Let the 17 April Mujibnagar Day be National Oath Day

                                                   

                                                   

Let the 17 April Mujibnagar Day be National Oath Day

The red-sun of Independent Bangalee Nation  was set in the battle of Palassy in the summer of 1757 soon after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the British invaders. Since then, the valiant nation started struggle for its freedom. The nation got the fruit of its long standing agitation on April 17, 1971 at Mujibnagar in Meherpur district . The Bangalee nation re-hoisted the red-green flag of freedom on the day in the summer like Palassy at Baidynathtola a hamlet of Bagwan Union Parishod of the then Meherpur sub-division now district.

          At the dark night of March 25, 1971 a nation and a sovereign country was reborn following a call from the great leader and father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Mujibnagar was the place where a thousand year old dream of the Bangalee Nation had materialized in the long run.  It is quite impossible to reveal all the phenomenon in such a short space. I had an opportunity to read many tales in history books of such births but what were my feelings on observing the birth of a country, can not be expressed in words. However, let us look back at the history.

          Bangladesh got its real existence in exchange of innumerable lives and a sea of blood. Many tales  were quoted by the political scientists regarding the background of the Bangalee’s movement and establishment since 1885 to 1970 upto the general election following the continuity of the movement. Bangladesh’s  dream materialized finally amid taking oath on April 17, 1971 in presence of the national and the internal journalists, spectators and eminent politicians at Mujibnagar mango grove. During the time Mujibnagar was declared the interim capital and the first acting government of Bangladesh  took its holy oath which was broadcast across the country establishing a Radio Center  (Shawdhin Bangla Betar Kendra) thus Mujibnagar got its historic dignity.

          Birth seed of Bangladesh  was planted in the year  1905 amid the term “Muslim States would be formed in all the Muslim areas”. But it was sprouted through the Language Movement in 1952. Former East Pakistan in every sector though so-called Muslim idealism was established. The Pakistani rules extorted the then East Pakistan and repressed us beyond description creating an extensive dissimilarity in social and economic sectors.

          As a result, the liberation leaders of the then East Pakistan viz A K Fazlul Haque, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Husain  Shuharawardi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demanded implementation of the 11 points in the year 1954  which included language, land distribution amongst the landless, nationalization of education, compensate and rehabilitate the flood victims, observation of  the martyrs day on 21 February and permission to hold meeting etc. The Pakistan rulers got frightened observing the moral courage of the Bangalee nation.

          Out of 169 seats in the National Assembly a total of 167 seats were bagged by  the Awami League in the year 1970 but the power greedy  rulers did not hand over  power causing Bangabandhu to call for independence. He declared the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26, 1971 shortly before he was arrested  while the Pakistani occupation forces opened fire on the unarmed innocent sleeping people  of Bangladesh on the dark night of March 25. Following the declaration  of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the Awami League leadership enjoying absolute trust of the people went into hiding and moved to the free zones with the aim of leading the nation in the War of Liberation.

          On April 10, 1971 the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh  was formed through a proclamation of independence issued from Mujibnagar which confirmed the earlier declaration made by the Father of nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In absence of Bangabandhu, Sayed Nazrul Islam was made the Acting President while Tajuddin Ahmed was made the Prime Minister of the interim government in exile.

          Following the formation of the government, Mujibnagar was declared the interim capital of independent Bangladesh. Simultaneously, the charter of independence was proclaimed and War of Liberation started. In order to keep in perpetual memory, the oath taking place was renamed as Mujibnagar by changing its name Baddaynathtola(a bordering village). Thus  17 April may be called the Mujibnagar Dibash (Mujbnagar Day). Since then  the day is  being observed as Mujibnagar Dibash but the oath taking place remained neglected.

Nothing was done here except a monument and Mujibnagar gate built during the tenure of the deposed President Hussein Mohammed Ershad.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Mujibnagar on 17 April 1998 and declared that Mujibnagar would be turned into a National Memorial Complex where the real history of the war of liberation and much more information would be preserved for research and future generation.

          Every year, on this particular day at Mujibnagar mango garden  some high ranking leaders and official take oath for the development of socio-economy and to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.

          Eventually, being resident    of Meherpur district as well as a Bangladeshi I can say meanwhile Bangladesh has got a prestigious place in  the globe as well as in the global map but 17 April is yet to get its dignity as National Oath Day. On Mujibnagar Day, being a citizen I requested the present government for proclamation of the day as “National Oath Day”. As the history of 17 April was not a history of a particular party or a group alone, so if any party is voted to power   should come down to Mujibnagar for taking oath before assuming the power and arrangement should be made by the government to hold at least 4 ministerial meetings here in a year. Besides, the freedom fighter and people of all strata of life demand to see Mujibnagar mausoleum  before all news on Bangladesh Television abreast of the national memorial located at Savar, Dhaka.