Historic Mujibnagar Day today

BD Digest Report

Today is the historic Mujibnagar Day, April 17. A unique day in the history of Bangladesh’s independence struggle and liberation war.

On this day in 1971, during the Liberation War, the first provisional government of independent Bangladesh was formally sworn in at Amrakanan in Baidyanathtala village of Meherpur. Baidyanathtala was later named as the historic Mujibnagar.

Bangladesh achieved independence on December 16, 1971, through a 9-month armed liberation war under the successful leadership of the Provisional Government.

After the Pakistani occupying forces carried out a barbaric attack on unarmed Bengalis on the night of March 25, 1971, the establishment of Bangladesh as a sovereign People’s Republic was officially declared on April 10.

The proclamation issued on this day declared Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the President of the Republic and Syed Nazrul Islam as the Vice-President of the Republic until the constitution was framed.

In addition, Tajuddin Ahmed became the Prime Minister of the interim government, Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed became the Foreign Minister, Captain Muhammad Mansur Ali became the Finance Minister, and AHM Kamaruzzaman became the Home, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister.

General Ataul Ghani Osmani was appointed commander-in-chief of the Provisional Government’s Liberation Army and Major General Abdur Rab was appointed chief of staff.

On April 11, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed delivered a radio address to the nation, which was broadcast several times on Akashvani. Through Tajuddin’s speech, people at home and abroad came to know that a legal government had been formed to lead the liberation struggle of Bangladesh. As a result, on the morning of April 17, the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was formally sworn in at Mujibnagar.

The next day, newspapers and media outlets at home and abroad published the news of the swearing-in ceremony on April 17 with special emphasis. This day has immense significance as the formal inauguration or formal debut of the Bangladesh government.

Dhaka’s Liberation War Museum has organized a special program on the occasion of Mujibnagar Day on Friday (April 17). In the program organized at the museum’s seminar hall at 5 pm, a solo lecture on ‘Bangladesh Government during the Liberation War: Formation and Significance’ will be delivered by Dr. Mohammad Fayek Uzzaman, Professor of the Department of Islamic History and Culture of Rajshahi University.

The program will feature a documentary and recitation about the Bangladesh government during the Liberation War.