PAKISTAN: LIFE CONTINUES AS NORMAL IN DACCA AS POLITICAL LEADERS MEET TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT CRISIS (1971)

Background: Pakistan's ruler, President Yahya Khan, has arrived in Dacca for urgent talks with the province's leader, Sheikh Mujib Rahman. The President arrived amid intense security precautions and the three mile (five kms) route from the airport to the house where he is staying was heavily guarded by troops. Today thousands of demonstrators marched past the house to demand independence for East Pakistan.

SYNOPSIS: Life in Dacca appears to be back to normal following the recent violence which left more than 150 people dead. But the political crisis which led to the violence is still present. As people return to the market places where once again the stores are displaying fresh food, political leaders are engaged in heated discussions over the future of East Pakistan. Black flags fluttering above houses and stores underline the obedience of the occupants to the East Pakistan leader, Sheikh Mujib Rahman. He has called on all East Pakistanis not to co-operate with Government measures. Sheikh Mujib has issued modifications to his two week old civil disobedience campaign heightening the impression that the Awami League was developing a parallel Government to the paralysed official administration.

Members of the Awami League have volunteered to "keep the peace" in Dacca. The men armed with spears are followers of Sheikh Mujib, leader of the League. They guard his residence in Dacca and form a personal body guard wherever he goes.

Since the start of the crisis, political leaders have held a number of meetings to plan their action. President Yahya Khan has flown into Dacca to meet the East Pakistan leader and discuss the situation. A large number of people calling for the Province to declare itself independent. The President has said he won't let this happen. The ingredients are there for military civil war.