What happened on Saturday, March 13, 1971
The Marshal Law Authority issued Military Order No. 115 and directed the civilian personnel of the Defense Department to join work by 10 am on March 15. According to the military directive, those who would fail to join work within the stipulated timeframe would be declared a fugitive and would face trial in a military court. Those who found to have disobeyed the order would be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years of hard labour.
Shortly after the issuance of the military order, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman issued a statement. In that statement, he said, “When we have announced the firm demand of the people of Bengal for the withdrawal of military rule, it is tantamount to inciting the people to issue new military orders.”
At a public meeting in Bogra, Maulana Abdul Hamin Khan Bhasani said, “Bangladesh is fully independent, there is no need for slogans.”
Azam Khan, the former Governor General of East Pakistan, called for a handover of power to the majority.
The minority parliamentary parties in West Pakistan met in Lahore and expressed support for the four demands raised by the Awami League in the March 7 speech, calling for the transfer of central and provincial power to the majority by March 25. The meeting was presided over by Jamiatul Ulema-e-Islam leader Maulana Mufti Mahmud and was attended by Muslim League (Council) leaders Mia Mumtaz Daultana and Sardar Shawkat Hayat Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, Jamaat-e-Islami Professor Abdul Gafur, Muslim League’s (Convention) Jamal Md. Koreja and independent members Maulana Zafar Ahmed and Sardar Maula Box Sumro. Although no one from NAP (Wali) was present at the meeting, they supported the proposal, But the Muslim League (Qayyum) opposed the proposal.
NAP President Khan Abdul Wali Khan and NAP leader Gauss Box Bezenjo arrived in Dhaka on a flight from Karachi in the morning. At the Dhaka airport, the NAP chief said, “I have come to Dhaka with an open mind to hold talks with Awami League chief Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to overcome the current crisis. I agree with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the issue of withdrawal of military rule and transfer of power to elected representatives.”
The Students Union (ছাত্র ইউনিয়ন) took out a huge torch procession from the Baitul Mukarram premises in the evening.
A women’s rally held in Chittagong under the chairmanship of Begum Umratul Fazal called on all men and women to boycott luxury goods and to wear black badges until the people of Bangladesh were fully liberated.
Renowned painter Zainul Abedin and former National Assembly member Abdul Hakim disavowed the official titles and medals awarded to them by the Pakistan government.
A total of 265 citizens of Italy, France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, including staff of the United Nations and West German embassies in Dhaka and their families, left East Pakistan on special flights.
In a joint statement, the leaders of ‘Independent Bangladesh Central Students Action Committee’ (স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশ কেন্দ্রীয় ছাত্রসংগ্রাম পরিষদ) called upon the people not to co-operate in smuggling Bengali money abroad by buying up houses, cars and property of those who had left Bangladesh.
Former National Assembly member Afazuddin Fakir in a statement called on President Yahya to hand over power by ‘letter of authority.’ He demanded the immediate transfer of control of the Eastern Defense Forces to a Bengali general, the handing over of command of all battalions of the Bengal Regiment to Bengali officers and the withdrawal of the additional Pakistani troops brought to East Bengal in the past month.
Translated by Masuma Begum
Editorial contribution by Arghya Raihan
Researched, compiled & Edited by Sagar Lohani
Gratitude to Christina Rozario
Bangalianaa/SL
