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| {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} | {{Short description|Town in Bangladesh; capital of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh}}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} | ||
| {{Use Bangladeshi English|date=August 2021}} | {{Use Bangladeshi English|date=August 2021}} | ||
| {{see also|Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh}} | |||
| ] at the Mujibnagar Memorial Monument and Complex]] | ] at the Mujibnagar Memorial Monument and Complex]] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| '''Mujibnagar''' ({{ |
'''Mujibnagar''' ({{langx|bn|মুজিবনগর}}), formerly known as '''Baidyanathtala''' (Boiddonathtola) and '''Bhoborpara''', is a town in the ] of ] in ], ].<ref name=Banglapedia>{{citation | ||
| |author=Md. Abu Hasan Farooque | |author=Md. Abu Hasan Farooque | ||
| |chapter=Meherpur District | |chapter=Meherpur District | ||
| |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Meherpur_District | |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Meherpur_District | ||
| |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> The ] was formed on 10 April 1971, however, sworn in on 17 April 1971 in this place by the elected representatives of the Bengalees (mostly belongling to Awami League), that led the ], who were leading the ] for the independence of Bangladesh (then ]) from ] in 1971.<ref name="1971 government">{{cite book |last=Faiquzzaman |first=Mohammad |year=2012 |chapter=Mujibnagar Government |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mujibnagar_Government |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=]}}</ref> The place was renamed Mujibnagar by the proclamation of independence,<ref>{{cite book |last=Miah |first=Sajahan |year=2012 |chapter=Proclamation of Independence |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Proclamation_of_Independence |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=]}}</ref> in honour of ], who declared Bangladesh independent.<ref name=Smriti>{{citation | |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=] |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> The ] was formed on 10 April 1971, however, sworn in on 17 April 1971 in this place by the elected representatives of the Bengalees (mostly belongling to Awami League), that led the ], who were leading the ] for the independence of Bangladesh (then ]) from ] in 1971.<ref name="1971 government">{{cite book |last=Faiquzzaman |first=Mohammad |year=2012 |chapter=Mujibnagar Government |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mujibnagar_Government |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=]}}</ref> The place was renamed Mujibnagar by the proclamation of independence,<ref>{{cite book |last=Miah |first=Sajahan |year=2012 |chapter=Proclamation of Independence |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Proclamation_of_Independence |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=]}}</ref> in honour of then imprisoned ], who had declared Bangladesh independent.<ref name=Smriti>{{citation | ||
| |author=Mohammad Faiquzzaman | |author=Mohammad Faiquzzaman | ||
| |chapter=Mujibnagar Smriti Saudha | |chapter=Mujibnagar Smriti Saudha | ||
| |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mujibnagar_Smriti_Saudha | |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mujibnagar_Smriti_Saudha | ||
| |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> The actual capital of the government while in ] was Calcutta. A memorial complex covering {{convert|20.10|acre|ha}} has been built at the site where the ministers of that first government took their ]. | |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |editor=Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |year=2012 |edition=Second}}</ref> The actual capital of the government while in ] was ]. A memorial complex covering {{convert|20.10|acre|ha}} has been built at the site where the ministers of that first government took their ]. | ||
| ==Formation== | ==Formation== | ||
| Following the failure of last-ditch talks on the formation of a government, Pakistani president ] ordered the Pakistani Army to launch ] to suppress the nationalist movement. On March 25, 1971 the leader of the Awami League ] signed an official declaration<ref>J. S. Gupta ''The History of the Liberation Movement in Bangladesh'' Page ??</ref> and called upon the people to resist the occupation forces through a radio message.<ref> Article not specified</ref> After he was arrested by Pakistan Army and moved to a jail in ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/history/declaration.html |title=Virtual Bangladesh |publisher=Virtual Bangladesh |date=26 March 1971 |accessdate=23 June 2011}}</ref> ]<ref name=Shashi>{{cite book|last=Shashi|first=S. S.|title=Encyclopedia Indica: A Grand Tribute to Culture, Art, Architecture, Religion and Development|year=2002|publisher=Anmol Publications| |
Following the failure of last-ditch talks on the formation of a government, Pakistani president ] ordered the Pakistani Army to launch ] to suppress the nationalist movement. On March 25, 1971 the leader of the Awami League ] signed an official declaration<ref>J. S. Gupta ''The History of the Liberation Movement in Bangladesh'' Page ??</ref> and called upon the people to resist the occupation forces through a radio message.<ref> Article not specified</ref> After he was arrested by Pakistan Army and moved to a jail in ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualbangladesh.com/history/declaration.html |title=Virtual Bangladesh |publisher=Virtual Bangladesh |date=26 March 1971 |accessdate=23 June 2011}}</ref> ]<ref name=Shashi>{{cite book|last=Shashi|first=S. S.|title=Encyclopedia Indica: A Grand Tribute to Culture, Art, Architecture, Religion and Development|year=2002|publisher=Anmol Publications|volume=100 |isbn=978-8170418597|page=149}}</ref> broadcast the announcement of the declaration of independence on behalf of ] on 26 March and 27 March respectively and exhorted the Bengali people to resist the Pakistani state forces. | ||
| The senior political leaders of the Awami League congregated at the town of Baidyanathtala, which was mainly a mango grove located in Meherpur, when it was a sub- |
The senior political leaders of the Awami League congregated at the town of Baidyanathtala, which was mainly a mango grove located in Meherpur, when it was a sub-division of ]. The area was still one of the few remaining liberated zones along the borders of ]. The venue was selected by a 10-man high powered scouting team of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army Artillery, BSF Scouts, and RAW, and East Pakistan Rifles officers, authorised personally by Indira Gandhi. The venue was guarded by a 200 strong detachment of the District Police including District Armed Police, led by the SDPO, and the Ansars/VDP. Perimeter security was established by three Platoons of the EPR and a 100-strong straggling force of local ] volunteers and retired/on leave Army regular soldiers, commanded by Major ]. The Indians had brought 2 Battalions of BSF armed with 3-inch mortars and Heavy Machine Guns and an Army Artillery battery (eight 25 Pounder Guns and counter battery radars) to ringfence the area from any Pakistani intrusion and provide fire support to the EPR and Mukti forces. Outside the Indian perimeter, at Chapra, waited two ] Platoons of the Indian Para SF with 4 ] helicopters, and a standing Air Patrol of the ] consisting of six ]s. Inaugurating the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on April 17, the national anthem '']'' was sung in chorus. Although Sheikh Mujib was declared the first ], ] was appointed ] and hoisted the flag of Bangladesh. ] was appointed the first ]. | ||
| ==Organisation== | |||
| The government-in-exile at Mujibnagar had an elaborate structure of administrative departments, agencies and activities. Even though elaborate agencies were established, the government's main work remained coordinating the guerrilla insurgency and to bolster popular support in East Pakistan by its political organisational work, media and propaganda. | |||
| * Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: President of Bangladesh | |||
| * Syed Nazrul Islam: Vice President; Acting President | |||
| * Tajuddin Ahmed: Prime Minister | |||
| * ]: Foreign Affairs and Law Minister | |||
| * ]: Finance Minister | |||
| * ]: Home, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister | |||
| * ]: Commander-in-Chief of the ] | |||
| * Major General ]: Chief of Staff | |||
| * Abdul Mannan: Chief of the Department of Press, Information, Radio and Film | |||
| * Yusuf Ali: Chief of the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation | |||
| * Matiur Rahman: Chief of the Department of Commerce | |||
| * ]: Chief of the Volunteer Corps | |||
| ===Role of the bureaucrats=== | |||
| Many bureaucrats of ] joined the government of ] in Mujibnagar. They included ], S. A. Samad, Khondker Asaduzzaman, Dr. ], Dr. ] and Dr. ]. After the Pakistani military started genocide on 25 March, they organized ] locally, gave arms from police stations and took money from government treasury to ] and ] to finance the new government. Many of them worked as private secretaries of the ministers. | |||
| ===Zones=== | |||
| To coordinate nationalist activities and the guerrilla insurgency, Gen. Osmani organised the territory of East Pakistan into six zones, giving Mujibnagar politicians and nationalist military officers control and responsibility for carrying out the work of the nationalist struggle in different parts of the country. | |||
| * West Zone: Azizur Rahman and Ashraful Islam | |||
| * Northeast Zone: Dewan Farid Gazi, Shamsur Rahman Khan | |||
| * East Zone: Lt. Col. M. A. Rab | |||
| * Southeast Zone: Nurul Islam Choudhary, Zahur Ahmed Choudhary | |||
| * North Zone: Matiur Rahman and Abdur Rauf | |||
| * Southwest Zone: Phani Bhushan Majumdar and M. A. Rauf Choudhary | |||
| ===Agencies=== | |||
| The Mujibnagar government organised a network of agencies in an attempt to establish a structure of government and leadership, as a credible alternative to the government of Pakistan. The Mujibnagar government's efforts primarily focused on organising relief for civilian refugees fleeing from the Pakistani army, recruiting and training volunteers for the guerrilla forces and using a wide variety of communications and media to project the nationalist message to the people in East Pakistan and across the world. The Mujibnagar government also appointed envoys to India and other countries in the hope of obtaining foreign political support for the goal of an independent Bangladesh. | |||
| * Planning Commission: Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury, Mosharraf Hossain; ], ], Swadesh Ranjan | |||
| * S. R. Mirza: Director, Youth Camp | |||
| * M. R. Akhtar Mukul: Director, Department of Information and Publicity | |||
| * Abdul Jabbar Khan: Director, Department of Films | |||
| * Quamrul Hasan: Director, Department of Arts and Design | |||
| * J. G. Bhowmik: Relief Commissioner | |||
| * T. Hossain: Director, Department of Health | |||
| * Envoys: ], Humayun Rashid Choudhary, ] | |||
| ===Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra=== | |||
| {{See also|Bangladesh Betar}} | |||
| The Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (''Free Bangladesh Radio Centre'') was the primary broadcasting service used by the nationalists to project their messages to the population of Bangladesh, after the conventional media was suppressed and controlled by Pakistani state forces. The radio service was a major operation of the government-in-exile, as it was its primary means to encourage nationalists, garner popular support and preserve a sense of direction and information amongst the population. The radio service broadcast political, news and music programmes in ], ] and ]. | |||
| * Personnel: Ashfaqur Rahman Khan, Shahidul Islam, T H Shikdar, Balal Mohammad, Taher Sultan. Kamal Lohani, Nasimul Quader Chowdhury (Bengali news), Aly Zaker (English news), Alamgir Kabir (English news commentary), Zahid Siddiqui (In-charge of Urdu programme), Samar Das and Ajit Ray (Music), Hasan Imam, (In-charge of Drama), Ashraful Alam (Outdoor broadcasting and interviews), Syed Abdus Shakoor and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury (Engineering). | |||
| ==Activities== | |||
| The Mujibnagar government was manned by activists and politicians of the Awami League, nationalist militias, students and rebel Bengali officers and soldiers. The government-in-exile established important bases in ] and Kolkata to garner financial and political support from Indian sympathisers, while its envoys travelled across the world in a bid to win the support of foreign nation. Mujibnagar personnel received extensive resources, support and training from the ], which aided the Mukti Bahini in the guerrilla war. | |||
| The Mujibnagar government sought to coordinate guerrillas within East Pakistan as well as Awami League sympathisers and activists who had been forced to go underground owing to the Pakistani army's campaign of political suppression. The government organised attacks against Pakistani state forces and their Bengali allies, but proved unable to combat the systematic killings of Bengali intellectuals, ]s and civilians across the country. The Pakistani government projected the Mujibnagar entity as a figurehead and stooge of India. Without Sheikh Mujib, political in-fighting soon erupted between government members, notably between Tajuddin Ahmed and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed. | |||
| When the Indian Army obtained the surrender of Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971, the Mujibnagar government moved to the capital ] and took ceremonial control of the new state's institutions. Upon his release, Sheikh Mujib returned to Dhaka on January 10, 1972 and assumed the presidency of Bangladesh. On January 12, Sheikh Mujib dismissed Tajuddin Ahmed (a move widely suspected to be the outcome of the power struggle between Tajuddin Ahmed and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed) and appointed himself prime minister. A provisional parliament would be organised, formally replacing the Mujibnagar system. | |||
| ==Legacy== | |||
| The Mujibnagar government's legacy is largely that of providing leadership, unity and direction to the guerrilla war for independence. Many historians believe that without the explicit and organised government-in-exile, the guerrilla resistance to Pakistani forces would have been fragmented, disorganised and ineffectual. Many scholars and political observers believe that the Mujibnagar government was a symbolic centre of the nationalist struggle, and served the essential purpose of lifting the morale of revolutionaries and those who supported the Awami League's campaign for Bangladesh. The Mujibnagar government sought to serve as a credible alternative and counterpart to the Pakistani government, a system of political leadership distinct from the Indian government and a major contender for territorial control. | |||
| However, the political strife between the politicians who headed the Mujibnagar government have discredited the entity in the eyes of many in Bangladesh. Some historians regard the entity as an ineffectual, nominal symbol of the nationalist struggle that could function only due to Indian support and could not sufficiently respond to the Pakistani army's campaign of political suppression and attacks on civilians or support the refugee camps of more than 10 million people who fled into India. | |||
| The Mujibnagar government is officially regarded as the first government of independent Bangladesh. April 17, the day of its formation is celebrated in Bangladesh as '''Mujibnagar Day''', a major milestone for the Bangladeshi nationalists and the Awami League. A national historical monument has been constructed at Mujibnagar, and the place remains the focus of nationalist sentiments and the memories of the liberation war amongst the Bangladeshi people. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | |||
| {{Bangladesh liberation}} | |||
| == Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||
| {{reflist |
{{reflist}} | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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Latest revision as of 06:01, 22 October 2024
Town in Bangladesh; capital of the Provisional Government of BangladeshSee also: Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Mujibnagar (Bengali: মুজিবনগর), formerly known as Baidyanathtala (Boiddonathtola) and Bhoborpara, is a town in the Mujibnagar Upazila of Meherpur District in Khulna, Bangladesh. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed on 10 April 1971, however, sworn in on 17 April 1971 in this place by the elected representatives of the Bengalees (mostly belongling to Awami League), that led the Bangladesh Liberation War, who were leading the guerrilla war for the independence of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) from Pakistan in 1971. The place was renamed Mujibnagar by the proclamation of independence, in honour of then imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had declared Bangladesh independent. The actual capital of the government while in exile was Calcutta. A memorial complex covering 20.10 acres (8.13 ha) has been built at the site where the ministers of that first government took their oaths.
Formation
Following the failure of last-ditch talks on the formation of a government, Pakistani president Yahya Khan ordered the Pakistani Army to launch Operation Searchlight to suppress the nationalist movement. On March 25, 1971 the leader of the Awami League Sheikh Mujibur Rahman signed an official declaration and called upon the people to resist the occupation forces through a radio message. After he was arrested by Pakistan Army and moved to a jail in West Pakistan, M A Hannan, Ziaur Rahman broadcast the announcement of the declaration of independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur on 26 March and 27 March respectively and exhorted the Bengali people to resist the Pakistani state forces.
The senior political leaders of the Awami League congregated at the town of Baidyanathtala, which was mainly a mango grove located in Meherpur, when it was a sub-division of Kushtia. The area was still one of the few remaining liberated zones along the borders of East Pakistan. The venue was selected by a 10-man high powered scouting team of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army Artillery, BSF Scouts, and RAW, and East Pakistan Rifles officers, authorised personally by Indira Gandhi. The venue was guarded by a 200 strong detachment of the District Police including District Armed Police, led by the SDPO, and the Ansars/VDP. Perimeter security was established by three Platoons of the EPR and a 100-strong straggling force of local Mukti Bahini volunteers and retired/on leave Army regular soldiers, commanded by Major Abu Osman Chowdhury. The Indians had brought 2 Battalions of BSF armed with 3-inch mortars and Heavy Machine Guns and an Army Artillery battery (eight 25 Pounder Guns and counter battery radars) to ringfence the area from any Pakistani intrusion and provide fire support to the EPR and Mukti forces. Outside the Indian perimeter, at Chapra, waited two Commando Platoons of the Indian Para SF with 4 Chetak helicopters, and a standing Air Patrol of the Indian Air Force consisting of six Hawker Hunters. Inaugurating the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on April 17, the national anthem Amar Sonar Bangla was sung in chorus. Although Sheikh Mujib was declared the first President, Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed acting president and hoisted the flag of Bangladesh. Tajuddin Ahmad was appointed the first prime minister.
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Mohammad Faiquzzaman (2012), "Mujibnagar Smriti Saudha", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
- Md. Abu Hasan Farooque (2012), "Meherpur District", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
- Faiquzzaman, Mohammad (2012). "Mujibnagar Government". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- Miah, Sajahan (2012). "Proclamation of Independence". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- J. S. Gupta The History of the Liberation Movement in Bangladesh Page ??
- The Daily Star, 26 March 2005 Article not specified
- "Virtual Bangladesh". Virtual Bangladesh. 26 March 1971. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- Shashi, S. S. (2002). Encyclopedia Indica: A Grand Tribute to Culture, Art, Architecture, Religion and Development. Vol. 100. Anmol Publications. p. 149. ISBN 978-8170418597.
References
- Mujibnagar
- Faiquzzaman, Mohammad (2012). "Mujibnagar Government". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- New Age
- Miah, Sajahan (2012). "Proclamation of Independence". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- Significance of Mujibnagar
External links
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