Mujibnagar

On March 25, 1971 the leader of the Awami League Sheikh Mujibur Rahman signed an official declaration[5] and called upon the people to resist the occupation forces through a radio message.

The senior political leaders of the Awami League congregated at the town of Baidyanathtala, which was mainly a mango grove located in Meherpur, when it was a sub-division of Kushtia.

Perimeter security was established by three Platoons of the EPR and a 100-strong straggling force of local Mukti Bahini volunteers and retired/on leave Army regular soldiers, commanded by Major Abu Osman Chowdhury.

The Indians had brought 2 Battalions of BSF armed with 3-inch mortars and Heavy Machine Guns and an Army Artillery battery (eight 25 Pounder Guns and counter battery radars) to ringfence the area from any Pakistani intrusion and provide fire support to the EPR and Mukti forces.

Inaugurating the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on April 17, the national anthem Amar Sonar Bangla was sung in chorus.

The Mujibnagar monument has 23 pillars, some of which are shown here, representing the 23 years of Pakistani rule over East Bengal before it became independent as Bangladesh. The red brick square marks the spot where the Mujibnagar government ministers took their oaths. [ 1 ]