Mujibnagar Day today

The historic Mujibnagar Day will be observed today marking the formation of Bangladesh’s first government that led the War of Liberation in 1971.

Senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala, a mango orchard, which was later named as Mujibnagar in Meherpur district, on April 17, 1971 to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh in the absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was arrested and flown to Pakistan after Pakistan military had cracked down on the Bangalis on the night of March 25, 1971.

Bangabandhu was declared the first president of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, while Vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam became the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu.

Tajuddin Ahmad was appointed the first prime minister, while Khandoker Moshtaque Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman were named cabinet members, UNB reports.

To mark the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages.

Awami League and different socio-economic organizations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city at 7am.