News Flash
DHAKA, May 29, 2025 (BSS) - Political analyst Prof Dr. Mahbub Ullah has described BNP founder and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman as a nation builder saying Zia made pioneering role in building the nation and help Bangladesh to stand on a solid foundation.
“If we call Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman as mere as a political leader, it would be an understatement for the great statesman and a nation builder,” he told BSS in an interview on the eve of Ziaur Rahman’s 44th martyrdom anniversary.
Mahbub Ullah added: “Whatever good things we still see in this country, if we look into the history, we will find that it is the contribution of martyred President Ziaur Rahman. Until today, the economy of Bangladesh stands on three pillars- agriculture, garment industry and foreign remittances- all were initiated by Ziaur Rahman.
Highlighting the contribution of Ziaur Rahman for people’s welfare, he said, making Bangladesh's agriculture self-reliant, doubling agricultural production, increasing intensity of cultivation, providing irrigation facilities and arranging adequate fertilizers and seeds to farmers- all those tasks Ziaur Rahman had tried to organized with great dedication.
“Food production of Bangladesh since independence has augmented three times while production of vegetables and other crops has increased a lot. Production of fruits, flowers and poultries has increased several times. Behind all those successes Martyred President Ziaur Rahman’s role was immense.
Ziaur Rahman always talked about the potential of Bangladesh in his speeches and statements. He motivated the farmers to do the things. He visited house to house of the farmers in remote areas and took their advice on what should be done to make their lives beautiful and smooth.
Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman thought about how the farmers could come out of the poverty trap, how they could be self-reliant with their food production.
People still remember the gesture of Ziaur Rahman visiting the house of rural farmers. This gave Bangladeshi villages a different look. Ziaur Rahman always had said that Bangladesh would survive only if the villages of Bangladesh survive. So, he focused on the development of the villages and all these things he had done with great dedication.
Pointing out the development of Bangladesh’s apparel industries, Mahmub Ullah said, garments industries is now one of the main sources of foreign exchange earning in Bangladesh. In order to develop the garment industries, Ziaur Rahman had talked to the South Korean Daewoo Company. With their cooperation, he arranged training for garment industry workers. As the top executive of the country he assured them of giving all support for establishing the garment industries. Apart from that, he bravely implemented the policies of 'bonded warehouse' and 'back to back LC' that helpful the industries to procure raw materials and export of the readymade garments abroad. Even a country like India did not have the courage to implement the 'back to back LC' policy at that time. But Ziaur Rahman did it. The garment industry of Bangladesh is now the second largest industry in the world. As a result, new employment opportunities have been created for our women.
Highlighting the role of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to develop manpower export, Mahbub Ullah said he further strengthened our foreign relations. He developed relations with the Middle Eastern countries from where Bangladesh earns a large portion of its remittance. The foreign exchange sent by the expatriate nationals is contributing a lot to save the country’s economy in this critical period. All these three aspects are contributing to the economy, which Ziaur Rahman had initiated.
Pointing out the unparalleled contribution of Ziaur Rahman in the War of Liberation, Mahbub Ullah said, after March 25, 1971, the political leadership fled to India. At that time, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not give any guidance. After March 25, the people of Bangladesh were plunged into despair. They thought that their dream for independence is over. Frustration gripped them as they thought that they would never be able to stand up. In that critical juncture, Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh from the Kalurghat radio station. He declared the country as an independent state. Hearing Ziaur Rahman's declaration of independence, people came out of the frustration and got back their strength and courage. His voice made the people confident, infusing fearlessness among them to turn around. Then people started thinking anew about their future.
Mahbub Ullah said Ziaur Rahman led the Liberation War and was a sector commander. He led in a number of confrontations against the occupation forces. That’s why he was given the gallantry award Bir Uttam after the war. There is no way to deny his contribution to the Liberation War.
Mahbub Ullah said on the one hand Ziaur Rahman fought for liberation and on the other he was the declarer of country's independence. As a major of the army people may not know him, but he became familiar in every house for his declaration of independence and his role in the Liberation War. In this way, he became popular and beloved one to every person in Bangladesh.
Recalling the role of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman after political change over in 1975, Mahbub Ullah said, Ziaur Rahman played a very important role in that critical situation. After the coup led by Khaled Musharraf on November 3 in 1975 Bangladesh turned into a state having no government actually. There was no government to function in the country from November 4 to 7. In that situation, the country once again plunged into extreme despair. People became terrified. At that time Ziaur Rahman was under arrest by coup d'état.
But, soldiers, among whom Ziaur Rahman was very popular, freed him on November 7. In the backdrop of that chaotic situation Ziaur Rahman tried to retrieve the country from that situation. He took strong steps with great courage and save the country and Bangladesh as well. If the army had not been saved on that day, the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh would have been in great danger, Mahbub Ullah said.
