East Pakistan Paralysed by Non-Cooperation

On 12 March 1971, the sweeping non-cooperation movement in East Pakistan intensified, bringing administrative, educational, and commercial activities across the province to an almost complete halt. The campaign, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the Bengali nationalist movement, had evolved into a powerful form of civil resistance against the central government of Pakistan.

Following Mujibur Rahman’s directives, government and semi-government employees across East Pakistan abstained from attending their offices in open solidarity with the movement. Civil servants, professionals, and workers from autonomous institutions also joined the campaign, effectively paralysing the machinery of the provincial administration. Educational institutions remained closed, with many schools and universities locked indefinitely as teachers and students alike supported the protest.

Across towns and cities, black flags were raised on government buildings, private establishments, residences, and vehicles as a symbol of mourning and protest against political repression. The only notable exception was the Martial Law office at Kurmitola, where official operations continued under the supervision of the military authorities.

On the same day, senior officers of the Civil Service of Pakistan and first-class members of the East Pakistan Civil Service publicly declared their support for the non-cooperation movement, signalling a rare and significant act of dissent within the state’s administrative structure.

Meanwhile, political voices outside East Pakistan also expressed concern. At a press conference in Lahore, former Air Marshal Asghar Khan, a prominent political figure and leader of a national unity movement, criticised the government’s handling of the crisis. He remarked that it was a tragic irony that decisions made in Lahore had resulted in bloodshed in Dhaka. According to him, the people of the eastern wing demanded equal rights within Pakistan rather than subjugation by the western wing. He warned that the only viable path to preserving the country was the immediate transfer of power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Political developments continued elsewhere. National Assembly member Mohammad Zahiruddin publicly renounced the honour previously conferred upon him by the Pakistani government. In Rawalpindi, authorities issued an official announcement cancelling the traditional joint armed forces parade, honours ceremony, and other observances scheduled for Pakistan Day on 23 March, reflecting the tense and uncertain political atmosphere.

Support for the movement also came from influential political leaders within East Pakistan. At a public rally in Mymensingh, veteran politician Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani reaffirmed his confidence in Mujibur Rahman’s leadership, expressing unwavering faith that he would never betray the aspirations of the Bengali people.

The foundations of the movement had been firmly established during Mujibur Rahman’s historic speech on 7 March 1971, when he called upon the population to prepare for the struggle ahead and urged citizens to transform every household into a fortress of resistance. He also directed the formation of resistance committees in every union of East Pakistan to organise and sustain the movement.

The cultural and commercial sectors joined the protests as well. Film exhibitors across the province announced the indefinite closure of cinemas, including those in the capital Dhaka, in solidarity with the campaign.

Captain Mansur Ali, leader of the Awami League in the Provincial Assembly, issued a statement expressing concern and condemnation over the diversion of a food-laden ship sent from the United States for East Pakistan, which had reportedly been redirected to Karachi.

Tensions also surfaced in Chittagong, where large protest marches were organised in response to attacks on Bengali residents by non-Bengali groups and accusations that the military authorities had taken sides in the conflict.

Key Developments on 12 March 1971

These developments demonstrated how the non-cooperation movement had transformed into a mass uprising involving virtually every segment of society. By mid-March 1971, East Pakistan was effectively governed not by the central authorities in Islamabad but by the political directives emerging from Mujibur Rahman and the popular movement he led.

Historical sources documenting the events of this period emphasise that the widespread participation of civil servants, political leaders, and ordinary citizens played a crucial role in shaping the momentum that would soon lead to the Bangladesh Liberation War.