BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the names of Ziaur Rahman and Bangladesh are inseparable. He made the remark on Sunday while presiding over a discussion meeting at the Krishibid Institute in Farmgate, Dhaka, marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

In his speech, Mirza Fakhrul stated that Bangladesh’s Liberation War began with Ziaur Rahman’s declaration, which led to the country’s emergence as a new state on the world map. He recalled that public confidence in Ziaur Rahman was reflected in 1975 when people entrusted him with rebuilding the nation through a soldier-people revolution. Fakhrul highlighted Zia’s role in reconstruction, establishing “Bangladeshi nationalism,” forming a capable cabinet, introducing multiparty democracy, and initiating economic reforms.

Referring to current politics, Fakhrul criticized those who claim BNP opposes reform, asserting that Ziaur Rahman introduced major reforms by replacing one-party rule with multiparty democracy and ensuring media and judicial independence.