Fakhrul Says Ziaur Rahman Reshaped Bangladesh Within 3.5 Years

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said former President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman brought about a remarkable transformation in Bangladesh during his three-and-a-half-year tenure.

“He restored multiparty democracy, bringing the country back from one-party rule and BAKSAL, while also introducing a free-market economy. I believe this marked the first phase of Bangladesh’s transformation,” Fakhrul said.

He noted that within a short period, Ziaur Rahman initiated changes that helped Bangladesh shed its image as a “bottomless basket” and set it on a path toward economic progress and prosperity.

Fakhrul made the remarks after paying tribute at Ziaur Rahman’s grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on the occasion of the former president’s 45th death anniversary.

Describing Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, a pioneer of multiparty democracy and the architect of modern Bangladesh, Fakhrul said BNP had been unable to observe the occasion properly for nearly 17 years due to what he described as fascist repression.

“I remember coming here on one occasion when many of our leaders were injured in police firing. Today, we are able to observe the day in a free environment,” he said.

According to Fakhrul, Ziaur Rahman sought to reform the country’s outdated and deteriorating system after assuming leadership through a democratic process.

He said Ziaur Rahman helped the country recover from the effects of the 1974 famine and economic mismanagement, steering Bangladesh toward food self-sufficiency and higher agricultural production.

“That was a period of transformation for both our society and the state, and he provided the leadership needed to unite the people behind that change,” Fakhrul said.

Referring to Tarique Rahman as Ziaur Rahman’s worthy successor, the BNP secretary general said the government has already undertaken reform-oriented and production-focused initiatives.

“We have launched reform programmes and measures aimed at boosting production. Initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmers’ Card have already generated new momentum in Bangladesh,” he added.