On 27 March in 1971, in the nation’s darkest hour, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman displayed immense courage by risking his life to declare the independence of Bangladesh. He provided direction to the people and called upon them to selflessly join the war against Pakistan. His declaration inspired and mobilized the masses, giving them clear guidance. Regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation, people threw themselves into the Liberation War. Later, on March 30, he made a second declaration, naming himself the “Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Liberation Forces.” At that time, many Awami League leaders had crossed the border to take refuge in places like Kolkata, Assam, Meghalaya, and Agartala. With the support of the Indian government, they quickly reorganized and formed the government-in-exile on April 17, 1971. Major Zia, like other officers, served as a sector commander and fought in various battlefields. Later, he assumed command of the “Z Force” and led the war, thereby showing his profound respect for the people, the law, and politicians of the country.
Shaheed Zia became directly involved in governance following the Sepoy-People’s Revolution on November 7, 1975. Even before that, martial law was in effect. After assuming power, he would often say, “There is no country run by a military government where significant progress has been made or where a permanent system could be established.” He believed that Allah created every human being with a great purpose. Similarly, every person receives necessary training after birth that shapes their way of life. He firmly held that, while in military uniform, his responsibility was to protect the independence and sovereignty of the nation—not to run the government. At the time, the country’s main challenge was to restore law and order. So, beginning in December 1975, he initiated discussions with leaders of various political parties to improve law and order and worked continuously to restore democracy. As a result, a “Yes-No” referendum was held in 1977, followed by a direct presidential election in 1978. In 1979, a multi-party democracy was established through national parliamentary elections. Shaheed Zia believed that “the people are the source of all power.” His primary goal was to involve the people in all state affairs and ensure their participation in all levels of elections. He believed that without public participation, no development initiative could succeed. At best, it would bring temporary satisfaction. He felt that people must have the right to express their opinions and that each individual should be allowed to perform their duties freely.
He believed that although Bangladesh was small in size, it was populous and full of potential. Skilled manpower needed to be developed, and the people had to be engaged. Thus, his heartfelt mission was to build national unity and bring economic activity back to the 68,000 villages [the number of villages at the time] of the country. Through hard work, honesty, and dedication, he sought to build the country like other developing nations. He spearheaded notable initiatives such as canal excavation, doubling food production, wheat and cotton cultivation for an agricultural revolution, family planning, literacy eradication, and industrial development. He had profound respect for working-class people. Through his actions and policies, he offered a vision for a happy, prosperous, and beautiful Bangladesh for future generations.
Shaheed Zia was a man of action with clear and transparent ideas. He was extremely intelligent, wise, and a skilled officer who spoke little. He could make swift, well-planned, and farsighted decisions in any situation. His memory was sharp. Often, he would not overlook even the smallest matters—such as where beggars stood on the street, how police were performing their duties, or where roads were broken. Upon returning to Bangabhaban (the presidential residence), he would take effective action on such issues and later inquire whether the problems were resolved. He was never known to forget anything.
Ziaur Rahman was a man of great heart and a kind soul. Often, school, college, and madrasa teachers would meet him requesting two to four lakh taka in aid for their institutions. He would ask them to explain what improvements could be made with the requested funds. Many felt nervous, fearing he might think they were asking too much and become upset. But after hearing their explanations, he would often respond, “Can such improvements be made with so little? You need more funds,” and would advise them to apply for a larger amount.
He took steps to reform, discipline, and strengthen Bangladesh’s armed forces and various government and semi-government institutions. His dream was to make Bangladesh a strong and self-reliant nation, ensuring accountability at all levels. He was a visionary and great statesman—patriotic, brave, honest, smart, and capable. The nation suffered an irreparable loss with his passing on May 30, 1981.
The writer is the President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
