Reminding the authorities that he as well as the people of Bangladesh were ready to die for the realization of people's legitimate rights, he declared in clear-cut terms that the people were ready to face all the eventualities.
He said that he would never betray the cause of the people of Bangladesh even facing death.
The Awami League Chief said that the authorities had taken action against those who had been asking for peaceful transfer of power.
Announcing his programme of action up to March 7 next, he said that he would seek help and co-operation from all shades of opinion for the success of the movement.
He said that the hartal would be observed throughout Bangladesh everyday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. After the hartal the vehicles should be allowed to move. He suggested and urged the people to pay a bit more to the rickshaw pullers to cover their day's earnings.
He will address a mass rally at the Race Course Maidan at 2 p.m. on Sunday. He said that hartal was to be observed in all organizations, including Government offices, Secretariat, High Court and other courts, semi-Government and autonomous corporations, PIA, Railway and other communication services, transports, all mills, factories, industrial and commercial establishments and markets.
He said that the forces were being maintained for protecting the country, and they could not be used against the common masses. Sheikh Sahib urged the authorities to pull back the forces to their barracks without further delay.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that he had no language to condemn the incidents that took place in the city last night.
Sheikh Sahib made it clear that the present situation in the country was not the creation of his or any other people of Bangla Desh, but of the conspirators who had been trying to sabotage the peaceful transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people. The majority party had been even ignored while taking important national decisions, he said.
Sheikh Sahib advised each and every person of Bangla Desh to observe the hartal according to schedule in a peaceful and disciplined manner.
He, however, said that exemptions were to be extended only to ambulances, Press cars, hospitals, medicine shops, water and electricity supply.
Sheikh Sahib said that the speech at Paltan Maidan today might be his “last speech” and advised the people to continue their struggle in full swing even if he was absent. He said that there were a chain of leaders, among his companions, who would be able to continue the struggle without any trouble.
The Sheikh who was earlier scheduled to lead a huge procession after the meeting, announced that the procession would not be led. Instead he led a prayer for the salvation
