Mujibnagar govt played historic role in freedom struggle of Bangladesh: Envoy

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran today highlighted the significance of the historic Mujibnagar Day, which falls on April 17, and said the Mujibnagar government played a historic role in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh.

"As an independent nation, we're forever indebted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the greatest Bengali nation of all time," he said.

Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi observed the day in advance today with due dignity.

To mark the Day, the High Commission organised a discussion meeting at Bangabandhu Hall of the Chancery in the afternoon with the high commissioner in the chair.

High Commissioner Imran paid tributes to Bangabandhu, the greatest Bangalee of all time, and the four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman.

On April 17, 1971, the first government of independent Bangladesh was sworn in at Baidyanathtala (Mujibnagar) 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 kept in a West Pakistan prison.

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

The Mujibnagar Day messages of President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out respectively.

A special prayer was offered for the progress and development of the country.