The inaugural session of the parliament due to begin in Dhaka was abruptly postponed on the pretext of resolving differences between the political leaders of the two wings. The Bengalees saw this as one more conspiracy of the Pakistani military junta to deny them the power that they had won democratically through elections. In his historic speech at the March 7 public meeting at Suhrawardy Uddyan Sheikh Mujib declared “Abarer shangram amader muktir shangram, Abarer shangram amader shadhinotar shangram” (“This struggle is the struggle for freedom, this struggle is the struggle for independence”). He asked people to continue the non-cooperation movement they had started at his behest and prepare for a decisive battle for independence. But to avoid a direct confrontation with Yahya Khan’s bloodthirsty military he kept the door open for political negotiations. Despite stiff opposition from his followers, especially the vocal student community, Sheikh Mujib sat with Yahya and his advisers to negotiate a constitutional settlement and when everything appeared to be going well the dialogue was snapped on March 25. A military crackdown was ordered, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was arrested and taken away to West Pakistan. But just before he was arrested he sent out a call for the liberation war to begin. Known as the Declaration of the War of Independence, this hurriedly written historic document read as follows:

“Today Bangladesh is a sovereign and independent country. Pakistani Army suddenly attacked EPR Base at Pilkhana, Rajarbagh Police line and killing citizens. Street battles are going on in every street of Dacca, Chittagong. I appeal to the nations of the world for help. Our freedom fighters are gallantly fighting with the enemies to free the motherland. I appeal and order you all in the name of Almighty Allah to fight to the last drop of blood to liberate the country. Ask police, EPR Bengal Regiment and Ansar to stand by you and to fight. No compromise. Victory is ours. Drive out the enemies from the holy soil of motherland. Convey this message to all Awami League leaders, workers and other patriots and lovers of freedom. May Allah bless you. 

Joy Bangla”.

---Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

A message in the form of a telegram reached the hands of a few students from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The students were excited to receive Mujib's message to the people, but were at a loss to decide what should be done with it. AT last it struck them that the message could be broadcast from Agrabad Station of Radio Pakistan.

Dr. Manjula Anwar translated the message into Bengali. As they took the message to the radio station. Announcer Kazi Hosne Ara was picked up on the way.

The Armed police guards posted there were Bengali's who immediately opened the locks and allowed them to go in. Kazi Husne Ara rushed out and brought with her Mahbub Hassan, Belal Ahmed and Abul Kashem Sandwipi.
Making hurried trips between Agrabad broadcasting station and its transmission center at Kalurghat they failed to secure permission from higher authorities to run the station.
It was decided that they should go back to the other side of Kalurghat bridge where rations had just been delivered to the jawans of East Bengal Regiment under the command of Major Ziaur Rahman and plead with them for assistance to run the Kalurghat transmitter as a broadcasting station.
The engineer [Ashikul Islam] had an interview with the commandant who agreed to send some military guards to protect the Kalurghat Transmitter.

As the Bengali soldiers took positions to guard the transmission center, the rebels put their heads together and secured the help of a few engineers of the Kalurghat industrial complex to convert it into a broadcasting station.
There was an earlier broadcast of the Declaration of Independence. Very few people heard that declaration.

The first declaration was broadcast on the morning of March 26, 1971. The message went:

" On Thursday night West Pakistani armed forces suddenly attacked the police barracks at Razarbagh and the EPR headquarters at Pilkhana in Dhaka. Many innocent and unarmed have been killed in Dhaka city and other places of Bangladesh. Violent clashes between EPR and Police on the one hand and the armed forces of Pindi on the other are going on. The Bengalis are fighting the enemy with great courage for an independent Bangladesh. May God aid us in our fight for freedom.

 Joy Bangla."

Major Zia was requested by the rebel station to broadcast a message of independence to the people of Bangladesh.

At 7:45 pm on 26th March 1971, Major Zia broadcast the message which became historic in the struggle for independence.

"This is Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. I, Major Ziaur Rahman, at the direction of Bango Bondhu Mujibur Rahman, hereby declare that the independent People's Republic of Bangladesh has been established. At his direction, I have taken command as the temporary head of the republic. In the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I call upon all Bengalis to rise against the attack by the west Pakistani Army. We shall fight to the last to free our motherland. By the grace of Allah, victory is ours. 

Joy Bangla."

A Japanese ship anchored mid- stream in Chittagong harbor picked up Major Zia’s message. When the news of this declaration was broadcast by Radio Australia, the rest of the world to came know about our independence war.