THE 11- POINT PROGRAMOF SCA AND THE The killing aggravated the situation and slogan
MASS MOVEMENT of ‘Fight the occupation Forces’ was raised,
The Bar Association all over E. Pakistan was the curfew was imposed. It was violated many
1st to organize processions and demonstrations times and people were killed.
followed by different political groups i.e. NAP It got support of the industrial workers,
(Moscow and Peking) and A. L. peasants and politicians, many pro-
Soon people of all walks of life joined giving government politicians defected and joined
slogans for democracy, provincial autonomy the mass movement.
and withdrawal of the conspiracy case against On Feb 5, Ayub Khan called the DAC for
Sheik. Mujib and others. negotiation, the DAC leaders placed
In December Bhashani ‘gheraod’ the preconditions i.e. lifting of emergency, release
Governor’s house, called for a total hartal on of political prisoners and restoration of civil
December 7. liberties, release of Sheik Mujib and the
In defiance of section 144 of the criminal withdrawal of the Agartala Case.
procedure, hartal was observed in E. Pakistan. In W. Pakistan the situation took a serious turn
Angry mobs set fire on a police jeep, police as police opened fire in Lahore, Karachi and
opened fire killing 2 people and injuring 23 Hyderabad, the agitation that followed forced
others. the government to release Bhutto.
The major student organization-the East In E. Pakistan police opened fire on 2 persons
Pakistan Student League (EPSL), 2 factions of E. accused in the Agartala Case while trying to
Pakistan Student Union (EPSU-Pro-Moscow escape, Sergeant Zahurul Huq died on the spot
and Pro-Peking and National Students’ and Sergeant Fazlul Huq was seriously injured.
Federation formed the All-Party Students Processions were out with slogans ‘Down with
Committee of Action 9SCA) in Jan. 1969. Tofail the Agartala Case’ and ‘Take up rams and
Ahmed, the Vice President of Dhaka University make Bangladesh independent.’
Students’ Union became the Chairman. In Feb. 18, the army opened fire on a student
Members were A. Rauf, President of EPSL, K. demonstration in Rajshahi killing Dr.
M. Ali. G. Secretary of EPSL, Jamal Haider Mohammad Shamsuzzaho, Reader of
President of EPSU-Menon, Mahbullah Chemistry and Proctor of Rajshahi University
G.Secretary of EPSU-Menon. S. Manik and another person.
President of EPSU-Motia and Shamsuddin, G. Ayub Khan had to call the 3 services chiefs on
Scretary of EPSU-Motia. Feb. 18 and wanted to re-impose Martial Law
Points Program of All-Party Students in the country but they did not give their
Committee of Action (SCA) support.
The SCA drew up the following 11-points So Ayub Khan opted for a Round Table
Programs. 1. Rejection of the National Conference with leaders of the political parties
Education Commission Report and 14 other but the leaders refused. Under pressure the
demands relating to education. Repeal of the government had to lift the curfew on Feb. 20.
University Ordinances was also demanded. On Feb. 21 A. Khan said he would step down
2. Restoration of Parliamentary democracy and would not contest the election and the
based on universal adult franchise. next day the Case was withdrawn and S. Mujib
3. Full regional autonomy for E. Pakistan in and all other accused were released.
accordance with Six-Points Program. This made S. Mujib not only the undisputed
4. Creation of sub-federation in W. Pakistan leader of E. Pakistan but also as a major
giving full autonomy to Baluchistan, the N-W national leader of Pakistan.
Frontier Provinces (NWFP) and Sind. FORMATION OF WIDER ADAPTATION OF
5. Nationalization of banks, insurance POLITICAL PROGRAM AFTER THE RELEASE OF
companies and big industrial units. SHIEK MUJIB
6. Reduction of taxes on farmers. Of the 76 persons killed between Nov. 1968-
7. Payment of proper wages to laborers. Mar.’69, 34 were laborers, 20 students, 7
8. Introduction of a flood control plan in E. lower class government employees, 5 small
Pakistan. businessmen, 1 school teacher and a university
9. Lifting of all repressive measures and acts professor.
like the state of emergency and public safety The 8 other persons were not identified.
act. There was a slogan ‘Jeler tala Bhangboo, Shiek
10. Adoption of an independent policy, Mujib ke Anboo.’ They welcomed him when he
including withdrawal from CENTO and SEATO was out of the jail with Joi Bangla-Kri shak-
pacts. Sramic Raj and Swadhikar .
11. Release of all political prisoners and Perceiving by the radical transformation in
students and the withdrawal of all political public sentiment and aspirations, S. Mujib in a
cases including the Agartala Conspiracy Case. public reception in Ramna Race Course in Feb.
The 11 Points included the Six-Points Program 23 declared that:
of AL and also covered the interest of the 1. Awami League would strive for both Six-
communist parties-that of the workers and Points and 11-Poits programs.
peasants. 2. It would secure regional autonomy and
As a result SCA was able to bring all section of 3. Would demand for representation to the
people under the same umbrella and got Parliament ‘on population basis.’ Till then
massive support from all over the country. parity i.e. equal representation between the 2
WITHDRAWAL OF THE AGARTALA CASE AND wings in the National Assembly was in practice.
RELEASE OF SHIEK MUJIBUR RAHMAN Six-Points and 11-Points programs demanded
In Jan. 1969 the National Executive Committee adult franchise. For the 1st time S. Mujib said
of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) about the seats in the Parliament on
met in Dhaka and announced that election population basis.
before March would be boycotted and It would give the Bengali nationalist a clear
demands were made: edge over their W. Pakistanis in deciding
a. Direct election on the basis of national matters in the Parliament.
adult franchise, b. Full powers for In the reception it was proposed by Tofael
the directly elected assemblies and Ahmed and acclaimed unanimously by all that
c. Restoration of civil rights. S. Mujib should be honored by conferring on
On Jan 8, 1969 the PDM had an alliance with E. him the endearing title of ‘Bangabandhu’.
Pakistan A.L., the NAP (WALI) and Jamat- THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE (RTC)
Ulema-i-Islam and formed the Democratic Sheik Mujib then attended the RTC in
Action Committee (DAC) to achieve full and Rawalpindi on 26 Feb. 1969. All the parties of
complete democracy. DAC were present at the RTC. But Bhutto and
The NAP (Bhashani) and PPP did not join the Bhashani did not attend.
alliance. Bhutto said people wanted change not
The DAC declared Jan 17 as the Dabi Dibosh concessions, Bhashani announced that RTC
and called for a general strike. was not adequate to promote the interest of
SCA call for strikes, demonstrations and the working class and the peasant.
meetings against the government were held. S. Mujib said that he believed in constitutional
On Jan 21, Asaduzzaman, a prominent student process to achieve his political goals and would
leader of EPSU and student of the Department denounce if it failed to meet the demands of E.
of History was killed. Pakistan.
The conference failed to accommodate the
demands of the Bengali autonomists. The
popular movement continued with greater
speed and fury and took a more violent turn in
mid-Feb which ultimately toppled the Ayub
regime in Mar. 1969.
