An event marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of former President Ziaur Rahman was held at the Jhalokathi District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Monday afternoon. The program, organized by the local BNP and its affiliated organizations, featured Dr. Ziauddin Haider, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs, as the chief guest.

Dr. Haider described Ziaur Rahman as Bangladesh’s first elected president and the pioneer of multiparty democracy. He said Ziaur Rahman fought for independence, sovereignty, and democracy, and played a key role in political reform and restoring citizens’ right to free expression. He highlighted Ziaur Rahman’s contributions to agriculture, industry, and infrastructure, including canal excavation programs, export expansion, and the establishment of export processing zones.

Dr. Haider urged the younger generation to study Ziaur Rahman’s life and philosophy, emphasizing the importance of learning from his statecraft. He also noted that BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman focuses on development and employment rather than political vengeance, aiming to build a modern and prosperous Bangladesh.