Dhaka: Amid a gentle winter veiled in drifting clouds and soft mist, nature rested in quiet serenity. In that tranquil, almost poetic setting at Bagbari in Bogura, Ziaur Rahman was born on January 19, 1936, destined to rise as one of history’s greatest sons of the soil. He is the great proclaimer of the country’s independence, commander of the Liberation War time Z Force, army chief, architect of multiparty democracy and modern Bangladesh, and founder chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His leadership shaped the nation’s political destiny.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, tomorrow marks the 90th birth anniversary of this visionary leader. The nation is remembering the great son of the soil with due respect for his historic and unforgettable contribution, who later emerged as a seasoned and popular statesman. His uncompromised patriotism, steadfast commitment to democratic norms and values, and profound love and respect for the country and its people endeared him to the nation, elevating him into a truly beloved and iconic figure.
Ziaur Rahman spent his childhood in Kolkata, where his father, Mansur Rahman, served as a scientific officer of the then British government. He studied up to class seven at Hare School, one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions. After the Partition in 1947, Ziaur Rahman moved to Karachi with his family, where he continued his studies at DJ Sindh Government Science College. While studying at the college, he joined the Pakistan Military Academy as an officer cadet in 1953 and received commando training as a second lieutenant in 1955.
Ziaur Rahman joined the second batch of the East Bengal Regiment at Joydebpur Sub-Cantonment, near Dhaka as second-in-command in April 1967 and proceeded to West Germany for advanced military training in the same year. In September 1970, he was posted to Chittagong (now Chattogram), with his base at Sholoshahar Bazar. On March 25, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces swooped on the armless people of East Pakistan and soon he joined the Liberation War. His unforgettable voice — I, Major Zia, do hereby declare — infused hope and courage among countless hearts to wage the Liberation War.
In recognition of his extraordinary valor, he was later awarded the gallantry Bir Uttam title. Despite the multiple changes of power following the August 1975 change of political landscape, Ziaur Rahman remained steadfast in carrying out professional duties. Amidst the turbulence within the army on November 3, 1975, a group imprisoned him at his house but on November 7, he was freed in the historic revolution of sepoys-people and eventually entrusted with the charge of leading the state.
After assuming the presidency, he introduced multiparty democracy, ending the one-party BAKSAL rule imposed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through the Fourth Amendment to the constitution. He restored freedom of the press and expression by lifting the ban through the Fifth Amendment to the constitution. Ziaur Rahman was elected to the presidency on June 23, 1978, defeating Awami League-backed candidate Liberation War Commander-in-Chief General MAG Osmani by a wide margin.
Ziaur Rahman revitalised political parties to restore democracy, founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978, and introduced the 19-point programme, reflecting his party’s political philosophy. He implemented several landmark initiatives that transformed the nation’s socio-economic landscape. In late 1975, he launched the Self-Reliance Movement from Ulshi village in Jessore, aiming to make every rural citizen self-sufficient.
To boost literacy, he initiated the Mass Literacy Programme on February 21, 1980, inspired by the spirit of the Language Movement. Ziaur Rahman strengthened local governance by formalising the Village Government system on May 30, 1980. For internal security, he formed the Village Defense Party (VDP) in 1976.
Internationally, he promoted Bangladesh’s garments, frozen food, handicrafts, and leather products, laying the foundation for the export sector. He moved away from the Indo-Soviet block and extended friendship toward the United States and China. His diplomatic policies earned the trust of the Muslim world, and he played a key mediatory role in the Iran-Iraq war.
Ziaur Rahman was elected to the Al-Quds Committee, supported the Palestinian people, and helped transform the OIC into an effective organisation. He was the key proponent of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). On May 30, 1981, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in an abortive military coup.
The course of history handed over Zia’s mantle to Begum Khaleda Zia, who became Bangladesh’s first and Muslim World’s second prime minister. After her demise on December 30, 2025, BNP entrusted the couple’s elder son Tarique Rahman with the charge of the party president.