New Delhi Correspondent
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday observed the historic Mujibnagar Day in a befitting manner.
On this day in 1971, the first government of independent Bangladesh was sworn in at Baidyanathtala (Mujibnagar) in what is 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 absence of Bangabandhu who was arrested and jailed in a West Pakistan prison. The significance of the role the 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 added. Muazzem Ali paid tributes to Bangabandhu the four national leaders, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Capt. Mansur Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman.
The discussion was addressed among others 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 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.
