March 1, 1971
President Yahya announced the postponement of the opening of the National Assembly for an indefinite period (1.05 pm). Yahya s voice was absent. Instead, a radio announcer read out the text of the statement ascribed to the President. Two major reasons were cited behind this decision: major party of West Pakistan namely Pakistan People s Party, led by Bhutto, as well as certain other political parties have declared their intention not to attend the National Assembly session on March 3, 1971, and general situation of tension created by India.
It may be mentioned here that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, chief of the majority party Awami League, had suggested February 15, 1971, for the opening of the National Assembly but the Assembly was called for in the first week of March 1971 following the wishes of the minority party, Bhutto s Pakistan People s Party. Awami League conveyed messages to Yahya through East Pakistan Governor SM Ahsan that postponement of the Assem