Historic Mujibnagar Day
April 17 was
significant in the sense that the world now knew that the Bengalis now have a government of their own and the Liberation War was now being directed by them
The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed in a befitting manner in Bangladesh yesterday. April 17 is considered as a red-letter day in the history of Bangladesh. On this day, the first Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was formed with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the President and Syed Nazrul Islam as the Acting President of the newly formed Government. Tajuddin Ahmed was named the Prime Minister of the cabinet along with Captain Mansur Ali, AHM Kamruzzaman as members of the cabinet. The site of the formal declaration of Independence was read out at Baidyanath Tala, near Meherpur, Kushtia within Bangladesh territory. Though the government was only symbolically established on that day in the soil of Bangladesh, it had to be swiftly relocated to India as a government in exile. It had to be so as it was not practically possible to run this government inside Bangladesh at that time because it was under the occupation of Pakistani forces and their local collaborators.
This was significant in the sense that the world now knew that the Bengalis now have a government of their own and the Liberation War was now being directed by them. The day marked the resolve of the people of Bangladesh to give a signal to the world that they would not compromise with Pakistani authorities come what may and that they were well organized to reach their goal of independence and full nationhood. The place where the formal declaration was read out by Yusuf Ali is a mango orchard.
The Acting President took the salute as the small army and freedom fighters gave him a guard of honour. Significantly, it was an orchard at Plassey where the Bengalis lost their independence. Happily, it was another mango orchard that restored its freedom and established it as an independent state. Though Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could not preside on a day to basis over this government because he was then held captive in West Pakistan, he was a great source of inspiration for those who made this government good enough to promote and carry forward the tasks of winning Bangladeshs liberation war against Pakistan. On this day, we pay respects to Bangabandhu and the four national leaders whose sacrifice saw the birth of the Peoples Republic of the Government of Bangladesh. The place has aptly been renamed Mujibnagar to pay due respect to the Father of the Nation.
