The Declaration of

Independence and the

Beginning of the Liberation War
Karisma Amjad
Lecturer
Dhaka International University 1
Governable steps after the Address and
the Reaction to it:

 In a situation, when the real sovereignty of the nation lay in the hand of the people, Yahya
Khan cam to Dhaka as per plan on 15 March. He invited bangabandhu Shekh Majibur
Rahman to a dialogue. On 16 March, the dialogue Started between Yahaya Khan and
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At one stage, west Pakistan’s people’s Party leader Zulfiqur Ali
Bhutto was called in to join in the dialogue, Bhutto demanded the revision of the 6- points
and a share of power. Gradually, the situation began to be critical. Actually, the purpose
of the Pakistan rules was to gain time in the name of dialogue in order to be able to bring
soldiers and weapons from West Pakistan. The Movement for independence became
more intense throughout the whole country under the leadership of the Awami league. At
the call of the leaders, dock workers at the Chittagong Port refused to unload arms from
ships. On 23 march, the ‘Republic Day of Pakistan”, the national flag of independent
Bangladesh was hoisted atop every house in East Pakistan.
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 On 24 March, the two hour long discussion with Yahya Khan produced no result. On 25
March, before leaving Dhaka, Yahya Khan ordered the armed forces to attack the
unarmed Bangalees. Thus started the cruelest and most barbarous genocide in history

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The Declaration of Independence and the
Beginning of the Liberation War:

 At midnight on 25 March, the undisputed leader of the Bangalees Bangabandhu Shikh

Mugibur Rahman was arrested. Before he was arrested by the Pakistan soldiers, after
midnight that is at the early hours of 26 March, Bangabandhu declared independence.
He sent the declaration of the independence of Bangladesh to the Party leaders in Dhaka
and through wireless to the intimate colleagues in Chittagong and directed them to
announce it. On 26 March the declaration was broadcast by Major Ziaur Rahman from
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra in Chittagong.

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 This declaration reached the people of the country at light speed. The young people of
Bangladesh got the guidance from this declaration and it created a strong self –
confidence among them. They took part in the Liberation War with vigor and courage
and killed the enemies in the hope of making the country free.
 The invading Pakistan army started a vehement attach in Dhaka and other parts of
Bangladesh. The City of Dhaka was almost destroyed by setting fire and continuous
bombardment. At dead of night the innocent, unarmed and sleeping citizens were killed
in a planned way. In the same way, the invading army raided other laces as well. The
Bangaless members of the armed forces and their families in the cantonments were kept
under close watch. Those officers were already disarmed. They were attacked with the
purpose of extermination.

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 The Pakistani army suddenly attacked ZahurulHuq Hall, Salimullah Muslim Hall, Jahannath
Hall and the teachers’ quarters of Dhaka University and Killed many students and
teachers. The EPR Camp at Peelkhana, Rajarbagh police Line. Party Offers and many
other places in Dhaka also came under attack. The police at the Rajarbagh and the EPR
at Peelkhana resisted valiantly. But they could not resist the Pakistani army who were
equipped with machine gune, connon and tanks. To stop the spread of the news of the
atrocities inflicted by the Pakistanis to the outside world, they confined the foreign
journalists and imposed strict censorship on the reports to be sent by them. The people of
Bangladesh burst out with the spirit of avenging this betrayal of Yahya Government and
built up resistance against the invading Pakistani army. The Bangalee people from all
walks of life including the peasants, workers, student, youths, women, teachers, artists and
intellectuals sonorously participated in the Liberation war started to make the country free
from the clutches of the enemies.

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Some snaps of Liberation War

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The Declaration of
Independence and
the Beginning of the
Liberation War