State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways Habibur Rashid Habib spoke as the chief guest at the publication ceremony of a book. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 18, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways Habibur Rashid Habib, MP, today laid emphasis on deeply embracing the Bangladeshi nationalism introduced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to collectively propel the country towards a path of development and prosperity.

"Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman envisioned a nation rooted in true nationalism. If we can deeply embrace this spirit and recognize our individual roles in the development of our country and its people, we can collectively transform the future of Bangladesh through accountability and unity," he said.

The State Minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the publication ceremony of a book titled 'Shaheed President Ziaur Rahmaner Rashtrodorshon' (State Philosophy of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman) at the Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University this afternoon.

The event was organized by the 'Center for Research on Nationalism and Democracy' (CRND), a platform that was formally launched today.

Habibur Rashid Habib highlighted that BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is now working to realize the vision of a discrimination-free, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh, carrying forward the state philosophy of Ziaur Rahman through years of sacrifice and struggle.

"Under the leadership and planning of Tarique Rahman, we will move forward to build a new Bangladesh born out of the dreams and sacrifices of the July-August movement. This Bangladesh will belong to its 18 crore people, and every citizen will proudly represent the nation on the global stage," Habib added.

Inaugurating the event, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A B M Obaidul Islam lauded the book as a research-oriented publication, rich in authentic information and foreign references.

"To understand the Bangladeshi nationalist force and to prevent the rise of fascism, it is crucial to study the state philosophy of President Ziaur Rahman. There is vast scope for research on his life and ideology, and this book successfully highlights those aspects," the VC said, urging everyone to read it.

The author of the book, Additional Special Superintendent of Police (CID) Md. Ruhul Amin Sarker, noted that Ziaur Rahman’s state philosophy was a unique combination of absolute faith in Almighty Allah, democracy, Bangladeshi nationalism, national solidarity, free-market economy, and social justice.

"His thought represented a comprehensive 'Nation-Building Philosophy' aimed at establishing a self-reliant, production-oriented, and united Bangladesh," Sarker said.

He further elaborated that the foundation of Ziaur Rahman's ideology relied on participatory democracy, decentralized governance, constitutional patriotism, civic nationalism, social cohesion, and market-oriented development.

"His dream was to empower villages to build a strong society, which in turn would create a strong nation and a self-reliant state," the author added.

Member of the Parliament Mohammad Shamim Kaiser and Member of Parliament from the reserved women's seat Mansura Alam, among others, also addressed the discussion.