OUR CORRESPONDENT, Benapole

Mujibnagar Day, marking the swearing-in of Bangladesh’s first government in 1971, passed yesterday without any official programme.

The day commemorates the historic oath taken at the mango grove in Mujibnagar, Meherpur, during the Liberation War.

Despite the absence of a state programme, local freedom fighters and members of the Freedom Fighters’ Children Command Council placed wreaths at the Mujibnagar Memorial around 9:00am.

Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam of Mujibnagar Police Station said the day was observed privately.

Among those present were freedom fighter Capt (retd) Abdul Malek, Haji Ahsan Ali Khan, and local leaders of the council. Others who attended included journalist and writer Abu Sayeed Khan; former CPB general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince; and BASAD assistant general secretary Rajekuzzaman Ratan, among others.

Abdul Malek said, “April 17 is not a political day. It is a significant day for our independence. Regardless of which government is in power, the day should be observed officially.”