The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed on Wednesday in a befitting manner highlighting the oath-taking ceremony of the country's first government on April 17 in 1971.

The day's programme included hoisting national flag, discussion, paying homage to Bangabandhu, giving guard of honour and passing out parade.

Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid glowing tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at Dhanmondi 32 here marking the historic Mujibnagar Day.

She placed the wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 7 in the morning.

After laying the wreath, the premier stood in solemn silence for some times as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence.

Later, flanked by senior leaders of her party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League (AL), placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu as the party chief.

Meherpur Correspondent Reports: The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed in Maherpur today with a pledge to let the new generation know the history of the Independence War.

National flag was hoisted in front of Sheikh Hasina Manch in Mujibnagar Amrakanon at around 9.30am. A discussion was organized by Bangladesh Awami League in association with the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and district administration.

Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim presided over the discussion while A L presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah addressed it as the chief guest.

Conducted by AL Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, the discussion was addressed by Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain, Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hossain Rimi, AL joint general secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif and organizing secretary SM Kamal Hossain, MP, and Central Working Committee member Adv Afzal Hossain, among others.

A one-minute silence was observed and doa was offered seeking eternal peace of the martyrs.

Earlier, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on Tuesday, greeting the countrymen.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, in his message, urged the countrymen to work together for building a non-communal, hunger and poverty-free, developed and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message also urged the countrymen to work together with the government for building a non-communal, hunger-and poverty-free, developed and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' cum 'Smart Bangladesh' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On this day in 1971, she said, the first provisional government of the independent Bangladesh had taken oath at a mango orchard at Baidyanathtala in the then Meherpur sub-division.

Meherpur turned into the capital of the provisional government and from that day, the place became familiar as 'Mujibnagar', Sheikh Hasina added in the message.

Following the Pakistan army's genocide on unarmed Bangalees on the black night of March 25 in 1971, senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur on April 17 to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh.

Baidyanathtala, mainly a mango orchard, was later named Mujibnagar after ceremonial formation of the provisional government of Bangladesh.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu.

Tajuddin Ahmed was appointed as the first prime minister, while Capt M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman were named as cabinet members.
 
The government named General MAG Osmani as Commander-in-Chief of Mukti Bahini while it appointed Major General Abdur Rob as chief of staff.

The provisional government gave successful leadership to the War of Liberation for achieving victory on December 16.
 
On the occasion, newspapers published special supplements while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and private TV channels aired different programmes highlighting significance of the day.