Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday said that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was one of the essential figures of independence and the Liberation War.
"The way through which attempts were made in the past to humiliate Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and deny his contribution and work has proven that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman is certainly an inevitable character in the Liberation War of Bangladesh," he said.
Speaking as a chief guest at the discussion meeting that was organized by the BNP marking the Independence and National Day at the Engineers Institution Auditorium in Ramna, he paid deep respect to all the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and expressed gratitude to all national leaders of the independence movement, including martyr President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence.
The Prime Minister urged unity, respect for the Liberation War, and commitment to building a democratic, self-reliant Bangladesh.
He said, "If you always focus only on the past, you are a one-eyed blind man, and if you forget the past, you are fully blind."
Tarique Rahman also remembered the contributions of freedom fighters, including the wounded and disabled, and the brave people of Bangladesh whose sacrifices made independence possible.
The Prime Minister said that while it is important to remember history, it should not stop the nation from moving forward.
Describing the Liberation War as the most glorious chapter in Bangladesh's history, he noted that many people who discuss it today either participated in the war, witnessed the suffering, or were victims of oppression.
He said the freedom fighters achieved victory by defeating one of the most powerful forces in the world.
Tarique Rahman added that although research on the war will continue for generations, it must not reduce the importance of this history.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the declaration of independence and its background, addressing especially the younger generation.
Tarique Rahman said that martyred President Ziaur Rahman is the key figure in our Liberation War, a soldier who dreamed of independence and had long prepared mentally for it rather than declaring it suddenly.
He said that Ziaur Rahman had a clear and conscious idea about independence. However, he did not declare independence suddenly. He had long mental preparation and was waiting for the right time. He added that these ideas about Shaheed Zia are not his personal opinions or made-up analysis.
Tarique Rahman said that strong proof can be found in the article titled "Birth of a Nation," written by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman about independence and the Liberation War.
He explained that on March 26, 1972, during the first Independence Day of Bangladesh, this article was published in a special issue of the now-closed Dainik Bangla newspaper. The article clearly describes how Ziaur Rahman had been preparing mentally for Bangladesh's independence for a long time.
He mentioned that in the last paragraph of the article, Ziaur Rahman wrote, "It was 2:15 am, March 26, 1971. A day written in the hearts of Bengalis with blood. The people of Bangladesh will remember this day forever. They will remember it and love it. They will never forget this day. No, never."
The Prime Minister then raised a question: what exactly happened at 2:15 am on March 26, 1971, and in what situation did it happen?
He said that this source of information can help end many historical debates for researchers studying the independence and Liberation War. He also noted that when the article "Birth of a Nation" was published in 1972, most eyewitnesses of the Liberation War were still alive.
He expressed his belief that the writings of Ziaur Rahman, who declared independence and fought in the war based on his own experience, are an important and unique historical document of the Liberation War.
Finally, he said that the independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh did not belong to any single political party. It was a "people's war."
Highlighting the value of independence, he said that only those who struggle for years without achieving independence can fully understand its importance.
He noted that Palestinians seeking independence can deeply relate to this value.
Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 at the cost of millions of lives and protected it again in 2024 with the sacrifice of thousands more. Each of these individuals had dreams and fought bravely to fulfill them.
He added that all martyrs from 1971 to the present shared a common goal: to build an independent, sovereign, secure, and democratic Bangladesh based on equality, human dignity, and social justice.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that while the nation's aspirations are great, resources are limited. However, he expressed confidence that a self-reliant Bangladesh is possible if people move forward together.
He said the current democratic government has already taken various initiatives to improve people's lives, including family cards, farmer cards, and excavation projects for different groups and professions.
Concluding his speech, he called for unity, saying the pledge of Independence Day should be: "We will all be well together, not just as individuals but as a society."
Tarique Rahman expressed hope that everyone will move forward together and build a better future, Insha'Allah.
