PM pays homage to Bangabandhu to mark Mujibnagar Day

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has paid tribute at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in the capital Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.

Members of her cabinet accompanied her in the programme on Friday morning.

The ruling party started the day's programme by hoisting national flag and the party flag at the Bangabandhu Bhaban and all its party offices across the country at 6am on Wednesday.

The first government-in-exile was formed on Apr 10, 1971 in Kushtia district. But the oath-taking of the exile cabinet was held on Apr 17 in a mango grove of Badyanath Tala on the Bangladesh-India border.

Later it was renamed 'Mujibnagar' and the provisional government in exile there came to be known as 'Mujibnagar Government'.

Mujibnagar was also declared the first capital of independent Bangladesh.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages to mark the historical day.

In his message, the president remembered the father of the nation and four national leaders with deep respect.

He said the provisional government contributed greatly to the conduct of the Liberation War, generate public support in the international arena for Bangladesh, aid refugees and war devastated people.

The prime minister said the people are now united against those working against the spirit of the liberation and development.

“I urge the people to be inspired by the spirit of the Mujibnagar Day and devote themselves to building a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy as dreamt by Bangabandhu.”

On the day Vice-President Syed Nazrul Islam had taken oath as the acting president of the provisional government in exile in absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The government consisted of Tajuddin Ahmed as the first prime minister, Capt M Monsur Ali as finance minister, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad foreign minister and HM Qamruzzaman as the home, and relief and rehabilitation minister. Col Ataul Gani Osmani was appointed the chief commander of Bangladesh liberation army 'Mukti Fauj'.

A day after the government was formed, Tajuddin Ahmed addressed the nation. With it, the world came to know that a government had been formed.

The skilled leadership of the 'government in exile' won the war within nine months, which gave birth to the new nation on Dec 16, 1971.