Mujibnagar Day being observed

The historic Mujibnagar Day is being observed on Thursday to mark the formation of Bangladesh’s first government to lead the War of Liberation in 1971. The ruling Awami League (AL), its associate bodies and different other political parties and organisations have chalked out separate programmes to observe the day. The AL started its programme of the day with hoisting of the national and party flags in the morning. Senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala (now Mujibnagar) in Meherpur district on April 17 in 1971 to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh in the absence of Bangabandhu who was arrested and flown to Pakistan after Pakistan military cracked down on the Bengalees on the night of March 25, 1971. Baidyanathtala, then a mango orchard. Syed Nazrul Islam became the Acting President of Bangladesh in the absence of Bangabandhu while Tajuddin Ahmad was appointed the first Prime Minister of the country. Khandoker Moshtaque Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman were named cabinet members. The interim government named General MAG Osmani as Commander-in-Chief of Mukti Bahini and appointed Major General Abdur Rob as the Chief of Staff. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion, according to UNB.