Focus of the Month

April 1971

Formation of New Government

This segment continues the history of Bangladesh from March 1971. Please link to the earlier Focus pages for background information.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the pro-Bangladesh Awami League party, was arrested by West Pakistani forces soon after midnight on March 26, 1971. This led to a general fear of the Pakistani army would order further arrests or even killings, and many of the East Pakistani (Bengali) parliament members fled to India. It was from Agartala, India, that these elected officials took the initiative to form the first cabinet for the government of Bangladesh. This happened on April 10.

The next day, the Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (Free Bangladesh RadioStation) aired a statement made by Tajuddin Ahmed announcing the formation of this cabinet. The still-arrested Sheikh Mujib was unanimously chosen as the new president of Bangladesh. Since Mujib was absent, Syed Najrul Islam was to assume the position of Acting President.

The first Cabinet was, then, composed of the following leaders:

Tajuddin Ahmed, as Prime Minister

Mostaque Ahmed, in charge of the ministry of Foreign Affairs

A. H. M. Kamruzzaman, as Home Minister

M. Mansur Ali, as the Finance Minister

The Secretariat of the Government was as follows:

After this government was formed, letters were sent out to various countries asking for support in the people's fight for an independent Bangladesh. On April 17th , Tajuddin Ahmed, Syed Najrul Islam, Colonel M. A. G. Osmani (who at this time assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces), and many other political leaders arrived at the mango grove ("Aamtola") in the town of Boiddonathtola, in the western district of Kusthia near the Indian border. (Incidentally, the town of Boiddonathtola was later renamed "Mujibnagar" after our first president.)

There, in front of locals and many international journalists, the inauguration of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was held. The new flag (see March Focus) was raised, and the newly adopted national anthem - Tagore's "Amaar Shonar Bangla" - was played. Professor Yusuf Ali, a Member of Parliament, read the Proclamation of Independence.

On April 18th 1971, at 12:41pm, Mr. Hossain Ali, the Bengali Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, in Calcutta, India, , along with 70 others, officially raised the flag of Bangladesh and pledged their allegiance to the Government of Bangladesh. First Secretary Mr. Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, Third Secretary Mr. Anwarul Karim Chowdhury and Assistant Press Attache M. Moqshed Ali were also present in that ceremony and were working tirelessly for generating support for the independence of Bangladesh. The role of Mr. Hossain Ali is very important, since he pioneered the way for other expatriate Bengali diplomats to pledge their allegiance to Bangladesh Government.

On the 21st of April, Justice Abu Syed Chowdhury was appointed as representative for The Government of Bangladesh diplomatic mission, and travelled officially to the United Nations and many other countries.

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This page is created and maintained by Mohammad R. Hossain