Bangladesh celebrates historic Mujibnagar Day today, to mark the oath taking by countrys first government at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur, later named Mujibnagar, on April 17, 1971.
Political parties, social and cultural organizations including ruling Awami League will celebrate the day.
Following the Pakistan armys genocide on unarmed Bengalis on the black night of March 25 in 1971, senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur on April 17 to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh.
Baidyanathtala, mainly a mango orchard, was later named Mujibnagar after ceremonial formation of the provisional government of Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed as the acting President in absence of Bangabandhu.
Tajuddin Ahmed was appointed as the first Prime Minister, while Khondoker Moshtaque Ahmed, Capt M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman were named as cabinet members.
The interim government named Gen MAG Osmani as Commander-in-Chief of Mukti Bahini and appointed Maj Gen Abdur Rab as Chief of Staff. The provisional government gave successful leadership to the War of Liberation an achieved victory on December 16.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued messages marking the day.
In his speech, President Mohammed Shahabuddin urged the countrymen to work together for building a non-communal, hunger and poverty-free, developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The President extended his heartiest greetings and congratulations to the countrymen and all Bangladeshis staying abroad.
He said April 17 is a memorable day in the long path of struggle for Independence of the Bengalis.
On this auspicious occasion, he recalled with profound respect the greatest Bengali of all time, architect of the great independence the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman -- under whose strong leadership the countrys great independence was achieved through the nine-month-long bloody War of Liberation.
Shahabuddin also recalled with deep respect the three million valiant freedom fighters who laid down their lives in the Liberation War, war heroines, martyred intellectuals and the people of all strata and foreign friends who joined and extended support to the war.
He said the journey of struggle for freedom against Pakistani occupational forces, which began through Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans historic March 7 speech, had got the institutional shape with the formation of Mujibnagar Government on April 10 in 1971.
The first government of independent and sovereign Peoples Republic of Bangladesh had taken oath on April 17 in 1971 at a mango orchard at Baidyanathtala in the then Meherpur sub-division.
With the formation of the Mujibnagar Government, a constitutional government had appeared to administer the Liberation War under the leadership of the representatives elected by the people in the 1970 election, he said.
Because of the formation of the government, the President said the world community extended their support and hands of cooperation to the Bangalees who were fighting an armed battle for independence.
He said the role that the Mujibnagar government played in building public opinion, refugee management and formulating war strategies will remain as a unique chapter of glory in the history of the Bengalis struggle for independence.
He also urged the countrymen to work from their respective position to build a Smart Bangladesh as planned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The President expressed his optimism that through observance of the Mujibnagar Day, the new generation would be able to know the countrys true history and would be encouraged them in building a prosperous country.
In her speech, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the countrymen to work together with the government for building a non-communal, hunger-and poverty-free, developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla cum Smart Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On this day in 1971, she said, the first provisional government of the independent Bangladesh had taken oath at a mango orchard at Baidyanathtala in the then Meherpur sub-division.
Meherpur turned into the capital of the provisional government and from that day, the place became familiar as Mujibnagar, she added.
The Prime Minister said within two hours after the completion of formalities of the Mujibnagar Government, Pakistani Air Force occupied Meherpur by carrying out bombings and attacks.
As a result, the provisional government was bound to take shelter in India and continued its activities from there, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said brutal killings and mayhem were continued in East Bengal after confining Bangabandhu to West Pakistani jail.
She said the anti-liberation evil forces assassinated Father of the Nation and most of his family members on August 15, 1975 within three and a half years of the countrys independence.
On the occasion of the historic Mujibnagar Day, the ruling AL has drawn up extensive programme.
The programmes include hoisting of national and party flags atop Bangabandhu Bhaban, the partys central and its all offices including district offices at 6:00am and placing of wreaths at the portrait of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at Dhanmondi at 7;00am.
Besides, the programmes at Mujibnagar include hoisting national and party flags at 6;00am, laying of wreaths at the memorial at 9:30am and giving guard of honour at 9:45am.
Marking the day, a public rally will be organized at Sheikh Hasina Mancha at Mujibnagar around 10:00am.
Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah will join the rally as the chief guest while AL Presidium Member and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hussain Rimi, partys Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretaries SM Kamal Hossain and Afzal Hossain will be present as special guests.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq will attend the rally as guest of honour.
AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim will chair the rally while Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque will moderate the function.
Lawmaker from Kishoreganj-1 Sayeda Zakia Noor Lipi, AL central working committee members Amirul Alam Milon, Parveen Jaman Kalpana, Gloria Sarkar Jharna, Nirmal Kumar Chattarjee, Meherpur district AL President Farhad Hossain and its General Secretary MA Khaleque and lawmaker from Meherpur-2 Abu Saleh Mohammad Nazmul Haque will also join the rally.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader urged the people of all strata including the leaders and workers of the party and its associate and like-minded bodies to observe the day with due respect.
Marking the day, newspapers will publish special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private TV channels will air different programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
