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Ziaur Rahman Quotes

Ziaur Rahman was the President of Bangladesh. He was an army general turned politician who, as a major in the army declared the Independence of Bangladesh on 27 March, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He became President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977, he was assassinated on 30 May 1981 in Chittagong by Bangladeshi army personnel.Rahman was in charge as a sector commander of BDF Sector 1 initially, and from June as sector commander of BDF Sector 11 of the Bangladesh Forces and the Brigade Commander of Z Force from July during the country's Independence war from Pakistan in 1971. He broadcast the Bangladesh declaration of independence on 26 March and 27 March from Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong. After the war, Rahman became a brigade commander, later the deputy chief of the Bangladesh Army. He rose to power after a series of conspiracies by outside actors that resulted in Ziaur Rahman gaining de facto power as head of the government already under martial law imposed by the Mushtaq government. He took over the presidency in 1977.

As President, Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party . He reinstated multi-party politics, freedom of the press, free speech and free markets. Rahman inspired the nation to work hard and love the land. He initiated mass irrigation and food production programs, including social programs to uplift the lives of the people. He initiated and founded the first Asian regional group known as SAARC. Through his hard work and dedication the current Parliament House and Dhaka's international airport was materialized. Rahman became a popular world leader for his efforts to stabilize Bangladesh and championing issues affecting decolonised nations. He improved Bangladesh's relations with the West and China, and departed from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's close alignment with India and the Soviet Union. Domestically, Rahman faced as many as twenty-one coup attempts. He was criticised for passing the Indemnity Act and removing the ban on religion-based political parties.

Rahman was awarded the high gallantry award of Bir Uttom in 1972 for his wartime services. According to the 1986 book Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood written by Anthony Mascarenhas, Rahman retired from the Bangladesh Army as a Lt. General in 1978 with effect from 28 April, he was the first person to hold this rank in the army's history though he served as army chief as Major-General and after him from Hussain Muhammad Ershad Army Chief in the rank of Lieutenant General trend started.His party, the BNP, became one of the two dominant political parties of Bangladesh. His wife Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, is the current chairperson of the BNP.

In 2004, Zia was ranked number 19 in BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time.

✵ 19. January 1936 – 30. May 1981
Ziaur Rahman photo
Ziaur Rahman: 7   quotes 8   likes

Famous Ziaur Rahman Quotes

“Do you think I wish to hang Taher? Well, I don’t. But the Law of the Land should carry its Course. And he (Colonel Abu Taher) did not send any Mercy Petition and so what is there for me to do?”

Ziaur Rahman

During a conversation with Mir Shawkat Ali Khan on the night of Colonel Abu Taher's execution.

“I did not capture power. I was made to assume power.”

Ziaur Rahman

Ziaur Rahman's speech during a press conference.
[Anthony Mascarenhas, 'Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood', Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1986, 124, 0-340-39420-X]

“Eventually an effective political ideology cannot be based on any certain religion.”

Ziaur Rahman

After the formation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Zia took initiative for formation of political institutes and sponsored workshops for the youth to get active political lessons on Bangladeshi nationalism.

Context: Eventually an effective political ideology cannot be based on any certain religion. Religion can offer some contribution, but an entire political activism cannot be oriented in accordance with religion. Political history of this region has the example of religion-based politics attempted during Pakistan era and it failed. Not only in Islam, people in other religions of many regions try to keep on politics based on religion. It's not right. It's important and it should be remembered.

“We must not be beggars. Why should we beg? We have something to offer.”

Ziaur Rahman

During an interview with The New York Times reporter, Kevin Rafferty in October 1976.
[10 October 1976, http://ziaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/economic-hope-for-bangladesh.pdf, Economic Hope For Bangladesh, 2010-11-19]

“I, Major Ziaur Rahman, on behalf of Bangobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hereby declare that the independent People's Republic of Bangladesh has been established.”

Ziaur Rahman

Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 27, 1971 at 7:45 PM.
Context: This is Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendro. I, Major Ziaur Rahman, on behalf of Bangobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hereby declare that the independent People's Republic of Bangladesh has been established. I have taken command as the temporary Head of the Republic. I call upon all Bengalis to rise against the attack by the West Pakistani Army. We shall fight to the last to free our Motherland. By the grace of Allah, victory is ours. Joy Bangla.

“To the Non-Proliferation Treaty, was based on a firm conviction that there can be peace only through the elimination of all nuclear weapons, moved towards the limitation of nuclear armaments and other weapons of mass destruction, are important steps in creating an atmosphere of trust and the relaxation of tensions.”

Ziaur Rahman

Ziaur Rahman's speech in the United Nations Security Council.
Ziaur Rahman in the United Nations - YouTube, 2012-05-30 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASYSWMbDtg,

“Do you think I wish to hang Taher? Well, I don’t. But the Law of the Land should carry its Course.”

Ziaur Rahman

And he (Colonel Abu Taher) did not send any Mercy Petition and so what is there for me to do?
During a conversation with Mir Shawkat Ali Khan on the night of Colonel Abu Taher's execution.
[21 July 1976, http://www.nirmaaan.com/blog/anwarhossain/6165, মুক্তাঙ্গন, তাহেরের স্বপ্ন (পঞ্চম ও শেষ পর্ব), 2010-11-19]

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