Historic Mujibnagar Day

Today the nation is observing the historic Mujibnagar Day with due respect and solemnity. This day is one of the most important days in the history of our struggle for liberation. On this day, the representatives of the people of Bangladesh, elected through the 1970 general elections, at a milestone gathering at Baidyanathtola in Meherpur (renamed as Mujibnagar) formally endorsed the proclamation of the independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the early hours of 26 March 1971 and the provisional government formed on 10 April 1971 to lead the Liberation War. The provisional government, better known as Mujibnagar government, took oath of office on April 17.

 The provisional government of Bangladesh was formed with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the President, Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice President, Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister, Khandakar Mustaque Ahmed as Foreign Minister, Capt (Retd) M Mansur Ali as Finance Minister and AHM Qamaruzzaman as Home Minister. It was decided that Syed Nazrul Islam would perform the responsibility of Acting President in the absence of Bangabandhu. Col (Retd) MAG Osmani was made the Commander-in-Chief.

Following the formation of the government, the nation’s formal journey on the road to liberation had begun and the struggle for independence attained legitimacy and acceptability from the people across the world. Moreover, it was this formal proclamation of independence by the people’s elected representatives that ultimately formed the basis of all laws including the constitution of the country. More importantly, soon after the formation of the provisional government, the leaders made some crucial steps to achieve the goal of independence. They convinced foreign governments to support Bangladesh in its struggle for liberation and organised freedom fighters across the nook and cranny of the country.  They urged the world community to extend military assistance to Bangladeshi freedom fighters and accord diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh.

The establishment of the Mujibnagar government was an absolute necessity for another reason. Had it not been put in place, it is reasonably certain that diffuse guerilla movements would have spawned all over the country without any form of central control. The danger inherent in such politics lies in an absence of legitimacy. And in Bangladesh's politics at that point in time, the absence of the Mujibnagar government would only have given the freedom struggle a clearly secessionist hue.

 It is rightly said that Bangladesh had lost her independence in the war at the mango orchard of Plassy in 1757. And the country regained that lost freedom on 17 April 1971 with the formation of Mujibnagar government. The heroes of Liberation War will never be forgotten.

 

Historic Mujibnagar Day

Today the nation is observing the historic Mujibnagar Day with due respect and solemnity. This day is one of the most important days in the history of our struggle for liberation. On this day, the representatives of the people of Bangladesh, elected through the 1970 general elections, at a milestone gathering at Baidyanathtola in Meherpur (renamed as Mujibnagar) formally endorsed the proclamation of the independence by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the early hours of 26 March 1971 and the provisional government formed on 10 April 1971 to lead the Liberation War. The provisional government, better known as Mujibnagar government, took oath of office on April 17. The provisional government of Bangladesh was formed with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the President, Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice President, Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister, Khandakar Mustaque Ahmed as Foreign Minister, Capt (Retd) M Mansur Ali as Finance Minister and AHM Qamaruzzaman as Home Minister. It was decided that Syed Nazrul Islam would perform the responsibility of Acting President in the absence of Bangabandhu. Col (Retd) MAG Osmani was made the Commander-in-Chief. Following the formation of the government, the nations formal journey on the road to liberation had begun and the struggle for independence attained legitimacy and acceptability from the people across the world. Moreover, it was this formal proclamation of independence by the peoples elected representatives that ultimately formed the basis of all laws including the constitution of the country. More importantly, soon after the formation of the provisional government, the leaders made some crucial steps to achieve the goal of independence. They convinced foreign governments to support Bangladesh in its struggle for liberation and organised freedom fighters across the nook and cranny of the country. They urged the world community to extend military assistance to Bangladeshi freedom fighters and accord diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh. The establishment of the Mujibnagar government was an absolute necessity for another reason. Had it not been put in place, it is reasonably certain that diffuse guerilla movements would have spawned all over the country without any form of central control. The danger inherent in such politics lies in an absence of legitimacy. And in Bangladeshs politics at that point in time, the absence of the Mujibnagar government would only have given the freedom struggle a clearly secessionist hue. It is rightly said that Bangladesh had lost her independence in the war at the mango orchard of Plassy in 1757. And the country regained that lost freedom on 17 April 1971 with the formation of Mujibnagar government. The heroes of Liberation War will never be forgotten.