Shots in Dacca as E Pakistan drifts nearer to secession
From Peter Hazelhurst
Karachi, March 25
Pakistan Plunged headlong on towards political chaos, violence and secession today when it became obvious that President Yahya Khan’s courageous attempts to end the conflict between the eastern and western wings at a round-table conference in Dacca have all but failed.
As the president flew back to Karachi tonight the Eastern News Agency reported shooting all over Dacca.
An Indian report said West Pakistan troops were landing by sea and air. It said some troops appeared to have flown by way of China and Burma.
Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, the East Pakistan leader, decided to issue directives to commercial concerns which indicate that separation is on the cards.
In the first place the East Pakistan leader asked foreign shipping companies not to refuse to accept cargo from East Pakistan. He also said that the jute trade-should resume immediately, but directives from the Shaikh instructed foreign companies to negotiate all export deals through two East Bengal banks, the Eastern Banking Company and the Eastern Mercantile Bank.
The Shaikh also asked and advised foreign post and telegraph companies that all telecommunications with foreign countries would in future be routed through Manila and London instead of Karachi in West Pakistan.
Before issuing the new commercial directives the East Pakistan leader addressed a large crowd in Dacca tonight and asked them to prepare themselves for the “supreme sacrifice.”
Politicians who returned to karachi from Dacca Talks Last Night:
“We still hope that the president will be able to evolve a compromise formula, for our existence as a nation is at stake,” one leader said, “but the situation is now hopeless and we shall need a miracle if we are to survive as one country.”
The political leaders returned to West Pakistan suddenly last night ostensibly to consult their parties. But in private they admit that they were virtually “evacuated” on the advice of Shaikh Mujibur and the President after the round of talks suddenly developed. — Reuter.
generated into another hopeless deadlock.
As the law and order situation began to deteriorate in both East and West Pakistan today, Mr. Bhutto sounded his first pessimistic note since he joined the Dacca discussions. He said : “There has been a new development and negotiations have become more complicated because there is no sign of reciprocity on the other side.”
He said that he was prepared to go a long way to meet the eastern providnce’s demands for autonomy “but the present quantum of autonomy sought by the Awami League is more than autonomy; it borders on sovereignty.”
Karachi, March 25- The Eastern News Agency said troops were moving into Dacca and that the army was taking up positions at important points in the city.
Foreign correspondents living at the Intercontinental Hotel, where Mr. Bhutto was staying, were forbidden to leave the building. “If you go out you’ll get shot, “said an officer. – Agence France Presse
Agartala India, march 25.- The Press Trust of India reported tonight that West Pakistan troops were being landed by sea and air in East Pakistan.
Quoting a “highly reliable report reaching this town near the East Pakistan border, it said that six ship loads of troops had landed at Chittagong and Chalna and were on their way to their major towns in East Pakistan. Troops were also landing al Dacca by air.
An attempt by the army to disarm the police has been frustrated by the inspector general of police, who refused to allow the handing over of arms, the report said.
All Bengalis in the East Bengal Regiment, East Pakistan Rifles, the armed reserve police and the civil police have pledged loyalty to Shaikh Mujibur.
Students have raided arms shops in Dacca and Chittagong and carried away weapons and ammunition.
The Press Trust report said the troops landing at Dacca appeared to have flown via China and Burma. Direct Flights between the two wings of Pakistan over Indian territory are banned.
Telecommunication between East Pakistan and West Pakistan is confined to army radio telephones, the report continued. Dacca radio has become virtually independent, except for broadcasting news bulletins put out by Pakistan radio from Karachi.
The report added that the situation in East Pakistan was now so confused that there was no knowing how it would develop– Reuter.
Reference: The Time : 26 March 1971