Editing History of Bangladesh (section)

===Independence movement===
{{main|Bangladesh Liberation War}}
The Awami League captured 160 of East Pakistan's 162 seats in the [[1970 Pakistani general election]].<ref name="Baxter 1997 78"/> [[Nurul Amin]] won one of the remaining seats.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=Craig|year=1997|title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State |publisher=Westview Press|pages=78–79|isbn=978-0-813-33632-9}}</ref> The [[Pakistan Peoples Party]], led by [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]], won a majority of seats in West Pakistan.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Yahya organised talks between Bhutto and Mujib to arrive at a consensus on the form of the future constitution. Mujib asserted his majority and intent to base the constitution on his six points. Bhutto's argument was that there were two majorities. The talks failed.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=Craig|year=1997|title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State |publisher=Westview Press|page=79|isbn=978-0-813-33632-9}}</ref> Mujib rejected Bhutto's demands for a share in power. Bhutto boycotted the National Assembly session of 3 March and intimidated other West Pakistani politicians from participating. Bhutto requested that Yahya delay the National Assembly session. On 1 March protests and confrontations broke out when Yahya did this.<ref name="Willem van Schendel 125">{{cite book|author=Willem van Schendel|title=A History of Bangladesh|date=12 February 2009|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780511997419|page=125}}</ref>

Leftists in East Pakistan pressured Mujib to immediately declare independence. The West Pakistani government deployed soldiers to deter such a possibility.<ref name="Willem van Schendel 125"/> Mujib chose a middle-ground option by starting a [[Non-cooperation movement (1971)|non-cooperation movement]]. The movement was successful, freezing the machinery of government and effectively giving Mujib command over East Pakistan. Mujib announced that East Pakistanis would fight for independence but he simultaneously attempted to achieve a solution within a united Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book|author=Willem van Schendel|title=A History of Bangladesh|date=12 February 2009|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780511997419|page=126}}</ref>

Yahya Khan and Bhutto went to Dhaka in March as a last attempt to obtain a resolution. However, the three parties could not arrive at a consensus on the transfer of power. On 23 March the Awami League told Yahya that he was to issue regional autonomy within 2 days or East Pakistan would turn lawless. While the talks were still underway, Yahya opted for a military solution for the problem.<ref name="Willem van Schendel 129">{{cite book|author=Willem van Schendel|title=A History of Bangladesh|date=12 February 2009|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780511997419|page=129}}</ref> On the night of 25 March, Yahya secretly went back to West Pakistan and commanded the military to attack the core members of the autonomy campaign.<ref>{{cite book|author=Willem van Schendel|title=A History of Bangladesh|date=12 February 2009|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780511997419|pages=129–130}}</ref>

On 3 March, student leader Shahjahan Siraj read the 'Sadhinotar Ishtehar' (Declaration of Independence) at [[Paltan Maidan]] in front of Mujib at a public gathering under the direction of the [[Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Parishad]].<ref name="Van Schendel 2009 302">{{cite book |last=Van Schendel |first=Willem |date=2009 | title=A History of Bangladesh | publisher=Cambridge University Press | page=302 | isbn=9780521861748}}</ref>

On 7 March, there was a public gathering in [[Suhrawardy Udyan]] to hear updates on the ongoing movement from Sheikh Mujib, the leader of the movement. Although he avoided directly referring to independence, as the talks were still underway, he warned his listeners to prepare for any imminent war.<ref name="Van Schendel 2009 302"/> The [[7 March Speech of Bangabandhu|speech]] is considered a key moment in the War of Liberation, and is remembered for the phrase,

:::"''Ebarer Shongram Amader Muktir Shongram, Ebarer Shongram Shadhinotar Shongram....''"
:::''"Our struggle this time is a struggle for our freedom, our struggle this time is a struggle for our independence...."''