Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram on Saturday said country could have become a highly prosperous state if former president Ziaur Rahman had not been assassinated prematurely.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Bhola district BNP office on the final day of his four-day visit to the district.
“If the assassins had not killed Ziaur Rahman at an untimely moment, Bangladesh would have become an extremely prosperous country. He could have solved many of the problems the nation continues to face today,” the Speaker said.
Recalling the death anniversary of the BNP founder, Hafiz Uddin said the people of Bangladesh remember Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with deep respect.
“Although Zia is no longer among us, I firmly believe that BNP and other like-minded political parties, following his ideals, will gradually take country to new heights of development,” he said.
The Speaker expressed hope that democracy would be firmly established in the country and that Bangladesh would emerge as a developed and prosperous nation by following Ziaur Rahman’s principles.
He also said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman had been inspired by the ideals of his parents, Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, and hoped he would be able to guide the country towards further progress.
Highlighting Ziaur Rahman’s political activities and international standing, Hafiz Uddin said the former president’s nationalist ideology continued to influence country's political landscape.
“Bangladesh Nationalist Party came to power four times with the support of the people. Over the past 16 years, former BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia endured immense repression and hardship and played a significant role in the struggle for democracy,” he said.
Describing Khaleda Zia as one of the country’s most popular political leaders, the Speaker said her statesmanship had earned recognition beyond Bangladesh.
He claimed that leaders of the muslim world had once selected her as a member of the Al-Quds Committee in recognition of her leadership qualities and role in fostering unity within the muslim community.
The Speaker also recalled Ziaur Rahman’s role in the Liberation War and his contributions to the country's post-independence development.
Among others, leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, were present at the programme.
