MARCH 17, 1971: Fruitless talks with Yahya

Staff Correspondent

For the second consecutive day, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman met the then Pakistan's President Yahya Khan at the latter's residence to resolve the ongoing crisis.

The meeting went on for about one hour.

After the meeting, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a press briefing told journalists that the discussion would continue until the goals were met.

Yahya invited People's Party Chairman ZA Bhutto to Dhaka.

On March 17 night, the next meeting date was announced. It was said that President Yahya Khan would meet Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 19.

Meanwhile, the spontaneous non-cooperation movement of Bangalis stepped into its 16th day.

Military men attacked trucks in Tejgaon and Mohakhali where they mugged money and tortured the unarmed men.

The act of army turned people more angry towards West Pakistan's rulers.

An aid consignment for Bangladeshis was intercepted in Chittagong and rerouted towards Karachi. 

Source: Liberation War Museum