The significance of Mujibnagar Day

The day, April 17, bears a great significance on our national life. The first expatriate government of Bangladesh was formed on April 10, 1971 and the independent Bangladesh government took oath at Mujibnagar in Meherpur and declared Bangladesh as an independent state on April 17. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was appointed as the president of this government. But he was imprisoned in Pakistan at that time. In his absence, Vice-President Syed Nazrul Islam acted as the interim president while Tajuddin Ahmad took charges as the prime minister.

While writing the memoirs of the swearing-in ceremony of the first government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, many words are floating in my mind. The day of March 25 is especially memorable. On this day, Mani Bhai and I bade farewell to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Before the f farewell, he hugged me and said, “Stay well. My country will be free. Carry out the instructions I have given you properly.”

On the night of March 25, we were at Mani Bhai's residence at Arambagh in Motijheel. At midnight, i.e. at zero hour, the Pakistan Army started the massacre of Bengalis according to the pre-planned blueprint of 'Operation Searchlight'. There were heavy firings all around. The Pakistan army killed over one lakh people in one night which is rare in the history of the world. I heard Yahya Khan's speech to the nation on March 26 on the radio. In his speech, he called the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu a ‘traitor’ and said, "Sheikh Mujib has been arrested." Awami League leaders including Sheikh Mujib should have been arrested earlier, I made a mistake.”

Then the curfew was imposed and on March 26, Awami League General Secretary MA Hannan repeatedly broadcasted Bangabandhu’s ‘Declaration of Independence’ from Chattogram Radio Centre and said, "The liberation war of Bangladesh is going on. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the 'Declaration of Independence' and said, ‘This may be my last message. Bangladesh is independent from today. I call upon the people of Bangladesh to confront the occupation army with whatever you have, wherever you are. You must oust the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation forces from the soil of Bangladesh and continue the struggle until the final victory is achieved’.''

Then when the curfew was relaxed for two hours, we took shelter in the house of our former MP Borhanuddin Gagan in Keraniganj. National leaders including Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Kamaruzzaman, Mani Bhai, Siraj Bhai, and Razzak Bhai along with the leaders of Swadhin Bangla Kendriya Chhatra Sangram Parishad were present there. It was decided that Mani Bhai and I, along with Mansur Ali Saheb and Kamaruzzaman Saheb, would go towards India. We had already decided on this journey. Bangabandhu had already arranged accommodation for us. When Bhutto started dilly-dallying about the transfer of power, on February 18, 1971, Bangabandhu made us memorise this address in front of four national leaders at his residence at 32 Dhanmondi, ‘Sunny Villa, 21 Rajendra Road, Northern Park, Bhabanipur, Kolkata’. Bangabandhu said, “You will stay there. I have made all the arrangements for you.” Starting our journey from Keraniganj on March 29, we reached India via Dohar-Nawabganj, Manikganj, Sirajganj, and Bogura on April 4, and took shelter in Sunny Villa. Tajuddin Ahmad and Barrister Amir-ul Islam came to meet us there.

On April 10, 1971, the 'Bangladesh Constituent Assembly' was formed by the newly elected members of the national and provincial constituencies. Baidyanath Tala of Meherpur was named as 'Mujibnagar' and declared as the capital. The 'Proclamation of Independence' was declared. The 'Proclamation of Independence' endorsed Bangabandhu's declaration of independence. Among the other things declared in the Proclamation of Independence, it was mentioned that “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be the head of state of the republic and Syed Nazrul Islam will be the deputy head of state until the constitution is made, and the head of state will be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the republic”.

Since Bangabandhu was imprisoned in Pakistan, the 'Proclamation of Independence' stipulated that 'if for any reason the Head of State is absent or if the Head of State is unable to attend or perform his duties and responsibilities, the Deputy Head of State shall have all the powers and duties conferred on him. According to the 'Proclamation of Independence', national leader Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed as Acting Head of State, national leader Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister, national leader Captain M Mansur Ali as Finance Minister, and national leader AHM Kamaruzzaman as Home Minister. Later, Colonel Osmani was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief in a cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. The great feature of this constitutional document – the 'Proclamation of Independence' – is that we, the members of the Bangladesh Constituent Assembly, have decided that ‘this declaration of our independence shall be deemed to be effective from March 26, 1971’.

At that time, the people of Bengal were uncompromising on the question of the liberation war. The first government of Bangladesh was sworn in on April 17. Before that, on April 16 late night, Mani Bhai, Siraj Bhai, Razzak bhai and I left Kolkata in a car at 3:00am, as a tour guide of the newly formed government, to Baidyanathtala in Meherpur near the border, which has been renamed as Mujibnagar. As soon as the sun rose, we entered the Amrakanan of Meherpur, a free area of our dear motherland. Many local and foreign journalists were with us. Strict confidentiality was maintained. There were fears that the Pakistan Army might launch a bomb attack there. There was a large crowd from surrounding areas including Meherpur.

At that moment, the sky and air were filled with the slogan of 'Joy Bangla'. The international world was watching with amazement the emergence of a new democratic state. The day was Saturday. At 11:10am, the top leaders came towards the dais from the west side with strong strides. The united masses, determined to liberate the country, made the sky and the air resound with the slogan of ‘Joy Bangla’ in unison with us.

A small stage was set up at the swearing-in venue in Mujibnagar. Acting Head of State Syed Nazrul Islam ascended the stage first. An armed group of freedom fighters led by Jhenaidah SDPO Mahbubuddin Ahmed provided a 'guard of honour' to the head of state. Then Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed, cabinet members and Chief of Staff Colonel Osmani came to the stage. The volunteers present gave a hearty welcome to the leaders by throwing flowers. The swearing-in ceremony began with the presentation of Abdul Mannan, MCA, president of the editorial board of the government's mouthpiece 'Joy Bangla'. Chief Whip Professor Yusuf Ali read the historical document of the new state, 'Proclamation of Independence'. Deliverance verses were recited from the Holy Scriptures.

There were clouds in the sky. With the hoisting of the flag of independent Bangladesh, four brave sons of the Bengali mother poured out their hearts and sang the national anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla, I love you'. Everyone present there joined them. A wonderful atmosphere was created then. Acting Head of State Syed Nazrul Islam said at the beginning of the speech given in English, "As the Acting President, I have appointed Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister and on his advice I have appointed three others as ministers." He then introduced the Prime Minister and the cabinet members. Then he announced the names of Colonel Osmani as the Commander-in-Chief and Colonel Abdur Rab as the Chief of Army Staff.

The Acting Head of State Syed Nazrul Islam expressed optimism at the end of his emotional speech and said, "Our President Sheikh Mujib, the personification of the oppressed people, is imprisoned today for fighting for the political, economic and cultural rights of the people of Bengal. Our freedom struggle will be won under his leadership.”

After taking oath as Prime Minister, Tajuddin Ahmad said in an unprecedented and unforgettable speech, "Pakistan is dead today and its grave is buried under the corpses of countless children of Adam. Yahya should have thought that he was creating Pakistan's grave before he got drunk on pre-planned genocide.”

Explaining the overall situation of the liberation war, he said at the end of the speech, "In the struggle to protect our existence, we wish for the friendship of every small and big nation in the world. We presented our statement to the people of the world. No other nation in the world can claim more freedom than us, because no other nation has struggled harder than us, has not struggled more. Joy Bangla.”

Both the Acting Head of State and the Prime Minister said what needed to be said in the reality of the time. This directional speech by our top two leaders was historic and unique. National leaders, elected MCAs, local public representatives, political leaders, journalists of international and national repute, Pabna District Commissioner Nurul Quader Khan, Meherpur Deputy Commissioner Taufiq-e-Ilahi Chowdhury and many others were present there.

The state and the government were formed on that day by reflecting the will of the representatives in a democratic manner through systematization, keeping the political continuity intact, and gaining constitutional legitimacy. And the legal basis of all these was the 'Proclamation of Independence' given by Bangabandhu. The main goal of organizing the oath ceremony of the state and the government established on April 10 and April 17, 1971, at the beginning of the liberation war was to ensure the constitutional legitimacy in the political continuity and to free Bangladesh from enemies through people's war with the support of the whole world. During the liberation war, at the training camp of Mujib Bahini in Dehradun, we used to say in unison, “Bangabandhu Mujib, we don't know where you are, how you are. But we will not go back to mother's lap until we can free the dear motherland and you.”

During the bloody days of the Liberation War, the detained Mujib was stronger than the free Mujib. The killer Mushtaq, the master of the conspirators, immediately asked us the question, “Do you want Mujib alive, or do you want freedom?” We used to say, “We want both. We want freedom, we want Bangabandhu too.” We were able to free Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Mujib through the noble sacrifice of 30 lakh lives and two lakh noble mothers and sisters.

On this great day of swearing-in ceremony of the first government, we remember the immortal memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Kamaruzzaman with deep respect. Four national leaders stood by Bangabandhu in life and death. Stayed in the dark cell of the prison, embraced death, but did not betray. Their contribution will be written in golden letters on the pages of history. Today's independent and sovereign People's Republic of Bangladesh is the result of their self-sacrifice for the freedom of the beloved motherland. The heroic contribution of national leaders in the history of the national liberation struggle should be remembered everywhere. It is our pledge to increase national dignity and glory by remembering the glorious days of national history with due dignity.

Author: Advisory Board Member of Bangladesh Awami League and a lawmaker of Bangladesh National Parliament