Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the historic Mujibnagar Day. The premier paid the homage by placing a wreath at Bangabandhu’s portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city this morning, reports the UNB. After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence. Flanked by central leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, placed another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party. Later, the leaders of AL’s associate bodies including Jubo League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Juba Mohila League, Swechhashebok League, Sramik League and Krishak League laid wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu. The historic Mujibnagar Day is being observed today marking the oath-taking ceremony of country’s first government on April 17, 1971. Following the Pakistan army’s genocide on unarmed Bangalees started on the black night of March 25 in 1971, senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur on April 17 to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh. Baidyanathtala, mainly a mango orchard, was later renamed Mujibnagar after ceremonial formation of the provisional government of Bangladesh. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first president of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu. Tajuddin Ahmed was appointed as the first prime minister, while Khondoker Moshtaque Ahmed, Capt M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman were named as cabinet members. The provisional government gave successful leadership to the War of Liberation for achieving victory on December 16.