Dhaka: The streets of the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country drew thousands of people as the dawn broke on November 7, 1975, the day which the country would remember as the auspicious moment for the subsequent emergence of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman as a statesman.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the nation once again heard him on the radio saying “I am Zia speaking,” a call sign-like voice reminiscent of the onset of the 1971 Liberation War. This resurfaced in people’s minds the memory of what inspired them to wage the armed struggle for the freedom of the country.
The people breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from their chests. Spontaneous processions of revolution and victory filled the streets. The air rang with applause, chants, and slogans as soldiers and civilians embraced one another, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, echoing in unison. “Soldiers and people are brothers; long live Bangladesh; long live Major General Ziaur Rahman; join hands – soldiers and people, unite!” were the slogans they chanted in chorus reflecting the hearts of soldiers and the people.
The historic November 7 thus became a turning point in Bangladesh’s history, being observed as the day of the Soldiers and People’s Revolution. Through this revolution, Bangladesh began a new journey, slowly emerging from a state of chaos and uncertainty. On this day in 1975, the then Chief of Army Staff Major General Ziaur Rahman broke free from the web of geopolitical, expansionist, and neo-colonial conspiracies surrounding the country.
In a critical moment of national crisis, patriotic revolutionary soldiers and civilians overthrew the conspirators through a mass uprising and placed General Zia in leadership. After November 7, 1975, the evolution of a self-dignified, distinctive Bangladeshi culture and identity began. A new dawn of hope rose, and the new hero of that dawn was the son of history — Ziaur Rahman.
Over the years, there have been many conspiracies to erase his memory, but breaking through those plots, Zia secured a permanent place in the hearts of ordinary people. One of the witnesses to the events of November 7, 1975, was Colonel (Retd) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram, who now leads the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and was then a colleague of Ziaur Rahman.
Highlighting Ziaur Rahman’s immense popularity among soldiers, Oli Ahmed noted Ziaur Rahman’s role in declaring Bangladesh’s independence on March 26, 1971, and his contributions during the Liberation War. He further mentioned Zia’s reluctance to enter politics, his efforts to expand and reorganize the armed forces, and his initiatives in agricultural and industrial projects.
Another witness of November 7, 1975, BNP Standing Committee member Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, recounted the division within the army after the assassinations of August 15 and the subsequent coup led by Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf on November 3. He detailed the role of Colonel Taher and the formation of the ‘Biplobi Soinik Sangstha’ as a unit within the army aimed at seizing state power.
Major Hafiz emphasized Ziaur Rahman’s actions in restoring discipline within the army, his refusal to engage in politics, and the significance of his leadership in uniting the nation during times of crisis.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir remarked on the inevitability of the November 7 revolution in the face of political instability and highlighted Ziaur Rahman’s role in establishing a multi-party governance system in Bangladesh.
Political analysts note that after November 7, under President Zia’s leadership, Bangladesh emerged as a stronger, more sovereign state. Democracy was revived, progress resumed, and the people felt relief and stability return. Former university professor and political analyst Dr. Mahbub Ullah emphasized the importance of November 7 as a symbol of national strength, unity, and solidarity, transcending partisan perspectives.