Bangladesh
Mujibnagar Day Zia was employed by Mujibnagar Govt with a salary of Rs 400: Information Minister
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, April 18: Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said the BNP does not observe Mujibnagar Day on April 17, while Ziaur Rahman was in the service of the Mujibnagar government with a salary of Rs 400.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on the occasion of Mujibnagar Day and unveiling of the book titled 'Sangbad Shironame Bangabandhu' (Bangabandhu in News Headlines) at the meeting room of the Information Ministry at the Secretariat on Sunday.
The meeting was chaired by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md. Maqbool Hossain and was attended by Director General of Bangladesh Press Institute Zafar Wazed, Director General of Film and Publication Department S M Golam Kibria and Chief Information Officer Md. Shahenur Mia.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting said, "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could not take oath as he was in prison in Pakistan. The government formed under his leadership took oath on this day in 1971 at Mujibnagar in Kushtia. This first government of Bangladesh, Mujibnagar Government, led the whole war of liberation. Sector commanders of the liberation war were appointed under this government."
Referring to BNP's non-observance of Mujibnagar Day as denying the history of Bangladesh's liberation war and freedom struggle, Dr. Hasan said, "Today, the BNP, which was founded by Ziaur Rahman, does not observe Mujibnagar Day. However, Ziaur Rahman was an employee under the Mujibnagar government with a salary of Rs 400. However, I have a question whether Ziaur Rahman fought in the liberation war or acted as a spy for the Pakistanis. In fact, Ziaur Rahman acted as a spy for Pakistan in the guise of liberation war."
Recalling the role of journalists on Mujibnagar Day, the minister said, "Members of the Mujibnagar government and local and foreign journalists all started their journey from the Calcutta (now Kolkata) Press Club at midnight to join the oath taking ceremony. Later everyone gathered at Baidyanathtala Amrakan in Meherpur subdivision of Kushtia district, later the place was named Mujibnagar. We are grateful to all the journalists who have spread the news around the world."
