Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said former President Ziaur Rahman’s greatest contribution was giving Bangladesh a distinct national identity through the idea of Bangladeshi nationalism.
Speaking as chief guest at a discussion titled “Ziaur Rahman’s Independent Foreign Policy in the Current Context”, held alongside a newspaper exhibition at the Press Institute Bangladesh auditorium, Fakhrul marked the 45th martyrdom anniversary of the country’s former president.
He said people in Bangladesh had become fully convinced in 1971 that remaining part of Pakistan was no longer possible and that independence was inevitable through war. He said that conflict, he claimed, was initiated by Ziaur Rahman.
Describing Ziaur Rahman as a courageous patriot, Fakhrul said that at a decisive moment in history, when the nation was awaiting a declaration to begin the war, a then little-known major announced rebellion against Pakistan and declared war from Chattogram.
He added that Ziaur Rahman’s most significant achievement was shaping a distinct national identity. He said the former president gave people a sense of selfhood and made clear that Bangladeshis were different with a unique identity.
Referring to the 13th parliamentary election, Fakhrul said some intellectuals and media sections had predicted that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami would emerge as a major political force. He said there were expectations that he himself would lose his seat, but voters instead chose the BNP, which he described as representing a liberal democratic tradition.
He said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party upholds liberal democratic values and seeks to establish them without creating divisions in society. He also said BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s slogan “Bangladesh First” reflects the same philosophy promoted by Ziaur Rahman.
Fakhrul said Ziaur Rahman had entered politics during a period of economic collapse, institutional breakdown and political division. Rather than deepening divisions, he said, the former president worked to bring together people of different political views and pursued reconciliation and national progress.
He added that one of Ziaur Rahman’s defining traits was maintaining unity among people and fostering friendly relations with all countries.
Explaining his continuing appeal, Fakhrul said Bangladeshis have long aspired to build a nation free from external influence. He said that aspiration was reflected in Ziaur Rahman’s politics.
He also referred to the July 2024 movement, saying people had repeatedly stood up to protect the country and had opened a path for national progress.
Fakhrul expressed confidence that Tarique Rahman would be able to lead the country in line with Ziaur Rahman’s ideals and vision.
The programme was presided over by Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon. Economist Dr Mushtaq Khan of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London attended as special guest, while Major General (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, delivered the keynote speech.
Among others, Abu Rushd, editor of the Bangladesh Defence Journal, and Dr Shafiqul Rahman, executive director of Brain, spoke at the event. Press Institute Bangladesh Director General Faruk Wasif moderated the discussion.
