A day after the historic speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, politicians from other parties also supported him and called Pakistan’s President Yahya Khan to accept the four conditions placed by the Awami League chief in his 7 March speech.

On 8 March 1971, lending full support to the freedom struggle of Mujib, National Awami Party (NAP) President Muzaffar Ahmed said the conditions he gave were logical and the government should accept those to bring normalcy back to the country immediately.

Jatiya League chief Ataur Rahman Khan said the people of Bangladesh, irrespective of their class, creed and religion, are united in this struggle and this will continue until the ultimate goal is achieved.

Fifty-four years ago, on this day, PDP President Nurul Amin urged Yahya to search suitable ways to hand over power to the majority party leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Muslim League leader Khan A Sabur on the day blamed the West Pakistani politicians for the situation created after the postponement of the National Assembly session suddenly and the situation the country will face as a consequence.

Even in West Pakistan, Bahawalpur United Front leader and National Assembly member Mia Nazimuddin expressed his support for Mujib’s four conditions and urged the government to accept those immediately.

However, when journalists asked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to respond to the speech of Mujib, he refused to make any comment.

The whole situation of then East Pakistan had changed because of the speech. Most Bangalees came to realise that there was no alternative but to take all-out preparations for a war against the Pakistani oppressors.

Mujib in his historic speech had urged absolute obedience and dedication of all the people. Everybody followed his orders.

Pro-liberation politicians and student leaders started making preparations from 8 March as Mujib made it clear that independence was the ultimate goal of the nation.

Radio stations could not telecast the 7 March speech as the Pakistan military ruler asked them not to air it live fearing backlash from the freedom-loving people.

On this day, the radio station in Dhaka aired the speech at 8:30 am. Other radio stations in the then East Pakistan later followed the Dhaka station.

Since the “civil disobedience” started, Mujib’s directives were carried out enthusiastically. Bangalees of all ages were committed to beginning a decisive struggle this time.

Student leaders expressed their solidarity with Mujib’s thoughts. Then Chhatra League President Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui, General Secretary Shahjahan Siraj, DUCSU Vice-President ASM Abdur Rob and its General Secretary Abdul Quddus Makhan supported the speech.

In a joint statement on the day, they stated that this fight for liberation would be termed ‘Freedom Fight’.

On 8 March, Pakistani juntas imposed an indefinite curfew from 9:00 pm in Rajshahi. People found it unreasonable and urged the military to withdraw it.

In the morning, Bangalees working in Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) together stepped out of the Dhaka Airport and brought out a procession to Mujib’s residence in Dhanmondi.

Awami League general secretary Tajuddin Ahmad, in a statement at night, condemned the propaganda of the Pakistan army. He said the press note released by the military authorities was a part of their effort to develop a wrong perception lowering the number of casualties and deaths of innocent civilians.