Mujibnagar

Also See: Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Mujibnagar (Bengali: মুজিবনগর), formerly known as Baidyanathtala is a town in the Meherpur District of Bangladesh. It is a common reference for the government in exile formed by the leaders of the Awami League, who were leading the guerrilla war for the independence of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) from Pakistan (then West Pakistan)in 1971.

Throughout the war with the Pakistan Army, the Mujibnagar government would serve as the nominal head of the pro-independence guerrilla militias, mainly the Mukti Bahini. Although the state gained independence only in December 1971, the Mujibnagar government is recognised as the first official government of Bangladesh.

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 26, 1971 Major Ziaur Rahman declared independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through a radio message. After Mujib was arrested by Pakistan Army and moved to a jail in West Pakistan, 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.