DHAKA, April 17, 2019 (BSS) – The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed today marking the formation of Bangladesh’s first government that led the War of Liberation in 1971.
On April 17, 48 years ago, the tiny mango grove-covered village of Baidyanathtala witnessed the swearing-in ceremony of the provisional government of Bangladesh and millions of freedom-loving people listened to the announcement of the formation of the government over radio.
Cross section of people, socio cultural organizations, Bangladesh Awami League and its front organizations paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi on the occasion.
Thousands of people gathered on Dhanmondi-32 road in the morning and chanted slogans like “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu, Jamaat-Shibir-Razakar, Leave Bangla at this moment,” and “No place for killers on the soil of Mujib”.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city in the morning.
After laying the wreath, she stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of the country’s independence.
Flanked by central leaders of her party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party.
Among others, AL advisory council member Tofail Ahmed, presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru and Muhammad Faruk Khan, joint general secretary Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organizing secretaries ABM Mozammel Haque, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, AKM Enamul Haque Shamim and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, publicity and publication secretary Dr Hasan Mahmood, agriculture and cooperatives affairs secretary Faridun Nahar Laily, science and technology affairs secretary engineer Abdus Sabur, information and research secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, forest and environment affairs secretary Delwar Hossain, youth and sports secretary Harun-ur-Rashid and central member Mirza Azam were present.
Later, leaders of AL’s associate bodies, including Jubo League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Jubo Mohila League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League and Krishak League laid wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
The Mujibnagar Government led the war of liberation in 1971 and freed the country from the clutches of Pakistani occupation forces on December 16 the same year, fighting a nine-month war.
On the occasion of the historic Mujibnagar Day, Meherpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ataul Gani started the day’s activities by hoisting national flag atop the Mujibnagar Memorial Museum in the morning.
Following placing wreaths by the ministers, prominent personalities along with political leaders in Mujibnagar Liberation War Memorial Center in the morning, the freedom fighters, BGB, Police, Ansar and VDP, scouts as well as school students gave guard of honor and displayed parade marking the day.
Immediately after the parade, Ansar and VDP presented a musical drama titled ‘Bodle jao, Bodle dau’ to underscore the significance of the day.
Later, a discussion meeting on ‘Mujibnagar Day’ was held at Mujibnagar Sheikh Hasina stage around 10.45am under the arrangement of Mujibnagar Day Celebration Committee (MDCC) of Awami League (AL).
With AL presidium member and convener of MDCC Engineer Mosharraf Hossain in the chair, the discussion meeting was addressed, among others by AL Advisory Council Member Amir Hossain Amu, Acting General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, AL organizing secretary and Jatiya Sangsad whip Abu Sayeed Al-Mahmud Swapan, State minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Meherpur-2 constituency lawmaker Shahiduzzaman Khokon and Magura-1 constituency lawmaker Advocate Saifuzzaman Shikhor.
Besides, a cultural programme was held on Mujibnagar Liberation War Memorial Center premises.
On the occasion, various important buildings and structures, main roads and roadways of Meherpur district and Mujibnagar upazilas were decorated with national flags and other flags and illumination.
Newspapers also published special supplements and electronic media aired various programmes on the occasion.