Lesson 1/44 min
Formation and the oath
After the declaration of independence on 26 March 1971, Bangladesh's first government was formed on 10 April. President Bangabandhu was then detained in Pakistan. On 17 April the government took its oath in the mango grove at Baidyanathtala, Meherpur.
Three dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 10 April 1971 | Government formed of top Awami League leaders; the Proclamation of Independence issued |
| 17 April 1971 | Oath of the government at Baidyanathtala (Mujibnagar Day) |
| 18 April 1971 | Portfolios distributed among the ministers |
The oath ceremony
- Place: the mango grove at Baidyanathtala, Meherpur (also called Bhabarpara); Meherpur was then part of Kushtia district
- The ceremony was conducted by Abdul Mannan
- Professor Yusuf Ali read out the Proclamation of Independence
- Guard of honour: given to Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam; the guard was led by Mahbub Uddin Ahmed
- Tajuddin Ahmad named the place Mujibnagar, after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Where it worked, and its names
- After the oath the government moved to Kolkata and ran from there for the rest of the war
- Temporary secretariat: 8 Theatre Road, Kolkata
- It ran from outside Bangladesh, so it is also called the government in exile (Probashi Sarkar)
- The government's mouthpiece was the weekly ‘Joy Bangla’
Watch out: Some books name Professor Yusuf Ali as the reader of the oath. According to Banglapedia, Abdul Mannan conducted the ceremony and Yusuf Ali read the Proclamation of Independence.
Memory trick: Formed on the 10th, sworn in on the 17th: 10 → formed, 17 → oath.
Check yourself
When was the Mujibnagar Government formed, and when did it take its oath?
At a glance
- 1
Bangladesh's first government (the Mujibnagar Government) was formed on 10 April 1971 and took its oath on 17 April 1971 (Mujibnagar Day).
- 2
The oath was held in the mango grove at Baidyanathtala, Meherpur; Tajuddin Ahmad named the place Mujibnagar.
- 3
Abdul Mannan conducted the ceremony; Professor Yusuf Ali read the Proclamation of Independence.
- 4
The guard of honour was led by Mahbub Uddin Ahmed.
- 5
The secretariat was at 8 Theatre Road, Kolkata; the mouthpiece was the weekly ‘Joy Bangla’.