Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal today stated that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman always followed the right paths to earn reputation for the country and carry out development. He emphasized that Ziaur Rahman showed these paths to the people, marking him as a leader who knew, went, and showed the way. Alal expressed these sentiments as the chief guest at a discussion held at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of Jatiya Press Club (JPC), commemorating the 89th birth anniversary of Ziaur Rahman.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized by a platform named ‘National Memorial Gallery’. The discussion began with a special prayer for the eternal peace of the departed souls of Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP, and his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko. The prayer also sought good health for Ziaur Rahman’s wife and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Alal criticized the current government led by Awami League, accusing Sheikh Hasina of leading the country towards destruction. He praised Ziaur Rahman’s contributions to nation-building and expressed deep respect for the late leader, highlighting his role in organizing armed resistance during the 1971 crisis and his emergence as a savior during the country’s difficult times.
Other speakers at the discussion echoed Alal’s sentiments, crediting Ziaur Rahman with restoring the independence of the judiciary and the press, establishing multi-party democracy, and initiating policies focused on production and self-reliance. They noted his efforts in starting agricultural and educational revolutions and modernizing irrigation systems. Ziaur Rahman’s initiatives in coordinating voluntary labor and government assistance for agricultural development were also highlighted.
The event featured notable addresses by former Vice Chancellor of Patuakhali Science and Technology University Dr Abdul Latif Masum, former Editor of the daily New Nation newspaper Mustafa Kamal Majumder, and National Memorial Gallery President Engineer Moniruzzaman Dewan Manik. The discussion was conducted by National Memorial Gallery General Secretary Zakir Hossain, with contributions from Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Organizing Secretary Erfanul Haque Nahid, Executive Editor of the Daily Panjeri Md Nurul Momen Talukder, and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Joint Secretary and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Chief Reporter (Bangla) Didarul Alam Didar, among others.