The place was later renamed Mujibnagar in tribute to the country's independence hero Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was declared president and 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 occupation forces on the same night also massacred thousands of unarmed Bangalees in Dhaka and elsewhere in the then East Pakistan.

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

Installation of the government began with a guard of honour led by a contingent of police. The acting president took the salute and hoisted the national flag.

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

Leader of the Opposition and AL chief Sheikh Hasina today chairs a party discussion on Mujibnagar Day at Paltan Maidan in the city at 3:00pm.

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

Hasina will place a wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Mujib at Bangabandhu Bhaban at 7:30am.

The AL has also taken up a series of programmes at Mujibnagar in observance of the day, says a party press release.