Ziaur Rahman is one of the most important names in the history of Bangladesh. He is immortalized in the political and military history of Bangladesh as a valiant freedom fighter, renowned general and founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His life, leadership and policies formulated by him have had a profound impact on the political background of Bangladesh. In this report we will discuss in detail the biography of Ziaur Rahman, his military and political activities, his role in the country’s independence war, and the political situation in Bangladesh after his death.

early life

Ziaur Rahman was born on January 19, 1936 in Bagbari village of Bogra district. His father is Mansoor Rahman and mother is Jahanara Khatun. Zia’s father was a government official, whose employment led the family to live in different parts of the country. As a child he grew up under the care of his mother and was keen on studies. His early education started at Chittagong Collegiate School and later he got admission in Dhaka Polytechnic Institute. He later entered the military after receiving training from the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul.

Military career

Ziaur Rahman started his military career by joining the Pakistan Army. He fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 as the captain of an East Bengal regiment and won commendations for his gallantry. His tactical skill and bravery during this war earned him special recognition in the army. During the Liberation War of 1971, Zia was the captain of the 8th East Bengal Regiment in Chittagong. After the massacre by Pakistani forces on the night of March 25, he secretly joined the liberation war and announced the independence of Bangladesh from the Kalurghat radio station. His brave initiative instilled new hope in the freedom fighters and established him as a national hero. Under his leadership, the freedom fighters achieved great success in the Chittagong region, which was a significant part of the liberation war.

Political Emergence after Independence:

After the Liberation War, his importance in Bangladesh Army increased and he was appointed as Deputy Chief of Army Staff. But the political situation in the country became unstable and when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family were killed on August 15, 1975, a military and political crisis arose throughout the country. Meanwhile, Ziaur Rahman got the support of an important part of the army and took various steps to come to power quickly.

Coming to power as President:

On November 7, 1975, Ziaur Rahman effectively took control of Bangladesh through a sepoy-jamata coup. First he became the Chief Martial Law Administrator and later the President of the country. During his tenure as President, he initiated the re-establishment of multi-party democracy and abolished Bakshal’s one-party rule. During his regime, special emphasis was placed on domestic and international policies, economic reforms and infrastructure development.

Establishment of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP):

Ziaur Rahman founded the BNP in 1978, which quickly emerged as one of the country’s leading political parties. BNP’s principles were a combination of nationalism, economic liberation, multi-party democracy and Islamic values. During his rule, an investment environment was created in the private sector in Bangladesh, which contributed to the development of the country’s economy.

Under the leadership of Ziaur Rahman, BNP took reformative steps in various areas of the country. He focused on rural development, increasing productivity in agriculture, expansion of education and development of infrastructure. Under his leadership, the country’s export trade also made significant progress, especially in the garment industry.

Domestic and International Policies:

During the regime of President Ziaur Rahman, there were several changes in the domestic and international policies of Bangladesh. He followed a moderate foreign policy, which sought to improve relations with India and maintain balanced relations with other international powers. During his tenure, Bangladesh gained membership of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which strengthened the country’s ties with the Muslim world.

In domestic policy, he tried to strike a balance between military and civilian administration. However, he has been criticized for restricting free speech and political opponents during his rule. Furthermore, he emphasized developmental activities, especially increasing agricultural production, improving irrigation systems, and improving rural infrastructure.

Criticism and Controversy:

Ziaur Rahman’s reign was marked by many controversies. According to critics, the military’s influence during his regime was excessive and martial law was applied to suppress political opposition. In addition, his regime has been criticized for restricting free speech, controlling the press, and cracking down on opposition leaders. These allegations led to many controversies about his regime and it is still criticized today.

Death and its aftermath

Ziaur Rahman was killed in a failed military coup in Chittagong on 30 May 1981. His death had a profound impact on the political history of Bangladesh. After his death BNP remained in the political arena and later his wife Khaleda Zia took over the leadership of the party. Khaleda Zia later became the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh and during her rule the BNP was established as the main political force in the country. After the death of Ziaur Rahman, the country experienced political unrest and military coups and counter-coups continued. However, as his legacy, the BNP and the policies it established had a lasting impact on Bangladeshi politics. The policies adopted during his regime later formed the basis of BNP’s political mandate.

Ziaur Rahman was a brave freedom fighter and an influential political leader of Bangladesh’s freedom struggle. The ups and downs of his military and political career, leadership and policies have had a lasting impact on Bangladeshi politics. He contributed significantly to the restoration and development of multi-party democracy in the country, which gave him a special place in the history of the country. Although his rule has been criticized and controversies, the BNP still remains one of the dominant political forces in Bangladesh as a result of his legacy. Ziaur Rahman’s life and work will forever be remembered as a significant chapter in the history of Bangladesh.