The decision by President Yahya Khan to indefinitely postpone the national assembly session was a pivotal moment in the political landscape of Pakistan. Following the general elections held in December 1970, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory, securing an overwhelming majority of seats in the assembly. The party's success was largely based on its demand for greater autonomy for East Pakistan, reflecting deep-seated grievances about governance, economic disparity, and political exclusion faced by the eastern wing of the country.

However, the central government, dominated by West Pakistan, hesitated to transfer power to the Awami League, which intensified tensions between the two wings of the country. The announcement to postpone the assembly session, viewed as a blatant dismissal of the legitimate electoral outcome, catalyzed widespread unrest in East Pakistan. This led to protests, strikes, and a surge in civil disobedience, manifesting in a collective refusal to comply with government authority. The situation escalated as leaders and grassroots activists sought to galvanize public opinion against the central government's oppressive tactics.

In the lead-up to the suspension, the atmosphere in East Pakistan had become increasingly charged, with students, workers, and various societal factions uniting against the administration's inaction regarding their democratic rights. Additionally, there were significant calls for self-determination, resulting in a profound polarization of public sentiment. The deferral of the assembly session eventually set the stage for a violent confrontation, culminating in the Bangladesh Liberation War later that year, as demands for independence reached a boiling point.