In March 1971, political negotiations between the Awami League and Pakistan’s military regime collapsed as tensions reached a breaking point. After his historic 7 March speech, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman signalled resistance. Days later, the Pakistan Army launched “Operation Searchlight,” triggering a brutal crackdown in Dhaka. Before his arrest, a declaration of independence was transmitted — marking the beginning of the nine-month Liberation War and the birth of Bangladesh.