Mujibnagar Day today, which is marked by a historic episode of the country’s national struggle during Liberation War of Bangladesh.
On this day in 1971, the first government of independent and sovereign Bangladesh officially took oath under the mango orchard in Baidyanathtala in the Meherpur sub-division of Kushtia district.
The Mujibnagar government was formed with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as President, Syed Nazrul Islam as Vice President (and Acting President in the absence of Sheikh Mujib) and Tajuddin Ahmad as Prime Minister. General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Muktibahini, the guerrilla outfit of Liberation War.
The oath-taking venue, Baidyanathtala, was renamed Mujibnagar in honor of President in absentia. Syed Nazrul Islam, the Vice President of wartime government, received Guard of Honour from a tiny squad of 12 Ansar members.
The Pakistani occupation forces launched a brutal massacre on the unarmed Bengali population on the black night of March 25, 1971. In a bid to bolster resistance against genocide committed by the Pakistani occupation forces a Provisional Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was officially formed on April 10, 1971 to serve as wartime government to coordinate ongoing liberation war, relief and rescue operation, to gain support in favour of liberation war from friendly nations and to represent Bangladesh in international forums.
Bangladesh continued Liberation War against Pakistan under the leadership of the Mujibnagar Government. Eventually, Bangladesh waged a nine-month-long armed struggle and achieved a historic victory, culminating in independence on December 16, 1971.