On April 17, 1971, the first Government of Bangladesh took its oath at the area now known as Mujibnagar in Meherpur, a southwestern district near the Indian border.
At the time, the area was known as Baidyanathtala, a deep mango orchard in Meherpur Mahakuma. It was renamed Mujibnagar after the formation ceremony of the provisional government in 1971.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first president of the Mujibnagar government, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu.
Tajuddin Ahmed was appointed as the first prime minister, while Capt M Mansur Ali, AHM Qamaruzzaman and Khondoker Moshtaque Ahmed were named cabinet members.
The oath-taking ceremony was held in secret and amid tight security due to fears of air raids by Pakistani forces. Several noted individuals who were involved in the formation of the government told this correspondent that the ceremony was supposed to take place at the Sreemanto Town Hall of Chuadanga, in the centre of the city, but the venue was shifted following airstrikes in the area on April 10 and 16.
Barrister M Amir-ul Islam, who drafted the proclamation of independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and was a close associate of Tajuddin Ahmed during the formation of Mujibnagar government, told Dhaka Tribune: “At first, the oath taking ceremony was supposed to be held at Chuadanga, but this information got leaked to journalists. We then secretly chose the Mango orchard of Meherpur, which is near the Indian border.
“When the information was leaked, we didn't trust anyone. We booked and hired all the cars of Kolkata to go to the oath-taking venue at Mujibnagar, and also told foreign journalists to be ready in the early morning to cover the ceremony."
When asked why Awami League leaders choose the Chuadanga-Meherpur region for the ceremony, Azadul Islam Azad, who was the convener of Darshana Chhatra Sangram Parishad, said: “From March 25 to April 16, we were able to keep our area (from Jessore cantonment to Jhenaidah, Chuadanga and Meherpur) free from the Pakistani occupation forces. That's why maximum Awami league leaders chose this region's borders to move to Kolkata during the Liberation War.”
He also said: “On April 10, when the Mujibnagar government was formed, and later on April 16, just before the oath-taking day, Pakistani aircraft dropped bombs on Chuadanga. After that, the venue was shifted to Meherpur."
Azadul Islam, also general secretary of Chuadanga District Awami league, said: “During the Liberation War, Chuadanga has a very glorious history, but we have lost some recognition due to some unavoidable situations. We demand Chuadanga be recognized as the first capital of Bangladesh, as the first government of this country was supposed to take its oath there.”
Captain (retd) Mohammad Abdul Malek, a freedom fighter of Meherpur district, also said close proximity to the border made it easier for AL leaders to go back and forth from Kolkata.
“In 1971, Baidyanathtola was a deep mango orchard full of lots of trees. It was not like today's orchard. It was tough for aircraft to pick out targets in the orchard, that's why the area was chosen instead of Chuadanga after the air raids,” he added.
The oath-taking was witnessed by hundreds of foreign journalists, who had assembled there to hail the birth of a new nation.
Monday's programs
The ruling Awami League and its associate bodies will observe the historic Mujibnagar Day with due enthusiasm and importance, and various programs have been chalked out to mark the day.
The national and party flags will be hoisted at all party offices across the country, including the central office, and at the Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at 6am on Monday.
Wreaths will be laid at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the Bangabandhu Bhaban premises around 7am.
At Mujibnagar, the national and party flags will be hoisted around 6am, tributes will be paid at the mausoleum at 10am, a guard of honour will be given at 10:15am and a public rally marking Mujibnagar Day will be held at Sheikh Hasina Mancha at 11am.
Central and local Awami League leaders will attend the programs.
