MARCH 24, 1971: Face-off and firing
From morning to night without any rest, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman continues to give speeches for the many processions that arrive at his doorstep.
“We don't want any more discussions; now we want an announcement,” says the leader.
If there is no solution by tomorrow, he says, Bangladeshis will find it themselves. No conspiracy can hold them back and they are united. Any decision, if forced on them, will not be accepted in any way.
From March 23 to March 24 morning, the Pakistan army surrounds and holds the Saidpur cantonment and neighbouring Botlagari, Golahaat and Kundul villages and uses excessive force, killing almost a 100 people and leaving a 1,000 injured.
Curfew is imposed in the city. The army along with non-Bangalees carry out arson and carnage in the houses of Bangladeshis.
Some civilians and military authorities get locked into a battle in front of Rangpur Medical College. Centring it, the army launches a massacre in surrounding areas where shots are fired killing 50 unarmed civilians.
In the evening, a meeting is held between the Awami league and the regime at the President's House in the presence of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed and Kamal Hossain.
Later, Tajuddin told journalists that they have said in the meeting that the Awami league was not willing to continue the dialogue for an indefinite period.
Source: Liberation War Museum
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