Bangladesh
Mujibnagar Day Historic Mujibnagar Day today
Dhaka, April 17: Today is historic Mujibnagar Day — an unforgettable day in the long history of Bangladesh's freedom struggle.
During the Liberation War in 1971, the first provisional government of independent Bangladesh was formally sworn in on April 17 at Amrakanan in Baidyanathtala village of Meherpur. Later this Baidyanathtala was named as historical Mujibnagar. Before this, the independent sovereign government of Bangladesh was formed on April 10 of the same year. Following this, the government took oath on April 17 at Baidyanathtala. On April 11, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed gave a radio address to the nation. This speech of his was broadcast several times by Akashbani. In this speech, he gave the details of the war of resistance conducted across the country.
Also, April 17 is the date of swearing-in of the cabinet. It is through Tajuddin's speech that the people of the country and abroad can know that a legitimate government has been formed to lead the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. In the course of this, the People's Republic of Bangladesh government was established by officially taking oath in Mujibnagar on the morning of 17th April.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh on March 26 before his arrest after the brutal attack on unarmed Bengalis by the Pakistani invading forces in Kalora on March 25, 1971. Later on April 10, the establishment of Bangladesh as a sovereign People's Republic was officially announced. At the same time, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's declaration of independence on March 26 was strongly supported and approved by an ordinance of the expatriate government. HT Imam, a former adviser to the Prime Minister, served as the Cabinet Secretary in the Mujibnagar government.
On April 10, elected members of the National and Provincial Councils of Pakistan met at a location in West Bengal, India to form a government-in-exile. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected as President and Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice-President (Provisional President). Syed Nazrul Islam later elected Tajuddin Ahmad as the Prime Minister.
The other members of the cabinet are M Mansoor Ali (Finance, Commerce and Industry) and AHM Kamaruzzaman (Home, Supplies, Relief, Rehabilitation and Agriculture). Later, Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmad (Foreign Affairs, Law and Parliament), the most hated person in Bangabandhu's cabinet, was also a member of the cabinet. General Ataul Ghani Osmani was appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the Provisional Government's Mukti Bahini and Major General Abdur Rab as Chief of Staff.
Abdul Mannan MNA conducted the oath taking ceremony at Baidyanathtala border village of Meherpur and Prof Yusuf Ali MNA read the declaration of independence. The caretaker president of the newly formed government, Syed Nazrul Islam, was given a guard of honour there.
