The place was later renamed Mujibnagar as a tribute to the hero of the country's independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was declared the president of the government-in-exile and the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Syed Nazrul Islam was made acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu, who had been arrested by the Pakistani occupation forces on March 25, 1971. The Pakistani army also massacred thousands of unarmed Bangalees in Dhaka and elsewhere in the then East Pakistan on the same night.

At the ceremony a contingent of police gave the guard of honour to the acting president, who received the salute and hoisted the national flag of independent Bangladesh.

The Mujibnagar government with Tajuddin Ahmed as the prime minister led the country's nine-month long Liberation War that ended through the occupation forces' surrender on December 16.

The main opposition Awami League (AL) and its front organisations have taken up countrywide elaborate programmes to observe the day.

In the capital, the national and party flags will be hoisted at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi-32 and at the AL's Bangabandhu Avenue headquarters at 6:00 this morning.

Leader of the Opposition and AL chief Sheikh Hasina will chair a party discussion on Mujibnagar Day at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city at 3:00pm. She will also place floral wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban at 7:00am.

In a message on the occasion, Hasina recalled the Mujibnagar government's contribution to the emergence of Bangladesh.

She paid rich tributes to Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, M Mansur Ali, AM Quamruzzaman and others who formed the first government of Bangladesh.

She said the farsightedness and skills of the Mujibnagar government made it possible to compel the Pakistani forces to surrender to Bangladesh only within nine months of the Liberation War.

Hasina also paid tributes to all political leaders, army and administrative officials, civilians, diplomats and foreign friends--both deceased and alive--who were involved with the government as well as the martyrs of the Liberation War.

"The Mujibnagar Day comes to us with new commitments," she said, calling upon all to take a fresh vow to establish the ideals of the Liberation War on this historic day.

"Let us join forces to lead the country to the cherished goals," Hasina said and called for making the current movement into a success to build a democratic, repression-free society.

A separate programme has been taken to observe the day at Mujibnagar in Meherpur district. The programme includes placing floral wreaths at Mujibnagar memorial at 9:00am, followed by a guard of honour, a public meeting and a cultural function.

AL Acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader urged the countrymen, all pro-Liberation War forces, party leaders and activists to observe the day with due honour.