THE PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE The Mujibnagar Government was formed today to conduct the Bangladesh War of Liberation. The official announcement declaring independence of Bangladesh, known as the Proclamation of Independence, was also issued today. The cabinet of the government-in-exile took oath on 17 April, 1971 at Baidyanathtala (renamed Mujibnagar after the proclamation), a border area in the present Meherpur district, where Professor M Yusuf Ali, an MNA, formally read out the Proclamation of Independence. The proclamation was drafted by Barrister M Amir-ul Islam and reviewed by Indian Barrister Subrata Roy Chowdhury. The proclamation was patterned after the American Declaration of Independence. The Proclamation read: "… Whereas in the facts and circumstances of such treacherous conduct Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader of the 75 million people of Bangladesh, in due fulfillment of the legitimate right of self-determination of the people of Bangladesh, duly made a declaration of independence at Dacca on March 26, 1971, and urged upon the people of Bangladesh to defend the honour and integrity of Bangladesh,