Bangladesh mission observes Mujibnagar Day

Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi observed the historic Mujibnagar Day on April 17, in a befitting manner.

On this day in 1971, the first government of independent Bangladesh was sworn in at Baidyanathtala (Mujibngar) in now-Meherpur district naming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the president, Syed Nazrul Islam as vice-president and Tajuddin Ahmed as the Prime Minister. Syed Nazrul was made acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu who was arrested and jailed in a West Pakistan prison.

The significance of the role provisional government of Bangladesh played in leading the nine-month War of Liberation and mobilising international opinion and support was discussed at a meeting held at the mission.

High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali, a freedom fighter diplomat, presided over the discussion meeting.

"The liberation war stands out as the most glorious chapter in the history of our independence struggle against Pakistan," said the envoy.

"This has been our pride and I feel proud to be associated with this unforgettable part of our history," he said. He paid tributes to Bangabandhu – the greatest Bengali of all times, the four national leaders, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Capt Mansur Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman.

The discussion was also addressed by Brig Gen A K Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, Defence Adviser, Selim Jahangir, Minister (Consular), Jamal Uddin Ahmed, counsellor and Zakir Ahmed, first secretary.

The Mujibnagar Day messages of President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out respectively by Dr A K M Atiqul Haque, counsellor (commerce) and Shahed bin Aziz, first secretary. A special prayer was offered for the progress and development of the country.