Truth remains elusive for 45 years

In the early hours of 30 May 1981, Ziaur Rahman — President of Bangladesh, founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and a celebrated commander in the Liberation War — was killed at the Chattogram Circuit House.

He had arrived in the port city the previous day on a visit aimed at addressing internal party matters. He never returned.

Forty-five years later, as Bangladesh marks the anniversary of the death of its seventh president, questions surrounding the circumstances of the assassination continue to attract public interest: who ordered the killing, and what were the motives behind it?

The then District Commissioner of Chattogram, Ziauddin M Chowdhury, was awakened by the sound of gunfire.

A guard informed him that the shots were coming from the direction of the Circuit House.

An assistant protocol officer, who had taken shelter under a dining table, reportedly telephoned to say that military vehicles had entered the compound at around 4am and that gunfire had followed.

When Chowdhury arrived at the Circuit House, he found the main gate open, no guards visible, and the President’s body lying beneath a white sheet near the entrance to his upstairs room.

This account, recorded in Chowdhury’s book Two Generals’ Assassination: The Failed Military Coup of 1981, remains one of the most detailed eyewitness descriptions of the incident. Yet many aspects of the events surrounding the killing remain unclear.

Within days of the assassination, then Army Chief H M Ershad established a military tribunal. Following proceedings that lasted 18 days, 13 military officers were sentenced to death and executed.

Critics of the process have argued that the speed and closed nature of the tribunal limited opportunities for a broader examination of the circumstances surrounding the assassination and any wider involvement.

The principal accused, Major General Muhammad Abul Manzur, identified by the authorities as the leader of the coup attempt, died after his arrest and transfer to a cantonment.

His death meant that important questions about the events leading to the assassination were never addressed in court.

Although BNP has governed the country on several occasions since 1981, no formal commission of inquiry has been established to re-examine the assassination.

Party leaders have maintained that the completion of the military trial created legal and practical obstacles to reopening the case.

Other political parties have also shown limited interest in pursuing a fresh investigation.

As a result, aspects of one of the most significant events in Bangladesh’s political history remain unresolved, with many questions continuing to be debated by historians, political observers and the public.

Despite the unresolved circumstances surrounding his death, Ziaur Rahman’s political legacy remains influential.

Supporters credit him with restoring multiparty politics after a period of one-party rule, expanding press freedoms, promoting decentralisation, and pursuing development policies focused on agriculture and rural communities.

His canal-digging initiatives and efforts to increase agricultural production are frequently cited by admirers as examples of practical governance.

His concept of Bangladeshi nationalism — intended to encompass both Bengali and non-Bengali communities, as well as people from diverse geographical and ethnic backgrounds — became a cornerstone of BNP’s political philosophy and continues to influence political debate.

Dr Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, describes him as a leader who emerged during critical moments in the country’s history, first during the Liberation War in 1971 and later during the political transition that followed the events of 1975.

Professor Kazi Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Department of Political Science observes: “Development makes people happy, but it alone cannot win hearts in the long run.

Ziaur Rahman also connected with people, and that is why he continues to be discussed.”

As tributes are paid on the 45th anniversary of his death — with BNP observing an eight-day programme from 25 May to 1 June — public discussion about Ziaur Rahman’s life and legacy continues.

A widely shared Facebook post reflects the sentiments of many supporters: “We are unfortunate that we did not have Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with us for long.

But the ideals he left behind continue to guide us.”

The political landscape has changed considerably since 1981.

Yet public expectations of stable governance, effective leadership and accountable institutions remain as relevant today as they were then.

For many, this helps explain why Ziaur Rahman continues to be a subject of discussion and debate more than four decades after his death.

Whether the remaining questions surrounding the assassination will ever be conclusively answered remains uncertain.