‘Ziaur Rahman inevitable figure in Liberation War’

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday said that the contributions of Ziaur Rahman to Bangladesh’s independence and the 1971 Liberation War cannot be erased from history, describing the late president as “an inevitable character” in the country’s struggle for freedom.

Speaking at a discussion organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka, the prime minister criticized what he described as past attempts to undermine the role of the former military officer and statesman in the country’s liberation movement.

“The way through which attempts were made in the past to humiliate Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and deny his contribution and work has proven that he is certainly an inevitable character in the Liberation War of Bangladesh,” Rahman said while addressing party leaders, academics and professionals at the event.

The discussion was organized to mark Independence Day (Bangladesh), observed annually on March 26 to commemorate the country’s declaration of independence in 1971 following the political crisis and military crackdown in then East Pakistan.

Highlighting Ziaur Rahman’s role in the proclamation of independence, the prime minister said the declaration made by the then army officer was not sudden but rooted in a long-held aspiration for a sovereign Bangladesh. Rahman cited an article written by Ziaur Rahman titled “Birth of a Nation,” published in the now-defunct Dainik Bangla on March 26, 1972, the first anniversary of independence.

Quoting from the article, the prime minister referred to the moment described by Ziaur Rahman at 2:15 a.m. on March 26, 1971, which he said symbolized the birth of the nation and the determination of the Bangalee people to remember that historic day forever.

Rahman said the article provides important historical testimony for researchers studying the Liberation War, noting that when it was first published, many freedom fighters and individuals directly involved in the war were still alive.

“None of them challenged the authenticity of the article at that time,” he said, adding that the same piece was republished by the weekly magazine Bichitra in 1974 without objections.

According to Rahman, these facts reinforce the argument that Ziaur Rahman’s role in the struggle for independence is historically grounded. “What is true is true. There is no way to hide the fact that Shaheed Zia is an inevitable character of the Liberation War,” he said.

Ziaur Rahman, a decorated military officer who later served as Bangladesh’s president from 1977 until his assassination in 1981, is widely recognized as one of the prominent figures of the independence struggle. During the early days of the war in March 1971, he broadcast the declaration of independence from Chittagong on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which helped mobilize resistance against Pakistani forces.

At the beginning of his speech, Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and expressed gratitude to national leaders and freedom fighters who contributed to the country’s independence.

Describing the Liberation War as the most glorious chapter of Bangladesh’s history, he said the country achieved victory against one of the strongest armies of the time, adding that discussions and research about the war would continue across generations.

However, he cautioned that historical debate should not distort or diminish the legacy of the independence movement.

The prime minister also drew parallels between Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and the ongoing quest for self-determination by the Palestinian people, saying those who fight for freedom understand the true value of independence.

Rahman further said the sacrifices of people in 1971, as well as in later political movements including those in 1990 and 2024, were driven by the aspiration to build a sovereign, democratic and just Bangladesh based on equality and dignity.

Reflecting on the government’s current priorities, he said various initiatives – including family cards, farmer cards, canal excavation projects, tree plantation programs and employment generation schemes – had been undertaken to improve the living standards of the population.

“Our government is working tirelessly to improve people’s lives,” he said.
Calling for unity and mutual respect, Rahman urged citizens to reject negativity and work collectively to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.

The discussion was chaired by BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Among others who spoke at the event were BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Abdul Moyeen Khan, Agriculture Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, alongside academics and economists.