Troops out in Dacca for Yahya visit
From Paul Martin Dacca, March 15
President Yahya Khan arrived in Dacca, capital of Pakistan's rebellious eastern province, today as hopes rose that a compromise would be worked out to solve the political crisis.

Security measures which at times bordered on a military operation were enforced to protect the route along which the President drove from the airport to his residence,

The President and Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, the East Pakistan leader, are expected to hold their first meeting either late tonight or early tomorrow. The Shaikh, for the past week in full control of the administration of the entire province, has already said that he would be willing to meet the President as soon as possible.

On that meeting will hinge the future of Pakistan. One encouraging aspect is that it has been preceded by intense lobbying by some leading West Pakistan politicians who have been in constant contact with Shaikh Mujibur.

There has been a marked softening of tone among the moderates in Shaikh Mujibur's Awami League, and a considerable decline in the " independence fever " which overtook the province at the height of the civil disobedience campaign.

However, less than four hours after the President's arrival more than 4,000 people. led by militant students, marched past the presidential residence chanting " Bengali Police, take to arms and make BengaI independent " and " Make bullets and bombs, make Bengal independent."

The demonstration, planned before the President's visit was known, left the residence area after Awami League volunteers intervened.

In case of demonstrations or an attempt on the President's life, the route front the airport was sealed off today by troops reinforced by machine-gun nests at key points.

As the President's car sped along the road, he was protected by two jeeps filled with heavily armed military police and another three lorry-loads of troops.

General Tikka Khan. the martial law administrator, who gave the President an initial briefing on the situation, is expected to meet him again later to discuss the effects of Shaikh Mujibur's latest directives, which include an order to continue the strike at all Government offices and carry out a tax boycott.

Schools and courts are also affected by the general strike, now in its third week. It has begun to affect the armed forces, since civil contractors and workers employed by the Army in East Pakistan have begun to observe the strike call in defiance of a martial law order.

The question is just how much room for compromise is left.

The shaikh has faced considerable pressure from students and trade unions who want nothing short of independence and are in a mood for a showdown with the Army if necessary.


Karachi, March 15.—Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, leader of West Pakistan, today suggested that the rival political parties in the east and west wings of the country should share central government power while controlling their own regions.

" Only such an arrangement will ensure the unity of Pakistan ", he told a press conference here. He said that this did not necessarily mean that there should be two Prime Ministers for Pakistan.—Reuter.


Delhi, March 15.—India has banned all foreign military and civil aircraft from making direct flights to East Pakistan over Indian air space, authoritative sources said today.—U.P.I.