DHAKA: The nation is observing the historic Mujibnagar Day on Thursday commemorating the formation of the maiden government of the country with father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as President.
Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes placing flower wreaths at the portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi area of the capital on 7:15am followed by paying tributes by the leaders of Awami League.
The national and party flags have been kept hoisting atop at all offices of Awami League across the country at 6:00am.
Tributes also paid by placing wreaths at Banani graves of the national leaders – Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed and Captain M Mansur Ali – in the capital and at the grave of AHM Quamaruzzaman in Rajshahi city in the morning.
Different social, cultural and political parties, including AL and its associate bodies, socio-cultural and professional bodies, have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.
Besides, AL central leaders will place wreaths at Mujibnagar Memorial in Meherpur at 11:00am followed by a rally there at 11:30am.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu is expected to address the rally as chief guest while Health Minister Mohammad Nasim will chair the programme.
Senior leaders, including Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, BM Mozammel Haque, Habibur Rahman Siraj, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Subhas Chandra Bose, Munnujan Sufiyan, SM Kamal Hossain and Junaid Ahmed Palak, are likely to participate in the programmes at Mujibnagar.
Dhaka city unit will hold a rally in front of its party office on Bangabandhu Avenue to observe the Day.
On this very day in 1971, the Bangladesh government in exile was formed at the Mango Orchard at Baidyanathtala under erstwhile Meherpur sub-division (now district) in Kushtia district during the country’s War of Independence.
Nazrul Islam was made acting president as the Pakistani junta arrested Bangabandhu from his Dhanmondi residence soon after a crack-down on unarmed Bangalees on the fateful night of March 25 in 1971.
The Pakistan government held Bangabandhu captive at Milanwali Jail in West Pakistan for nine months during the country’s liberation war.
Tajuddin had taken oath as prime minister of the exile government while Captain Mansur took oath as finance minister, Quamaruzzaman as home minister and Col (later General) Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani was appointed as the chief of army staff.
In absence of the father of the nation, four leaders – Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Mansur Ali and Quamaruzzaman – led the nine-month war of independence successfully and liberated the country from the clutches of the Pakistani forces on December 16 in 1971.
BDST: 0915 HRS APR 17, 2014
