FOLLOWS YAHYA-MUJIB TALKS
Awami League Chief ready to meet any West Wing Leader.
Sheikh Mujibur Press Conference on March 19, 1971, at
The fateful talks between President Yahya Khan and
the Awami League Chief, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, were resumed at the President's
house here today. The dialogue lasted 90 minutes. Another round of talks will
be held tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Later in the evening three advisers of the Awami
League Chief had a meeting with the advisers of the President.
Although the Awami League Chief, talking to newsmen
after the meeting, did
not say if any formula had been proposed to end the
present constitutional deadlock the agreement to hold meeting at advisers'
level itself indicates that some ground has been broken at the third round of
talks between the President and , the
Awami League Chief today.
It is also significant that the advisers' level
meeting will be followed up by another meeting between the President and Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman when the latter will be accompanied by six leaders of his party.
A cheerful Sheikh Mujibur Rahman told newsmen at his
residence after his meeting with the president that the discussions would
continue. He said Awami League's stand (vis-a-vis constitution-making) was
clear and the whole world knew why the people
of
Step forward
The result of
the third round of the talks-the decision to have meeting of the advisers-was
seen as a definite step forward towards a determined search for solution of the
present crisis. This coupled with the decision to continue talks between the
President and the Awami League Chief has raised hopes that a way out of the
current impasse may be found.
But Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made no comment when a
newsman asked him if the increased activities was any sign of progress in the
talks. The Awami League Chief told the journalists: " You may make your
own assumption ".
He also would not say whether he was satisfied with
the talks. He said whether he was satisfied or not " I always hope for the
best and prepare for the worst ".
Asked whether any particular formula was being
discussed. Sheikh Mujib said his advisers would discuss with the President's
advisers " what formula they give."
Syed Nazrul Islam, Deputy Leader of Awami League
Parliamentary Party in the National Assembly and a Vice-President of
Khandkar Mushtaq Ahmed and Mr. Mansoor Ali
Vice-Presidents of East Pakistan Awami League, Mr. Kamruzzaman, General
Secretary of All-Pakistan Awami League, Dr. Kamal Husain, Syed Nazrul Islam,
and Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, will accompany Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the President's
House tomorrow.
Replying to a question the Awami League Chief' said
he would be very happy to receive any leader from
When asked whether any document figured in his
discussions, Sheikh Mujib said: " nothing of the kind."
He added: " my advisers will discuss this
evening to decide on what formula and how they will proceed."
Whether he was assisted by his aids in today's
talks, Awami League Chief said that both the President and he (Mujib) were
alone.
Asked whether he was ready to meet West Pakistani
leaders, including Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, Sheikh Mujib said that anybody coming from
" It was never closed ", he added.
When asked about the progress of talks, Sheikh Mujib
said: " I have nothing to say. It is up to you to guess. You can assume
anything you like ".
" I can't say ", Sheikh Mujib said when a
correspondent asked whether his Meeting tomorrow would be the final round.
Replying to another question as to who will be
assisting the President in his talks tomorrow Sheikh Mujib said: " I don't
know".
He declined to answer a question on the rejection of
the Inquiry Commission set up by the Martial Law Administrator, Zone
"B".
When asked whether the "Joy Bangla" slogan
raised by him after he emerged from the President's House indicated something
hopeful, the Awami League Chief said that he always uttered this slogan. This
slogan he would utter at the time of death also along with Kalima.
Earlier apparently in jovial mood, the Awami League
Chief came out of the President's House after his 90-minute talks and drove
straight to his residence.
Several thousand people who waited all the time
outside the security area of the President's House broke the security cordon
and mobbed the car of the Sheikh. The crowd was so intense in front of the
President's House that the waiting newsmen could not approach the car of Sheikh
Saheb.
Sheikh Mujib came out of the car and requested the
people to allow him to go.
He also requested the newsmen to go to his
residence. Following the request, the slogan-chanting crowd left the place and
allowed the car of the Sheikh to move towards its destination.
Many enthusiastic people also gathered in front of
Sheikh Mujib's residence to know the outcome of the talks.
"Please wait and see our wonderful land and its
unfortunate people" the Sheikh told a foreign newsman when he wanted to
know when the progress of the talks would be known to newsmen.
Replying to a question as to when he was going to
laugh last, Sheikh Saheb, with his traditional broad smile replied, "This
is difficult to answer. You yourself assess ".
(THE DAWN, Karachi-March 20, 1971)
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