BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal. -File Photo

DHAKA, Jan 25, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal today said that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman always followed the right paths to earn reputation for the country and carry out development and he showed those paths to the people. 

"Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was that leader who knew the way, went to that way and showed the way. This great leader and statesman had taken the country's development and reputation to a new height by taking many pragmatic steps during his tenure," he said. 

The BNP leader said these while speaking at a discussion at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) here as the chief guest marking the 89th birth anniversary of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. 

A platform named 'National Memorial Gallery' organized the discussion.

At the beginning of the discussion, a special prayer was offered seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls of the founder of Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) Ziaur Rahman and his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko. 

In the prayer, the sound health of Ziaur Rahman's wife and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was also sought.

Referring to the fallen fascist government led by Awami League, Alal said Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, took the country on the verge of destruction with her misrule. 

Recalling Ziaur Rahman's all endeavourers in building the country, he expressed deep respect for this national leader and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul. 

Noting that Ziaur Rahman was a guiding figure for the nation during times of crisis, he said that the valiant freedom fighter organized armed resistance after the Pakistani military attacked the people of Bangladesh on March 25, 1971.

Other speakers at the discussion also praised Ziaur Rahman, saying that when the past ruling authorities suppressed freedom of speech and democracy, pushing the country into a state of famine and chaos, Ziaur Rahman assumed state power following the historic 7th November Soldier-People's Revolution. 

They said that Ziaur Rahman emerged as a savior several times during the country's crisis moments.

Highlighting Zia's contributions to the country's development, they said Ziaur Rahman restored the independence of the judiciary and the press and established multi-party democracy.

He initiated the policy of production and self-reliance in the country, starting agricultural and educational revolutions, and modernizing irrigation systems, they added. 

He also coordinated voluntary labor and government assistance to excavate and re-excavate many canals for agricultural development, they said.

Former Vice Chancellor of Patuakhali Science and Technology University Dr Abdul Latif Masum and former Editor of the daily New Nation newspaper Mustafa Kamal Majumder addressed the discussion as special guests with National Memorial Gallery President Engineer Moniruzzaman Dewan Manik in the chair.

National Memorial Gallery General Secretary Zakir Hossain conducted it.

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 also spoke on the occasion, among others.