Provisional Government of Bangladesh

Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ অস্থায়ী সরকার Gônôprôjatôntri Bangladesh Ôsthayi Sôrkar
Provisional government
1971–1972
Flag Coat of arms Coat of arms
Capital		Meherpur
Capital-in-exile		Kolkata
Languages		Bengali
Government		Transitional Republic
Acting President		Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Titular Only; Oath not Administered)
•	1971–1972	Syed Nazrul Islam
Prime Minister
•	1971–1972	Tajuddin Ahmad
Historical era		Bangladesh Independence War
•	Established	April 17, 1971
•	Disestablished	January 12, 1972
Preceded by Succeeded by East Pakistan Bangladesh

The Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (Bengali: গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ অস্থায়ী সরকার, Gônôprôjatôntri Bangladesh Ôsthayi Sôrkar), was the government in exile of Bangladesh based in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, during the Bangladesh Independence War. Formed officially on 17 April 1971, the provisional government was formed with Syed Nazrul Islam as Acting President, Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister and Colonel M.A.G. Osmani as Chief of Army Staff BDF, after the declaration of independence of Bangladesh (source). Across East Pakistan violence and forced disappearances were carried our by the Pakistan authorities. Independence movement actions were spearheaded by Maulana Bhasani, known as an uncompromising nationalist. After all talks, negotiations with the national government and even warnings from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman failed, brutal crackdown was launched by the Pakistan Army. Sheikh Mujib was arrested and confined in West Pakistan while the leaders of the Awami League fled to India, including other independence movement leaders, Maulana Bhasani (who was also confined the entire duration of the war at Dehradun, India), after he crossed into India by a river boat.

Following Major Ziaur Rahman's Declaration of Independence and Provisional Government, most of the senior leaders of the Awami League and many Bengali defectors from Pakistan armed services formed the War Council of the provisional government on 4 April 1971 at Teliapara, Sylhet, where M. A. G. Osmani was first declared unanimously as Commander in Chief of Bangladesh Forces. Within a week many members of the Awami League gathered together in an area bordering India to form the civilian arm. A formal swearing-in ceremony was held on 17 April in Meherpur District. Soon a large guerrilla training camp was set up with many tents and designated on a sprawling abandoned and dilapidated airstrip in Chakulia, Bihar, roughly constructed by the British dating back from WWII. It was the largest temporary guerrilla training camp for training Bangladesh guerrilla fighters. A three-month training course was shortened to a 6 weeks crash course for 300~400 participants per batch. Lt. Col. Das Gupta (originally from Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh) of the Indian Army was the CO of the training unit. Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan was appointed as Bangladesh Provincial Government Chief Representative.

The Provincial Government of Bangladesh coordinated war efforts from a colonial mansion on 8, Theatre Road, today known as Shakespeare Sarani in Calcutta with the active support of the Indian government. During the course of the war, the majority of Bengali civil servants and diplomats serving Pakistan began defecting. They subsequently joined the Provincial Government, and operated a small office in Kolkata as well as foreign missions in several Asian, European and North American capitals. A group of leading Bengali intellectuals were appointed Special Envoys and began touring western capitals advocating the Bangladesh cause while leading Bengali cultural figures and activists operated the radio station Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendro (Free Bengal Radio Station).

Baidyanathtala which also was later renamed Mujibnagar (City of Mujib), official date or actual record of National Gazette publication unknown. This ideological tribute originated and led by a certain group of the Awami League became gradually known to the new generation. Recently gaining popularity, the official Provincial Government of Bangladesh in exile today is sometimes referred to as the Mujibnagar Government.

Cabinet and Principal Staff of the Provincial Government of Bangladesh

• Note: The Provisional Government was established on 17 April 1971 in Liberated Meherpur

1. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (titular President of Bangladesh; under Pakistan detention from 26 March)
2. Syed Nazrul Islam (Acting President of Bangladesh)
3. Tajuddin Ahmad (Prime Minister of Bangladesh)
4. Colonel M A G Osmani (BDF Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Forces)
5. Mansur Ali (Minister of Finance and Planning)
6. Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Law)
7. A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman (Minister of Home Affairs, Relief and Rehabilitation)
8. Abdul Mannan (M.N.A in charge of Ministry of Information and Radio, Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra)
9. M. A. Rab, Lt. Col., Chief of Staff, Bangladesh Army
10. M. Hamidullah Khan, Squadron Leader, Provincial Government Principal Representative, Guerilla Training, Chakulia, Bihar(Temporary - April~May)
11. Ziaur Rahman, Major, Sector Commander 1 Chittagong, (Temporary - April~May)
12. Khaled Musharraf, Major, Sector Commander 2 Noakhali, Kumilla
13. K M Shafiullah, Major, Sector Commander 3 (partial areas of Sylhet, Akhaura-Bhoirob, Kishoregonj)
14. C. R. Datta, Major, Sector Commander 4 (Eastern Hilly areas of Sylhet)
15. Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, Major, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to C-in-C, Ops. & Trng.
16. A. K. Khandker, Deputy Chief of Staff, (Liaison)

See also

• M.Hamidullah Khan
• M. A. Jalil
• Shafaat Jamil
• Abu Taher

References

• Mujibnagar Government
• Administrator of Mujibnagar Government
• Some About Mujibnagar Government