacca on the 10th March 1971, coming as it does in the wake of widespread killing of unarmed civilian population in Dacca, Chittagong and other places of Bangladesh, while the blood of these martyrs on the street is hardly dry, while some of the dead are still lying unburied and hundreds are fighting death in the hospitals comes as a cruel joke.
" This is more so, since we are being called upon to sit with certain elements whose devious machinations are responsible for the death of innocent unarmed peasants, workers and students.
With military build up continuing with the harsh language at weapons still ringing in our ears, the invitation to a conference is in effect being made at gunpoint.
In these circumstances, the question of accepting such invitation does not arise.
"I therefore respect such an invitation."
(Staff Rep.)
From Tetulia to Teknaf life came to standstill for eight hours beginning 6 in the morning as the 70 million people of East Bengal observed hartal protesting the postponement of the National Assembly session in response to a call given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for national mourning.
Government offices went without attendance, factories and mills ground to a halt and all means of transportation including railway were completely paralysed. Students boycotted their classes. All shops and bazars remained closed even after the end of the hartal at 2 p.m.
Dacca turned into a city of processions. The angry processionists came from all areas of the city. They came from industrial and residential areas. They came on foot. They came on trucks. But everyone chanted slogans for the establishment of rights of the people of Bangladesh. The processionists were all armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods and, in fact, with whatever came handy.
All roads led to Paltan Maidan where Sheikh Mujibur was to address a meeting at 3 p.m. The huge assembly spilled over the maidan. All rooftops were occupied. The Jiannah Avenue, DIT Avenue and, in fact, the entire surrounding area was a vast sea of human heads.
Processions were also brought out with the bodies of some of those who had died in firings earlier in the day and the proceeding night. Early in the morning four bodies were brought to Shahid Minar from where a mammoth procession later paraded the streets.
Reports of arson and looting in different parts of the city were also received, several shops were looted and houses were set on fire, precautionary measures were, however, taken promptly to prevent further disturbances. Complete hartal was observed in Narayanganj. Factories, offices, shops and bazars remained closed.
Later in the afternoon public meeting jointly convened by the local Awami League and Students League was held at the DIT field. After the meeting, a big procession was brought out.
Addressing the meeting Mr. Mostafa Sarwar, secretary for social welfare of Awami League deplored that the ethics of democracy was violated even after the general elections.
Messrs Nazimuddin Mahmud, A Sattar, Sultan Mahmud Mallick and Emdad Hossain were among those who addressed the meeting.
(ENA)
Mujib, last night, visited the Dacca Medical College Hospital and inspected different wards where injured persons have been admitted, reports ENA.
He was accompanied by Capt. Mansur Ali, Mr. Tajuddin, Dr. Kamal Hussain, Barister Amir Hossain MNAs and Gazi Golam Mustafa MPA.
Sheikh Shahib went round the wards and talked to the injured persons and consoled them. He was also given an account of how there people were injured and bodies of victims were brought to the hospital.
(APP)
An eight hour curfew has been imposed in Dacca Municipal limits from 10 Wednesday night to guard against possible hooliganism and lawlessness under an order issued by Martial Law Authorities according to an official announcement, reports APP.
Earlier, the curfew was scheduled to be reimposed from 7 last evening to 7 this morning.
According to reports received in Dacca a 24-
Khan Abdus Sabur, former secretary general of Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum), last evening met Mujib, at the latter's Dhanmondi residence.
Khan Sabur told the newsmen after the talks that they had free exchange of views on the present political and economic issues.
Profile of Bengal