Historic Mujibnagar Day to be observed amid pandemic on Saturday

Several programs have been planned to observe the historic Mujibnagar Day on Saturday in compliance with health rules in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to issue separate messages on the eve of the day recalling the historic event.

The day will begin with the hoisting of the national flag at sunrise at the Liberation War Memorial Centre in Mujibnagar in Meherpur district.

Later, wreaths will be laid at 9:30am at the Liberation War Memorial Center in Mujibnagar abiding by health guidelines.

Led by Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, a wreath will be laid at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at Dhanmondi 32 in the city at 10am.

On this day, various socio-cultural organizations will hold virtual discussions and meetings while similar programs will be held at district and upazila levels and also at Bangladesh embassies abroad highlighting the significance of the day.

Newspapers will publish special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private TV channels will air different programs highlighting significance of the day.

The historic Mujibnagar Day is observed every year marking the oath-taking ceremony of the country's first government on April 17, 1971.

Following the Pakistan army’s genocide on unarmed Bangladeshis on the black night of March 25 in 1971, senior leaders of the 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 the ceremonial formation of the provisional government of Bangladesh.

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.

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 General MAG Osmani as the commander-in-chief of the Mukti Bahini (liberation army) and appointed Major General Abdur Rob as the chief of staff.

The provisional government gave successful leadership to the War of Liberation for achieving victory on December 16.