On this historic Mujibnagar Day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina honored Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, by laying a wreath at his image at Dhanmondi 32.
At seven in the morning, she laid the wreath in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, at the portrait of the Father of the Nation.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the prime minister observed a period of solemn silence to pay tribute to Bangabandhu, the man responsible for Bangladesh’s independence.
Later, Sheikh Hasina, the President of the Awami League (AL), put another wreath at Bangabandhu’s image as the head of the party, accompanied by prominent party leaders.
The historic Mujibnagar Day is being observed today to mark the formation of Bangladesh’s first government to lead the War of Liberation in 1971.
Leaders and activists of AL, as well, placed wreaths at the graves of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad and M Mansur Ali at Banani Graveyard here.
The ruling Awami League and its associate bodies are observing the historic Mujibnagar Day amid due enthusiasm and importance as various programmes have been chalked out on the occasion.
National and party flags were flown this morning atop all party offices throughout the nation, including the central office and the Bangabandhu Bhaban grounds.
The historic Mujibnagar Day commemorates the 17 April 1971 oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s first government.
Senior Awami League leaders gathered at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur on April 17, 1971, following the Pakistan army’s genocide against unarmed Bangalees on the dark night of March 25, 1971, to form the interim government of independent Bangladesh.
Baidyanathtala, primarily a mango orchard, was subsequently renamed Mujibnagar with the formal establishment of Bangladesh’s interim government.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first president of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed as the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu.
The first prime minister to be selected was Tajuddin Ahmed, with AHM Qamaruzzaman and Capt. M. Mansur Ali serving in the government.
Major General Abdur Rob was appointed head of staff, and General MAG Osmani was named commander-in-chief of Mukti Bahini by the provisional government.
The War of Liberation was successfully led by the interim administration, and on December 16, 1971, it was declared victorious.
