BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said Ziaur Rahman and Bangladesh are inseparable, adding that the country's Liberation War began with Zia’s declaration of independence and that he later played a pivotal role in rebuilding the nation.
“Ziaur Rahman and Bangladesh are inseparable. They cannot be separated. Through Ziaur Rahman’s declaration, the Liberation War of Bangladesh began and through that war Bangladesh emerged as a new state before the world,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks while presiding over a discussion at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Farmgate marking the 45th death anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman.
He said that after independence, people placed their trust in Ziaur Rahman and turned to him when they were searching for new leadership.
“As an expression of the people’s confidence in him, he was entrusted with the responsibility of rebuilding the country through a soldiers-and-people revolution. The first phase was the struggle for independence and the second was the reconstruction of the nation,” Fakhrul said.
Describing Ziaur Rahman’s emergence as a remarkable phenomenon, Fakhrul said the BNP founder appeared before the nation at critical moments of history.
“It may be called a miraculous event that at every crucial moment this man emerged. In 1971, when people were confused and directionless, Major Zia’s call awakened the nation,” he said.
“Again in 1975, when the country was in a similar situation, Major General Zia once more awakened and united the nation,” he added.
Fakhrul highlighted various initiatives taken under Ziaur Rahman’s leadership, including post-war reconstruction, the promotion of Bangladeshi nationalism, the formation of what he described as a cabinet consisting of the country’s most capable individuals, the introduction of multi-party democracy, national unity and various economic reforms.
Referring to ongoing political discussions about reforms, Fakhrul said BNP itself had introduced major reforms in the country.
“Nowadays a political force talks only about reforms. They say we do not believe in reforms or implement reforms. But BNP itself gave birth to reforms,” he said.
He said Ziaur Rahman introduced multi-party democracy after a one-party system of governance and carried out fundamental changes in the political structure of the country.
“He ensured freedom of the media, judicial independence and established democratic institutions. These were major reforms and fundamental transformations,” Fakhrul said.
The programme was moderated by BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.
Among others, BNP Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka North BNP Convener Aminul Haque, Dhaka South BNP Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal President SM Jilani, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Moni and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib spoke at the event.
Economist Professor Mahbub Ullah, University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed, National University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Md Lutfor Rahman and Bangladesh Open University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dil Rowshan Jinnat Ara Naznin also spoke, highlighting different aspects of Ziaur Rahman’s life and contributions.
The programme began with a one-minute silence in memory of Ziaur Rahman, followed by prayers seeking eternal peace for his departed soul.