Misplaced Pages

Latest revision as of 17:24, 9 January 2025

Lieutenant GeneralZiaur RahmanBU HJ HOR psc
জিয়াউর রহমান
Ziaur Rahman in 1979
6th President of Bangladesh
In office 21 April 1977 – 30 May 1981
Prime Minister	Mashiur Rahman Shah Azizur Rahman
Vice President	Abdus Sattar
Preceded by	Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
Succeeded by	Abdus Sattar
1st Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
In office 1 September 1978 – 30 May 1981
General Secretary	A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Abdus Sattar
3rd Chief of Army Staff
In office 24 August 1975 – 4 November 1975
President	Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
Prime Minister	None
Preceded by	K. M. Shafiullah
Succeeded by	Khaled Mosharraf
In office 7 November 1975 – 28 April 1978
President	Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem Himself
Prime Minister	None
Preceded by	Khaled Mosharraf
Succeeded by	Hussain Muhammad Ershad
Personal details
Born	(1936-01-19)19 January 1936 Bagbari, Bengal, British India
Died	30 May 1981(1981-05-30) (aged 45) Chittagong, Bangladesh
Manner of death	Assassination
Resting place	Mausoleum of Ziaur Rahman
Nationality	Bangladesh (from 1971) Pakistan (1947–1971) British India (1936–1947)
Political party	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Spouse	Khaleda Zia ​(m. 1960)​
Children	Tarique Arafat
Relatives	See Majumder–Zia family
Alma mater	D. J. Science College Pakistan Military Academy Command and Staff College
Awards	Bir Uttom Independence Award Hilal-i-Jur'at Order of the Nile Order of the Yugoslav Star Hero of the Republic SAARC Award
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan (1955–1971)  Bangladesh (1971–1978)
Branch/service	Pakistan Army Mukti Bahini  Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1955–1978
Rank	Lieutenant general Service number: BA-69
Unit	East Bengal Regiment
Commands	Commander of the Sector I Commander of the Sector XI Brigade Commander of Z Force MS of Army Headquarters Chief of Army Staff
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Bangladesh Liberation War

Ziaur Rahman BU HJ HOR (19 January 1936 – 30 May 1981) was a Bangladeshi military officer and politician who served as the sixth President of Bangladesh from 1977 until his assassination in 1981. One of the leading figures of country's independence war, he broadcast the Bangladeshi declaration of independence in March 1971 from Chittagong. He was the founder of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He previously served as the third chief of army staff from 1975 to 1978 with a minor break.

Ziaur, sometimes known as Zia, was born in Gabtali and trained at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad. He served as a commander in the Pakistan Army in the Second Kashmir War against the Indian Army for which he was awarded the Hilal-e-Jurrat from the Pakistani government. Ziaur was a prominent Bangladesh Forces commander during the country's war in 1971. He broadcast the declaration of independence on 27 March from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra radio station in Kalurghat, Chittagong. During the war in 1971, Ziaur was a Bangladesh Forces Commander of BDF Sector 1 initially, and from June as BDF Commander of BDF Sector 11 of the Bangladesh Forces and the Brigade Commander of Z Force from mid-July. After the war, Ziaur became a brigade commander in Bangladesh Army and later the deputy chief of staff and then chief of staff of Bangladesh Army. His ascent to leadership of the country resulted from the political crisis that had begun with the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh in 15 August 1975 military coup, followed by 3 November coup and then finally the 7 November coup (the Sipahi–Janata Revolution) within the military to gain control at the helm. Ziaur Rahman gained the de facto power as head of the government under martial law imposed by the Justice Sayem government. He took over the presidency in 1977.

As president in 1978, Ziaur Rahman founded Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He reinstated multi-party politics, freedom of the press, free speech and free markets and accountability. He initiated mass irrigation and food production programmes, including social programmes to uplift the lives of the people. His government initiated efforts to create a regional group in South Asia, which later became SAARC in 1985. He improved Bangladesh's relations with the West and China, and departed from Sheikh Mujib's close alignment with India. Domestically, Ziaur faced as many as twenty-one coup attempts for which military tribunals were set up, resulting in at least 200 soldiers of Army and Air Force officers being executed, earning him a reputation of being "strict" and "ruthless" amongst international observers. Throughout his military career, Ziaur Rahman was awarded two gallantry awards for two campaigns he participated in; he was awarded the Hilal-i-Jurat for the Indo-Pak War in 1965, and Bir Uttom in 1972 for the Bangladesh Liberation War. He retired from the Bangladesh Army with the rank of Lt. General in 1978.

Ziaur Rahman's death created a divided opinion on his legacy in Bangladeshi politics. Awami League supporters vilify him for alleged connections to Sheikh Mujib's assassination and controversial actions during his presidency. Critics argue that the Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian regime politically motivated the negative portrayal of Ziaur's legacy. Nevertheless, Zia is generally credited for his role in the Liberation War, stabilizing Bangladesh, industrializing agriculture, and fostering regional cooperation. His political party, the BNP, remains a major force alongside its rival, the Awami League, with his widow, Khaleda Zia, leading the party and serving three terms as prime minister.

Early life

Ziaur Rahman was born on 19 January 1936 to a Bengali Muslim family of Mandals in the village of Bagbari in Gabtali, Bogra District. His father, Mansur Rahman, was a chemist who specialised in paper and ink chemistry and worked for a government department at Writers' Building in Kolkata. His grandfather, Moulvi Kamaluddin Mandal, migrated from Mahishaban to Nashipur-Bagbari after marrying his grandmother Meherunnisa. His mother's name was Jahanara Khatun. Ziaur Rahman was raised in his home village of Bagbari and studied in Bogra Zilla School. He had two younger brothers, Ahmed Kamal (d. 2017) and Khalilur Rahman (d. 2014).

In 1946, Mansur Rahman enrolled Ziaur Rahman for a short stint in a boys school of Calcutta, Hare School, where he studied until the dissolution of the British Empire in India and partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Mansur Rahman exercised his option to become a citizen of a Muslim majority Pakistan and in August 1947 moved to Karachi, the first capital of Pakistan located in Sindh, West Pakistan. Zia, at the age of 11, had become a student in class six at the Academy School in Karachi in 1947. Ziaur Rahman spent his adolescent years in Karachi and by age 16, completed his secondary education from that School in 1952.

In 1953, Ziaur Rahman was admitted into the D. J. Sindh Government Science College. In the same year, he joined the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul as a cadet.

In August 1960, his marriage was arranged to Khaleda Khanam Putul, the 15-year-old daughter of Iskandar Majumder and Taiyaba Majumder from the Feni District (part of then Noakhali District). Khaleda Khanam Putul, later known as Khaleda Zia, went on serve as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh three times. At the time, Ziaur Rahman was a captain in the Pakistan Army, who was posted as an Officer of the Defence Forces. His father, Mansur Rahman could not attend the marriage ceremony, as he was in Karachi. Zia's mother had died earlier.

Military service in Pakistan

Graduating from the Pakistan Military Academy at 12th PMA long course on 18 September 1955 in the top 10% of his class, Ziaur Rahman was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Pakistan Army. In the army, he received commando training, became a paratrooper and received training in a special intelligence course.

Ziaur Rahman went to East Pakistan on a short visit and was struck by the negative attitude of the Bengali middle class towards the military, which consumed a large chunk of the country's resources. The low representation of the Bengalis in the military was largely due to discrimination, but Ziaur Rahman felt that the Bengali attitude towards the military perhaps prevented promising young Bengali from seeking military careers. As a Bengali army officer, he advocated military careers for Bengali youth. After serving for two years in Karachi, he was transferred to the East Bengal Regiment in 1957. He attended military training schools of British Army. He also worked in the military intelligence department from 1959 to 1964.

Ayub Khan's military rule from 1958 to 1968 convinced Ziaur Rahman of the need for a fundamental change in the Bengali attitude towards the military. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Ziaur Rahman saw combat in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab as the commander of a company (military unit) of 100–150 soldiers. Ziaur Rahman was awarded Hilal-i-Jur'at for gallantry by the Pakistan government medal, Pakistan's second highest military award, and the first Battalion of the East Bengal Regiment (EBR) under which he fought won 3 Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) medals, and 8 Tamgha-i-Jurat (Medal of Courage) medals, for their role in the 1965 War with India. In 1966, Ziaur Rahman was appointed military instructor at the Pakistan Military Academy, later going on to attend the Command and Staff College in Quetta, Pakistan, he completed a course in command and tactical warfare. Ziaur Rahman helped raise two Bengali battalions called the 8th and 9th Bengals during his stint as instructor. Around the same time, his wife Khaleda Zia, now 24, gave birth to their first child Tarique Rahman on 20 November 1966. Ziaur Rahman joined the 2nd East Bengal regiment as its second-in-command at Joydebpur in Gazipur district, near Dhaka, in 1969, and travelled to West Germany to receive advanced military and command training from the British Army of the Rhine and later spent a few months with the British Army.

Pre-Independence

Ziaur Rahman returned to Pakistan the following year. He was posted in Chittagong, East Pakistan in October 1970 to be second-in-command of the 8th East Bengal Regiment. East Pakistan had been devastated by the 1970 Bhola cyclone, and the population had been embittered by the slow response of the central government and the political conflict between Pakistan's two major parties, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP). In the 1970 Pakistani general election, the Awami League had won a majority and its leader Sheikh Mujib laid claim to form a government, but Pakistan president Yahya Khan postponed the convening of the legislature under pressure from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's PPP party.

Bangladesh Liberation War

Following the failure of last-ditch talks, Yahya Khan declared martial law and ordered the army to crack down on Bengali political activities. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested before midnight on 26 March 1971, taken to Tejgaon International Airport and flown to West Pakistan. He was a Bangladesh Forces Commander of BDF Sector 1 initially, and from June as BDF commander of BDF Sector 11 of the Bangladesh Forces and the Brigade Commander of Z Force from mid-July.

Zia, who already by then geared to revolt against the government of Pakistan revolted and later arrested and executed his commanding officer Lt. Col. Janjua. He was requested by the local Awami League supporters and leaders, to announce the Declaration of Independence that was earlier (in early hours of 26 March 1971) proclaimed by the undisputed Bengali leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, before his (Ziaur Rahman) arrest on 27 March 1971 from Kalurghat, Chittagong, as an Army officer's words would carry weight restoring people's trust in the 'Declaration of Independence', which read:

I, Major Ziaur Rahman, Provincial Head of the government, do hereby declare the Independence of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

But his (Ziaur Rahman) proclamation as the "Provincial Head" of the government, was much criticised and rebuked by the political leaders present there and he realised his mistake.

Later on the same day (27 March), a second broadcast was read as correction:

I, Major Ziaur Rahman, do hereby declare the Independence of Bangladesh on behalf of our great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Later in an interview with German Radio, Ziaur Rahman talked about his 27 March announcement.

Ziaur Rahman organised an infantry unit gathering all Bengali soldiers from military and EPR units in Chittagong. He designated it Sector No. 1 with its HQ in Sabroom. A few weeks later, he was transferred to Teldhala where he organised and created Sector 11. All sectors were restructured officially under Bangladesh Forces as the sector in the Chittagong and Hill Tracts area, under Colonel M. A. G. Osmani, the Supreme Commander of Bangladesh Forces, of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh which had its headquarters on Theatre Road, Calcutta in India. On 30 July 1971, Ziaur Rahman was appointed the commander of the first conventional brigade of the Bangladesh Forces, which was named "Z Force", after the first initial of his name. His brigade consisted of 1st, 3rd and 8th East Bengali regiments, enabling Ziaur Rahman to launch major attacks on Pakistani forces. With the Z Force, Ziaur Rahman "acquired a reputation for icy bravery" according to The New York Times, and was awarded the Bir Uttom, the second-highest military honour (and the highest for living officers) by the Government of Bangladesh.

Assassination of Mujib in 1975 and its aftermath

A deep conspiracy with the purpose of removing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the helm was well under way long before his assassination by outside forces and internal collaborators within Bangladesh. On 15 August 1975, President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family were assassinated in a gun fight with army personnel. One of Mujibur Rahman's cabinet ministers and a leading conspirator Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad gained the presidency and dismissed Major General K M Shafiullah, who had stayed neutral during the coup. Major General Ziaur Rahman (then deputy chief of army staff) was appointed as army chief of staff, after Shafiullah resigned. However, the coup of 15 August caused a period of instability and unrest in Bangladesh and amongst the rank and file of the armed forces. Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf and the 46th Brigade of Dhaka Cantonment under Colonel Shafaat Jamil revolted against Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed's administration on 3 November 1975, and Ziaur Rahman was forced to relinquish his post and put under house arrest. This was followed on 7 November by Sipahi–Janata Revolution (Soldier–People's Revolution), a mutiny staged by the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD or National Socialist Party) under retired Lieutenant Colonel Abu Taher and a group of socialist military officers. Khaled Mosharraf was killed by his subordinate officers while he was sheltering with them from the mutineers. Shafaat Jamil escaped but was injured, while Ziaur Rahman was freed by the 2nd Artillery Regiment under Lt. Col. Rashid and re-appointed as army chief of staff with full support of the rank and file of the army.

Following a meeting at army headquarters, an interim government was formed with Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem as chief martial law administrator and Ziaur Rahman, Air Vice Marshal M. G. Tawab and Rear Admiral M. H. Khan as his deputies. However, discipline in the army had totally collapsed and it was difficult to disarm the soldiers supported by JSD and Lt. Col. Taher, as they plotted another coup to remove Ziaur Rahman. Ziaur Rahman realised that the disorder had to be suppressed firmly if discipline was to be restored in the Bangladesh Army. Ziaur Rahman cracked down on the JSD and Gonobahini. Abu Taher was sentenced to death in July 1976 and other party figures received various terms of imprisonment. Taher was executed on 21 July 1976. Ziaur Rahman became the chief martial law administrator the same year. He tried to integrate the armed forces, giving repatriates a status appropriate to their qualifications and seniority. While this angered some veterans of the independence war, who had rapidly reached high positions following independence in 1971, Ziaur Rahman sent discontented officers on diplomatic missions abroad to defuse unrest.

Presidency

Ziaur Rahman became the President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977. Years of disorder from the previous political administration of the Awami League and BAKSAL had left most of Bangladesh's state institutions in disarray, with constant internal and external threats. After becoming president in 1977, Ziaur Rahman lifted martial law and introduced massive reforms for the development of the country.

In late September 1977, a failed coup against his administration occurred. A group of Japanese Red Army terrorists hijacked Japan Airlines Flight 472 from India, armed with weapons and ammunition and forced it to land in Tejgaon International Airport. On 30 September, while the attention of the government was riveted on this crisis situation, due to spreading of panic and disinformation actions went under way in Bogra Cantonment where a revolt broke out. Although, the revolt was quickly quelled on the night of 2 October, another revolt started in Dhaka cantonment, led by misinformed airmen of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Armed units from these army and air force personnel unsuccessfully attacked Zia's residence, captured Dhaka Radio for a short time and killed eleven air force officers and 30 airmen at Tejgaon International Airport, where they were gathered for negotiations with the hijackers. Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan TJ, SH, BP (BDF Commander Bangladesh Forces Sector 11), then BAF Ground Defence Commander, quickly put down the rebellion within the Air Force, While, the then government was severely shaken. Chief of Air Staff AVM AG Mahmud reappointed Wing Commander Hamidullah Khan as Provost Marshal of BAF. President Zia immediately appointed Wing Commander Hamidullah Khan as ZMLA (Dhaka) and Director of Martial Law Communications and Control at Tejgaon (present day PM's Office). Government intelligence had failed and President Ziaur Rahman promptly dismissed the DG-NSI and the DFI chief, AVM Aminul Islam Khan, of 9th GD (P) formerly coursemate of AVM A. K. Khandkar of Pakistan Air Force. Under Zia's presidential directive, Hamidullah initiated the transfer of DFI at Old Bailey Road from the ministry of defence to Dhaka Cantonment under direct control of the president and reorganised as DGFI. In the aftermath, at least 200 soldiers involved in the coup attempt were executed following a military trial.

The size of Bangladesh police forces was doubled and the number of soldiers of the army increased from 50,000 to 90,000. In 1978, he appointed Hussain Muhammad Ershad as the new Chief of Army Staff, promoting him to the rank of lieutenant general. He was viewed as a professional soldier with no political aspirations because of his imprisonment in former West Pakistan during the Bangladesh War of Independence. Quietly Ershad rose to become Zia's close political and military counsellor.

Elections

In 1978, General Ziaur Rahman ran for and an overwhelmingly won a five-year term as president. The next year elections were held for the National Assembly. Opponents questioned the integrity of the elections.

Zia allowed Sheikh Hasina, the exiled daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to return to Bangladesh in 1981.

Domestic and foreign policies

On taking power, Ziaur Rahman was "hailed as the strict leader that the struggling nation needed". Bangladesh suffered from illiteracy, severe poverty, chronic unemployment, shortages and economic stagnation. Ziaur Rahman reversed course from his predecessor Mujib's secular, democratic socialist, pro-Indian policies. Ziaur Rahman announced a "19-point programme" of economic emancipation which emphasised self-reliance, rural development, decentralisation, free markets and population control. Ziaur Rahman spent much of his time travelling throughout the country, preaching the "politics of hope" and urging Bangladeshis to work harder and to produce more. He held cabinet meetings all across Bangladesh. Ziaur Rahman focused on boosting agricultural and industrial production, especially in food and grains, and to integrate rural development through a variety of programmes, of which population planning was the most important. He introduced and opened the Bangladesh Jute and Rice research institutes. He launched an ambitious rural development programme in 1977, which included a highly visible and popular food-for-work programme. He promoted private sector development, exports growth and the reversing of the collectivisation of farms. His government reduced quotas and restrictions on agriculture and industrial activities. Ziaur Rahman launched major projects to construct irrigation canals, power stations, dams, roads and other public works. Directing his campaign to mobilise rural support and development, Ziaur Rahman established Gram Sarkar (Village Councils) system of self-government and the "Village Defence Party" system of security and crime prevention. Programmes to promote primary and adult education on a mass scale were initiated and focused mainly across rural Bangladesh. During this period, Bangladesh's economy achieved fast economic and industrial growth.

Ziaur Rahman began reorienting Bangladesh's foreign policy, addressing the concerns of the mostly staunch rightists coupled with some renegade leftist who believed that Bangladesh was reliant on Indian economic and military aid. Ziaur Rahman moved away from India and the Soviet bloc, his predecessors' had worked with, developing closer relations with the United States and Western Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Ziaur Rahman also moved to harmonise ties with Saudi Arabia and the People's Republic of China, Pakistan's ally who had opposed Bangladesh's creation and had not recognised it until 1975. Rahman moved to normalise relations with Pakistan. While distancing Bangladesh from India, Ziaur Rahman sought to improve ties with other Islamic nations. Zia's move towards Islamic state policies improved the nation's standing in the Middle East. According to historian Tazeen M. Murshid, one aim of these policies was to open the Gulf states to manpower exports. In this Zia was successful, and remittances became an important part of the Bangladeshi economy.

Ziaur Rahman also proposed an organisation of the nations of South Asia to bolster economic and political co-operation at a regional level. This proposal materialised in 1985 under the Presidency of Hussain Muhammad Ershad with the first meeting of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation in Dhaka. Zia's vision has earned him a posthumous award from the organisation.

Islam and nationalism

Ziaur Rahman believed that a massive section of the population was suffering from an identity crisis, both religious and as a people, with a very limited sense of sovereignty. To remedy this he began a re-Islamisation of Bangladesh. He issued a proclamation order amending the constitution, under whose basis laws would be set in an effort to increase the self-knowledge of religion and nation. In the preamble, he inserted the salutation "Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Rahim" ("In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful"). In Article 8(1) and 8(1A) the statement "absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah"' was added, replacing the socialist commitment to secularism. Socialism was redefined as "economic and social justice" under his leadership. In Article 25(2), Ziaur Rahman introduced the principle that "the state shall endeavour to consolidate, preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic solidarity." Some intellectuals accuse Ziaur Rahman of changing the nature of the republic from the secularism laid out by Sheikh Mujib and his supporters. However, critics of this accusation say the rationale is absurd and an oversimplification since secular leaders like Gamal Abdel Nasser and Ahmed Ben Bella adopted this policy, and that religious slogans and symbolism are also used by the Awami League.

Later, Ziaur Rahman introduced Islamic religious education as a compulsory subject for Muslim schoolchildren. At the birth of Bangladesh, many Islamists had supported the Pakistani Army's fight against independence and been barred from politics with the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order of 1972. Ziaur Rahman undid this as well as the ban on communal parties and associations.

In public speeches and policies that he formulated, Ziaur Rahman began expounding "Bangladesh Nationalism", its "Sovereignty", as opposed to Mujib's assertion of a Bengali identity based under language-based nationalism. Ziaur Rahman emphasised the national role of Islam as guide to life's principle. Claiming to promote an inclusive national identity, Ziaur Rahman reached out to non-Bengali minorities such as the Santals, Garos, Manipuris and Chakmas, as well as the Urdu-speaking peoples of Bihari origin. He even amended the constitution to change the nationality of the citizens from Bengali, an ethnic identity, to Bangladeshi, a national identity, under sovereign allegiance not political belief or party affiliation. However, Bangladeshi nationalism excluded the country's non-Muslim minorities, particularly the Hindu community.

After the formation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978, Ziaur Rahman took initiative for formation of political institutes and sponsored workshops for the youth to get active political lessons on Bangladesh nationalism. In such a workshop in September 1980, Ziaur Rahman spoke to the learners.

Indemnity Act

Ziaur Rahman enacted several controversial measures, some to discipline the army, some to solidify his power and some to win the support of Islamist political groups such as the Jamaat-e-Islami. Zia also facilitated the comeback of the Muslim League and other Islamic parties, appointed the highly controversial anti-independence figure Shah Azizur Rahman (who was earlier released from jail by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1973) as prime minister.

Ziaur Rahman gave foreign appointments to several men accused of assassinating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Major Dalim, Major Rashid and Major Faruk were given jobs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in subsequent years, they were appointed ambassadors of Bangladesh to African and Middle Eastern nations.

The Indemnity Ordinance (which gave immunity from legal action to the persons involved in the assassination of president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, coups and other political events between 1975 and 1979) was proclaimed by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in 1975 president, ratified in the Parliament as the Indemnity Act, and incorporated as the 5th amendment to the constitution during the tenure of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Assassination

During his term of power, Ziaur Rahman was criticised for ruthless treatment of his army opposition. Although he enjoyed overall popularity and public confidence, Zia's rehabilitation of some of the most controversial men in Bangladesh aroused fierce opposition from the supporters of the Awami League and veterans of its Mukti Bahini. Amidst speculation and fears of unrest, Ziaur Rahman went on tour to Chittagong on 29 May 1981 to help resolve an intra-party political dispute in the regional BNP. Ziaur Rahman and his entourage stayed overnight at the Chittagong Circuit House. In the early hours of the morning of 30 May, he was assassinated by a group of army officers. Also killed were six of his bodyguards and two aides.

Nearly two million people are estimated to have attended the funeral held at the Parliament Square.

Controversies

Many Bangladeshi politicians consider Ziaur Rahman a war hero. Ziaur Rahman is credited for ending the disorder of the final years of Sheikh Mujib's rule and establishing democracy by abolishing BAKSAL (One party rule established by Mujib). On the other hand, Ziaur Rahman is assailed by his critics for suppressing opposition. However, Zia's economic reforms are credited with rebuilding the economy and his move towards Islamisation brought him the support of ordinary Bangladeshi people.

Political debate

Zia's role after 15 August 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family remains controversial. The Indemnity Act, an ordinance ordered by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad in 1975 pardoning the subsequently convicted killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was not abolished by Rahman during his tenure as president. Some killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family were sent abroad during his time as president.

Ascension to presidency

The Dhaka High Court declared the seizures of power by military coups between 1975 and 1979, including Zia's military regime, as "unlawful and unconstitutional". Zia's martial law decrees, his ascendancy to the presidency in 1977 and the election held in 1978 were declared "unknown to the constitution". The court ruling over-ruled the Indemnity Act by which these very events were accorded a legal status and enshrined in the constitution.

Reintroducing multi-party democracy

Zia rejected Sheikh Mujib's one-party state policy and reintroduced multi-party democracy, which also permitted Islamist politics. He also brought Bangladesh into the Organization of Muslim Nations, a move that was widely welcomed by the general public. However, many historians argue that these actions might have alienated Bangladesh's tribal and religious minorities.

Suppression of opposition

During Ziaur Rahman's regime, at least 20 military coup attempts took place. It is claimed that many soldiers and military officials either disappeared or were killed during Zia's reigme. On one occasion, about 1,143 people were hanged in various Bangladeshi prisons, on charges of participating in a failed coup attempt on 2 October 1977.

Personal life and family

With Khaleda Zia, Ziaur Rahman had two sons, Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman (d. 2015). Khaleda became the head of the BNP and organised a coalition of political parties opposed to Ershad's regime. In elections held in 1991, she led the BNP to victory and became the first female prime minister of Bangladesh. She lost the 1996 elections to the Awami League's Sheikh Hasina, but returned to power in 2001. Tarique served as the acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Legacy, awards and honours

Bangladesh Nationalist Party continues to hold this legacy and many things named after him after his death.

Awards

•  Bangladesh:
  • Bir Uttom
  • Independence Award

Honours

Turkey posthumously named a road in Ankara as Ziaur Rahman Caddesi in his honour. In 2004, Ziaur Rahman was ranked number 19 in the BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time. Zia was also honoured by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for his statesmanship and vision. Other honours include:

•  Pakistan:
  • Hilal-i-Jur'at
•  Egypt:
  • Grand Cordon of Order of the Nile
•  North Korea:
  • Hero of the Republic
•  Yugoslavia:
  • Order of the Yugoslav Great Star

Gallery

• Queen Juliana and Ziaur Rahman in Netherlands, 1979
• Ziaur Rahman talking to Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt
• Ziaur Rahman (second right) with members of the Dutch royal family in 1978
• Discussion between Ziaur Rahman and Roy Jenkins, in the presence of Muhammad Shamsul Haque and Wilhelm Haferkamp
• Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Queen Juliana at the New Land Information Center in Lelystad
• A documentary on the life of Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam directed by filmmaker Chashi Nazrul Islam.
• Ziaur Rahman in 1979
• Ziaur Rahman and Roy Jenkins in Brussels

Bibliography

• Khan, Q M Jalal (15 June 2021). President Ziaur Rahman: Legendary Leader of Bangladesh. Writers Republic LLC, 2021. ISBN 9781637285732.

See also

• List of things named after Ziaur Rahman
• President of Bangladesh
• Chief of Army Staff
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party

References

Footnotes

1. Bengali: জিয়াউর রহমান, romanized: Jiẏāur Rôhômān; Bengali pronunciation: [dʒijau̯r ˈɾɔɦoman]
2. Multiple references:
3. Multiple references:
4. Multiple references:
5. Multiple references:
6. Multiple references:

Citations

1. ^ "List of Chief of Army Staff". Bangladesh Army. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024.
2. "Part III: Notifications issued by the Ministry of Defence other than those included in Part I". The Bangladesh Gazette. Government of Bangladesh. 19 April 1979, reproduced between pages 90 and 91 of Mascarenhas, Anthony (1986). Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-39420-X.
3. "Bangladesh Reports Death of President Ziaur Rahman". The New York Times. 30 May 1981. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024.
4. "March 27, 1971: Zia makes radio announcement on independence". The Daily Star. 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
5. "Radio Interview". YouTube. 10 December 2007. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
6. "Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro and Bangladesh's Declaration of Independence". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
7. Rangan, Kasturi (31 May 1981). "Bangladesh Leader is Shot and Killed in a Coup Attempt". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024.
8. Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Rahman, Shahid Ziaur". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
9. Sajen, Shamsuddoza (27 March 2024). "Indomitable March: Archer K blood's situation report". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
10. M, Barbara (15 August 2022) . "Top 10 Facts about Ziaur Rahman". Discover Walks Blog. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
11. ^ Chowdhury, Afsan (29 August 2016). "Must laws protect Sheikh Mujib's honour and 1971 history?". bdnews24.com (Opinion). Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
12. "THE WORLD; Everyone Loses In Bangladesh Coup Attempt". The New York Times. 7 June 1981. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024.
13. "Vast Crowds Mourn at Burial of Zia". Washington Post. 2 June 1981.
14. "Bangladesh Reports Death of President Ziaur Rahman". The New York Times. 30 May 1981. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024.
15. ^ "Former Presidents, Lt. General Ziaur Rahman". Bangabhaban.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
16. Mascarenhas, Anthony (1986). Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. Hodder and Stoughton. p. 126. ISBN 0-340-39420-X.
17. "'Zia tried to undo all of Bangabandhu's work'". Dhaka Tribune. 20 August 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
18. "BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was involved in the 1975 carnage that killed Sheikh Mujib: Bangladesh PM". South Asia Monitor. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
19. "45 years on, families of army and air force officers executed by Gen Zia still await justice". The Business Standard. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
20. "AL bent on falsely implicating Zia for August 15". The Business Post. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
21. "Questioning Zia's role in war is loquacity: BNP". New Age (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
22. "Bangladesh's authoritarian shift". East Asia Forum. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
23. "In Dhaka, a prime minister's 'vendetta' is shaping politics". Financial Times. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
24. Ledbetter, Les (31 May 1981). "Ziaur Rahman was strict leader who tried to give nation direction". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
25. ^ Franda, Marcus (1981). "Ziaur Rahman and Bangladeshi Nationalism". Economic and Political Weekly. 16 (10/12): 357–380. JSTOR 4369609.
26. "Remembering Ziaur Rahman, the Leader that "lifted the nation to its feet"". South Asia Journal. 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
27. "PRESIDENT'S WIDOW NAMED BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER". Washington Post. 20 March 1981.
28. Rahman, Tahmina. "From Revolutionaries to Visionless Parties: Leftist Politics in Bangladesh". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
29. "No Qurbani in Zia's village home". bdnews24.com. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024.
30. Md.Mahbur Rahman (5 August 2006). "From Bogra: A Successful Seat of knowledge". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
31. "Zia's brother Kamal passes away". The Daily Star. 23 November 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
32. "Zia's younger brother dies in US". bdnews24.com. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
33. ^ "Ziaur Rahman". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
34. ^ "Rahman, Shahid Ziaur". en.banglapedia.org. Banglapedia. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
35. 'বেগম খালেদা জিয়া: হার লাইফ, হার স্টোরি'র মোড়ক উন্মোচন. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
36. Mahmood, Sumon (8 February 2018). এই প্রথম দণ্ড নিয়ে বন্দি খালেদা. bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
37. "Bangladesh media ban for opposition leader Khaleda Zia's son". BBC News. 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
38. Dyer, Gwynne (2011). Crawling from the Wreckage. Vintage Canada. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-307-35892-9. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
39. "Life of Begum Khaleda Zia". en.bnpbangladesh.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
40. Singh, Nagendra Kr. (2001). Khalida Zia, Begam (1945 — ). Vol. III. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. p. 212. ISBN 978-81-7648-233-2. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
41. Siddiqi, Haroon R. (18 February 2011). "Coincidence or Destiny?". The Friday Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
42. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Rahman, Shahid Ziaur". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
43. "Indo-Pak War 1965". The Daily Star. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 June 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
44. "Ziaur Rahman | president of Bangladesh | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
45. Billah, Masum (16 December 2021). "'My priority was to keep my men safe and fight a long war'". The Business Standard. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024. They said that Ziaur Rahman had killed unit CO Lt. Col. Janjua,
46. "Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro and Bangladesh's Declaration of Independence". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
47. "Leader of Rebels in East Pakistan Reported Seized". The New York Times. Associated Press. 27 March 1971. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
48. Gupta, Jyoti Sen (1974). History Of Freedom Movement In Bangladesh, 1943-1973: Some Involvement. Naya Prokash. pp. 325–326. OCLC 1056475.
49. Chowdhury, Afsan (29 August 2016). "Must laws protect Sheikh Mujib's honour and 1971 history?". bdnews24.com (Opinion). Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
50. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Radio Interview". 10 December 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2015 – via YouTube.
51. "Z Force organogram". Pdfcast.org. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
52. ^ "Bangladesh Reports Death of President Ziaur Rahman". The New York Times. 30 May 1981. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
53. Serajul Islam, Syed (May 1984). "The State in Bangladesh under Zia (1975–81)". Asian Survey. 24 (5): 556–573. doi:10.2307/2644413. JSTOR 2644413.
54. Ahsan, Syed Badrul (7 July 2015). "Bourgeois dreams of socialist revolution". The Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
55. "Ziaur Rahman involved in incidents of Aug 15". The Daily Star. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
56. "Ziaur Rahman: From sector commander to president". 30 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
57. "Rebels Slay President of Bangladesh". Washington Post. 30 May 1981.
58. Karlekar, Hiranmay (2005). Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan?. SAGE. p. 48. ISBN 9788178295527.
59. "President Zia Has Reputation as 'Bangladesh's No. 1 Motivator'". Washington Post. 28 March 1981.
60. "Bangladesh: Power Vacuum". TIME. 15 June 1981.
61. "Bangladesh Says It Has Put Down An Armed Coup". The New York Times. 2 October 1977.
62. "Hussain Mohammad Ershad". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
63. "BANGLADESH LEADER SWEEPS TO VICTORY". The New York Times. 4 June 1978.
64. "2 GENERALS BATTLE IN BANGLADESH VOTE". The New York Times. 1 June 1978.
65. Jabar, Mohammed (2014). "7". Islam and the West: A Rational Perspective. f Memoirs Publishing. ISBN 9781861513007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2015. Following presidential elections in June 1978, Ziaur Rahman sought to give his presidency and political ambition democratic legitimacy. The National Assembly of the Republic was brought back to life following general elections in 1979. A heavy question mark hangs over the integrity of these elections.
66. Tripathi, Salil (2016). The Colonel Who Would Not Repent: The Bangladesh War and Its Unquiet Legacy. Yale University Press. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-300-22102-2.
67. ^ Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "The Zia Regime and Its Aftermath, 1977-82". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 37–40. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
68. "Bangladeshi Leader Tireless in Pep Talks to People; Need for Village Self-Reliance Plan to Double Food Production 'Suspicious of One-Man Shows' Tailoring Speech to Audience Desire for Security and Stability (Published 1980)". The New York Times. 28 July 1980.
69. Murshid, Tazeen M. (2001). "State, Nation, Identity: The Quest for Legitimacy in Bangladesh". In Shastri, Amita; Jeyaratnam Wilson, A. (eds.). The Post-Colonial States of South Asia: Political and Constitutional Problems. Curzon Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-136-11866-1. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
70. ^ "Bangladesh's Ziaur Rahman To Receive Posthumous SAARC Award". VOA Bangla. 21 July 2004. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
71. ^ "Tarique receives 1st Saarc Award for Zia". The Daily Star. 13 November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
72. ^ Karlekar, Hiranmay (2005). Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan?. SAGE. pp. 51–52. ISBN 978-0-7619-3401-1.
73. ^ Charles Kennedy, Craig Baxter (2006). Governance and Politics in South Asia. Westview Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-8133-3901-6. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2006.
74. Hashmi, Taj. "Was Ziaur Rahman Responsible For Islamic Resurgence In Bangladesh?". countercurrents.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
75. Riaz, Ali (2008). Faithful Education: Madrassahs in South Asia. Rutgers University Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-8135-4562-2. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2020. The second change was the introduction of Islamiat—a course on Islamic studies—at primary and secondary levels ... mandatory for all Muslim students.
76. Hussan, Md Juman. "Ziaur Rahman A legendary leader from Asia". Red Times. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
77. Redclift, Victoria (2013). Statelessness and Citizenship: Camps and the Creation of Political Space. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-136-22032-6. Bangladeshi nationalism ... excluded the country's non-Muslim minorities, notably the Hindu community (thought to represent around 9 percent of the population)
78. Ahamed, Emajuddin; Majidul Islam; Moohmud, Shaukat; Sikder, Abdul Hai (2010). Tarique Rahman: Opekkhaye Bangladesh. Dhaka: Ziaur Rahman Foundation. p. 389. ISBN 978-984-760-141-0.
79. "The Jamaat factor in Bangladesh politics: Jyoti Rehman | Alice News". alice.ces.uc.pt. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
80. োগালাম অাযমসহ ১৪ রাজনীিতকেক অাতઅসমপગেণর িনেদગশ োদওয়া হয় সবઓর-শাহ অািজজেদর মઓਡઙ কেরিছেলন বਔবਬઓ [14 politicians including Golam Azam are ordered to surrender]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 21 April 2013.
81. "End of Journey". Jadumia. 12 March 1979. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
82. "Indemnity". Banglapaedia. 12 September 2006. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
83. "Indemnity laws a black spot in Bangladesh's human rights record". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
84. "Bangladesh: Death at Night". TIME. 8 June 1981.
85. "Questions never answered". The Daily Star. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
86. "Zia's death anniversary being". Prothom Alo. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
87. "Ziaur Rahman". Who's Who in the Twentieth Century. Oxford University Press. 1999. ISBN 978-0-19-280091-6. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
88. "Bangladesh: Death at Night". Time. 8 June 1981. p. 41. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2006. President Ziaur Rahman, only 45, lay dead with two aides and six bodyguards in a government rest house in Chittagong. All were reportedly shot by an assassination squad, led by Manjur, in the early morning hours Saturday
89. "Bangladesh Buries Leader". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. 2 June 1981. p. A-5. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
90. ^ Haque, Azizul (February 1980). "Bangladesh 1979: Cry for a Sovereign Parliament". Asian Survey. 20 (2): 217–230. doi:10.2307/2644025. JSTOR 2644413.
91. "BANGLADESH VOTERS SUPPORT PRESIDENT". The New York Times. 20 February 1979. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024.
92. "The conspiracy behind the assassination of Bangabandhu". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
93. Hashmi, Taj. "Was Ziaur Rahman Responsible For Islamic Resurgence In Bangladesh?". countercurrents.org. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
94. ^ "বাংলাদেশের রাজনৈতিক ঘটনাপঞ্জি ১৯৭১-২০১১ - বিচারপতি মুহাম্মদ হাবিবুর রহমান". Rokomari. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
95. "Major Dalim | chapter 17" (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 27 August 2024.
96. Ahmed, Mohiuddin (2014). জাসদের উত্থান পতনঃ অস্থির সময়ের রাজনীতি [Rise and fall of JSD: Politics in the time of turmoil] (in Bengali). Bangladesh: Prothoma Prokashoni. ISBN 9789849074755.
97. PERRY, WILLIAM GREEN and ALEX (10 April 2006). ""We Have Arrested So Many"". TIME.
98. "Tarique Rahman acting chairman: BNP leader". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023.
99. "BNP vows to safeguard democracy". The Daily Star. UNB. 8 November 2024.
100. "Bogra interns continue strike at Zia Medical College Hospital". The Daily Star. 4 March 2017.
101. "Protesters call for renaming of Shahjalal Airport". The Business Standard. 9 September 2024.
102. ইশতিয়াক, আহমাদ (8 January 2022). "খেতাবপ্রাপ্ত বীর মুক্তিযোদ্ধা: জিয়াউর রহমান, বীর উত্তম". The Daily Star Bangla (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 30 July 2023.
103. "List of Independence Awardees". Cabinet Division - Bangladesh (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 14 May 2013.
104. Çankaya, Ziaur Rahman Caddesi, Ankara, Turkey. Google Maps (1 January 1970). Retrieved 27 April 2015.
105. "Listeners name 'greatest Bengali'". BBC News. 14 April 2004. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
106. "Ručak u čast Rahmana". Slobodna Dalmacija (10463): 1. 23 November 1978. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.

Further reading

• Baxter, Craig (1997). Bangladesh from a Nation to a State. Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-2854-6.
• Milam, William B. (2009). Bangladesh and Pakistan Flirting with Failure in South Asia. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-70066-5.

External links

• Works by or about Ziaur Rahman at the Internet Archive
• Ziaur Rahman Biography (archived)
• Ziaur Rahman on Virtual Bangladesh (archived)
• Saha Ray, Chandan. জিয়াউর রহমান [Ziaur Rahman]. Gunijan (in Bengali).
• US State Department Secret Telegram on Bangladesh Declaration of Independence
• Former US President Jimmy Carter on President Ziaur Rahman
• Khaleda Zia, the most potential mediator to resolve ME crisis

v t e Ziaur Rahman
Bangladesh Liberation War	Z Force Sector 1, 11
Ziaur Rahman Administration	1979 Bangladeshi general election Ziaur Rahman ministry Presidency of Ziaur Rahman Assassination of Ziaur Rahman
Family	Khaleda Zia Tarique Rahman Arafat Rahman
Legacy	Zia Memorial Museum Mausoleum of Ziaur Rahman 1971: Inside and Outside August 1975 Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood Deyal Jochona O Jononir Golpo Amar Fashi Chai Namesakes
Category Commons Wikiquotes

Links to related articles

v t e Bangladesh Armed Forces  Bangladesh Army    Bangladesh Navy    Bangladesh Air Force Organization Armed Forces Division Bangladesh Forces Ministry of Defence Directorate General of Forces Intelligence Inter-Service Public Relations Army formations Military installations East Bengal Regiment Senior Tigers Bangladesh Infantry Regiment UN Peacekeeping Force Armed Forces Day Leadership Commander-in-chief: President of Bangladesh Chief of Air Staff Chief of Army Staff Chief of Naval Staff Principal Staff Officer serving Generals serving Marshals serving Admirals History and wars Military history Bengal Army Bengal Regiment Bangladesh Liberation War Gulf War Chattogram Hill Tracts conflict 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes 2015 Bangladesh–Arakan Army border clash War leaders M.A.G. Osmani Ziaur Rahman Khaled Mosharraf Khademul Bashar Muhammed Abul Manzur Shafaat Jamil Kazi Nuruzzaman Abu Osman Chowdhury Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Abu Taher Mohammad Abdul Jalil Decorations Bir Shreshtho Bir Uttom Bir Bikrom Bir Protik Personnel and equipment Ranks Military ranks of Bangladesh Training ARTDOC National Defence College Defence Services Command and Staff College School of Infantry and Tactics BUP BAIUST BAUET BAUST BIPSOT Military Academy Air Force Academy Naval Academy AFMC AFMI MIST National Cadet Corps Cadet Colleges Equipment Army equipment Active Military aircraft Historic Military aircraft Navy ships active historic Special ops President Guard Regiment SSF Para-Commandos SWADS Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau v t e Bangladesh Liberation War Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Timeline Origins of the Bangladeshi Revolution Philosophy Bengali Renaissance Muslim nationalism in South Asia Two-nation theory Bengali nationalism Bengal studies Bangamata Joy Bangla Pakistan Movement Partition of Bengal (1905) Eastern Bengal and Assam All-India Muslim League Indian independence movement Pakistan Movement Lahore Resolution United Bengal Muslim National Guard Direct Action Day Noakhali riots Partition of India Partition of Bengal (1947) East Pakistan Dominion of Pakistan East Bengal Pakistan Muslim League Objectives Resolution All Pakistan Awami Muslim League Awami League United Front Bengali language movement One Unit East Pakistan Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 1958 Pakistani coup d'état Constitution of Pakistan of 1962 Bengali self-determination Swadhin Bangla Biplobi Parishad Six point movement Agartala Conspiracy Case 1969 uprising in East Pakistan 1970 Bhola cyclone 1970 Pakistani general election Declaration of war Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech of 7 March Non-cooperation movement Rodionov message Admiral Ahsan Mission Operation Searchlight Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence Combatants Campaigns Theaters Battles Events Massacres Combatants Bangladesh Provisional Government of Bangladesh Mukti Bahini Bangladesh Army K Force S Force Z Force Bangladesh Navy Bangladesh Air Force Bangladesh Rifles Bangladesh Ansar Bangladesh Police Special Guerrilla Forces Gono Bahini Mujib Bahini Kader Bahini Baten Bahini Afsar Bahini Hemayet Bahini Crack Platoon Pakistan Pakistan Armed Forces Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Jamaat-e-Islami Central Peace Committee Razakars Al-Badr Al-Shams Indian allies Parliament of India Indian Armed Forces Army, Navy, Air Force Mitro Bahini (Indo-Bangali group) Campaigns and theaters Pakistan Eastern Command Operation Searchlight Order of Battle Operation Barisal Cable 1971 Sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War Military plans of the Bangladesh Liberation War Eastern Command (India) Meghna Heli Bridge Operation Jackpot Mutiny on PNS Mangro in Toulon Operation Python Operation Trident Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971 Mitro Bahini Order of Battle December 1971 Sinking of PNS Ghazi East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971 Operation Chengiz Khan Operation Cactus-Lilly Major battles Battle of Daruin Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway Battle of Goalhati Battle of Dhalai Outpost Battle of Dhalai Battle of Ajmiriganj Battle of Garibpur Battle of Hilli Battle of Longewala Battle of Basantar Battle of Kushtia Battle of Boyra Battle of Atgram Other events Blood Telegram Bangladesh genocide 1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals Rape during the Bangladesh Liberation War Refugees in India Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Shadhin Bangla Football Team The Concert for Bangladesh Album Film List of massacres 1971 Dhaka University massacre Shankharibazar massacre Ramna massacre Sutrapur massacre Jinjira massacre Akhira massacre Jathibhanga massacre Demra massacre Chuknagar massacre Madhyapara massacre Bakhrabad massacre Burunga massacre Sohagpur massacre more Related conflicts Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971 Leaders Bangladesh Military M. A. G. Osmani Ziaur Rahman Khaled Mosharraf K M Shafiullah Shafaat Jamil A. K. Khandker Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Matiur Rahman Civilian Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Syed Nazrul Islam Tajuddin Ahmad AHM Qamaruzzaman Muhammad Hamidullah Khan Serajul Alam Khan Dhirendranath Datta Kazi Nuruzzaman Chitta Ranjan Dutta Muhammad Mansur Ali Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad M. A. Hannan Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Pakistan Military Yahya Khan Tikka Khan S.M. Ahsan A.K. Niazi Yaqub Ali Khan Mohammad Shariff Rao Farman Ali A.O. Mitha Khadim Hussain Mitty Masud Ahmad Zamir Inamul Haque Siddique Salik K.M. Arif Civilian Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Dr. Abdul Motaleb Malik Nurul Amin Shah Azizur Rahman Ghulam Azam Motiur Rahman Nizami J.A. Rahim Tridev Roy Indian allies Military Sam Manekshaw S. M. Nanda P. C. Lal Jagjit Singh Aurora K. P. Candeth Gopal Gurunath Bewoor Sourendra Nath Kohli Nilakanta Krishnan Minoo Merwan Engineer Hari Chand Dewan Sagat Singh T. N. Raina Khem Karan Singh Sartaj Singh Inderjit Singh Gill J. F. R. Jacob E. C. Kuruvila S. H. Sarma Civilian Indira Gandhi V. V. Giri Gopal Swarup Pathak Rameshwar Kao Swaran Singh Jagjivan Ram Dilip Mahalanabis Aftermath Pakistani Instrument of Surrender International recognition of Bangladesh Simla Agreement Delhi Agreement Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh Hamoodur Rahman Commission War Report 1971 Prisoners of War Investigation Bangladeshi nationalism Bangladesh–India relations Indira-Mujib Treaty 2001 Indo-Bangla skirmishes Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border Bangladesh–Pakistan relations 2013 Pakistan Embassy siege 2015 Expulsion of Pakistani diplomats from Dhaka Related topics Categories Commemoration Monuments and memorials National Martyrs' Memorial Martyred Intellectuals Memorial Swadhinata Stambha Liberation War Memorial Trust Liberation War Museum Bangladesh Police Liberation War Museum Aparajeyo Bangla Shabash Bangladesh Anniversaries Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day Independence Day (Bangladesh) Armed Forces Day (Bangladesh) Martyred Intellectuals Day Victory day of Bangladesh Vijay Diwas (India) Decorations and depictions Muktijuddho e-Archive Artistic depictions Awards and decorations Trials 2013 Shahbag protests Movement demanding trial of war criminals International Crimes Tribunal timeline War Crimes Fact Finding Committee Categories Liberation War Genocide Aftermath Films Causes and prelude Battles Peoples Military personnel v t e Bir Uttom Award Bangladesh Army Md. A. Rob K. M. Shafiullah Ziaur Rahman Chitta Ranjan Dutta Quazi Nuruzzaman Mir Shawkat Ali Khaled Mosharraf Abul Manzur Abu Taher A.J.M Aminul Haque A. N. M. Nuruzzaman Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Abdus Salek Choudhury Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Khaja Nazimuddin (Shaheed) Harun Ahmed Choudhury A.T.M. Haider M.A. Gaffar Haldar Shariful Haque Dalim Mohammad Shahjahan (Bir Uttom) Mahbubur Rahman (BIr Uttom) Mohammad Ziauddin Aftab Kader Salah Uddin Momtaz Mohammad Azizur Rahman S. M. Imadul Haque Muhammad Anwar Hossain Abu Moyeen Mohammad Samad Aftab Ali Fayez Ahmed Belayet Hossain Mainul Hossain Habibur Rahman Shahe Alam Nurul Amin Nasir Uddin Abdul Mannan Abdul Latif Mandal Abdus Sattar Nurul Haque Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Shafil Min Fazlur Rahman Khandokar Mujibur Rahman Shafiuddin Choudhury Abu Taleb Salahuddin Ahmed (Bir Uttom) Anwar Hossain Ershad Ali Bangladesh Navy Mozahar Ullah Mohammad Zalal Uddin Mohammad Afzal Miah Mohammad Badiul Alam Mohammed Sirajul Moula Abdul Wahed Choudhury Matiur Rahman Mohammad Shah Alam Bangladesh Air Force Abdul Karim Khandker M Khademul Bashar Sultan Mahmud Samsul Alam Badrul Alam Liaquat Ali Khan Mukti Bahini Shahabuddin Ahmed (Bir Uttom) Akram Ahmed Shamsuzzaman Sharfuddin Ahmed M H Siddiqui Abdul Kader Siddique Post 1971 Jamil Uddin Ahmad v t e Presidents of Bangladesh (list) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Syed Nazrul Islam Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Mohammad Mohammadullah Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem Ziaur Rahman Abdus Sattar A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury Hussain Muhammad Ershad Shahabuddin Ahmed Abdur Rahman Biswas Shahabuddin Ahmed A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar Iajuddin Ahmed Zillur Rahman Mohammad Abdul Hamid Mohammed Shahabuddin (I) interim (A) acting Category Commons v t e Presidents of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Ziaur Rahman Khaleda Zia v t e Bangladesh articles History Timeline Outline Topics: Bengal Aviation Literature Military Postal Rulers Cyclones Years Ancient Vedic period Anga Vanga Pundra Suhma kingdom Magadha Pradyota Shaishunaga Nanda Gangaridai Maurya Empire Shunga Empire Kanva dynasty Gupta Empire Classical and Medieval Founding kingdom: Gauda Kingdom Classical empires: Pala Kamboja Sena Sultanates: Islamic rulers Delhi Sultanate Khalji dynasty Bengal Sultanate Sur Empire Baro-Bhuyan Mughal period: Bengal Subah Nawabs of Bengal Battle of Plassey Colonial and Pakistan era Portuguese Bengala British Bengal: Famine of 1770 Sepoy Rebellion Bengal Renaissance Partition of Bengal (1905) Prime Minister of Bengal Lahore Resolution Famine of 1943 Direct Action Day Partition of Bengal (1947) East Pakistan: Language Movement Legislative election in 1954 Six point movement 1969 Uprising General election in 1970 Proclamation of Independence Bangladesh Liberation War: Provisional Government Genocide Rape Timeline Republic of Bangladesh Famine of 1974 Military coups 1975 1981 1982 1990 Uprising Political crisis in 2006–08 Bangladesh Rifles revolt Battle of Begums Protests in 2013 Student–People's uprising Quota reform movement Non-cooperation movement Massacre Regional Chittagong Dhaka Jessore Noakhali Rangpur Sylhet Geography Administrative: Divisions Districts Sub-districts Cities and towns Borders Nature: Islands Lakes Mountains National parks Rivers Places: Bay of Bengal Bengal Fan Chittagong Hill Tracts Cox's Bazar Ganges Basin Ganges Delta Hatirjheel Sundarbans World Heritage Sites Politics Government Executive: President List Prime Minister List Cabinet Elections: Election Commission General elections Presidential elections Political parties Foreign relations Foreign policies Jatiya Sangsad (parliament): Constituencies Speaker Local government: City corporations Municipalities Upazila Parishads Union councils Law: Constitution Supreme Court High Court Division International Crimes Tribunal Chief Justice Attorney General Human rights: Forced disappearance Freedom of religion LGBT rights Women Military and enforcement Armed Forces: Army Navy Air Force Paramilitary: Border Guard Coast Guard Ansar Village Defence Party President Guard Regiment Special Security Force Intelligence: NSI DGFI CTIB Special Branch Police: APBn CID CTTC PBI RAB SPBn Economy Bangladesh Planning Commission Industries: Automotive Ceramics Electronics Food Pharmaceutical Textile Shipbuilding Steel Tea production Finance sectors: Banking Bangladesh Bank (central bank) Bangladeshi taka (currency) Financial system Stock Exchange: Chittagong Dhaka 2011 scam Energy and resources: Energy policy Electricity Natural gas and petroleum Nuclear energy Renewable energy Export Processing Zones Agriculture: Rice Poultry Fishing Forestry Tourism Poverty Infrastructure: Post Telecommunications Real estate Water supply and sanitation Transport: Airports Airlines Railway Roads Ports Society Demographics Ethnic groups Bangladeshis Bengalis Names Crime Corruption Human trafficking Terrorism Education Schools Universities Health Hunger Religion Society Culture Architecture Bangaliana Baul Bangladeshi nationalism Bengalization Calendars Cinema Cuisine Language Bengal studies Literature Music Public holidays Sports Traditional Theatre Radio stations Television Sexuality Marriage Symbols Amar Shonar Bangla Bangamata Bengal fire Bengal tiger Bungalow Flag Government Seal Ilish Jackfruit Kabaddi Bengal cat Mango tree National Emblem National Martyrs' Memorial Notuner Gaan Oriental magpie-robin Water lily Inventions and discoveries Outline Index Category Portal

• Biography
• Bangladesh
• Politics

• Media from Commons
• Quotations from Wikiquote
• Data from Wikidata

• Ziaur Rahman
• 1936 births
• 1981 deaths
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians
• Chairpersons of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
• 20th-century Bengalis
• Bangladeshi generals
• Chiefs of Army Staff, Bangladesh
• Deaths by firearm in Bangladesh
• Recipients of Hilal-i-Jur'at
• Presidents of Bangladesh
• Recipients of the Bir Uttom
• Bangladeshi nationalists
• Bangladeshi political party founders
• People from Bogra District
• Politicians from Rajshahi Division
• Hare School alumni
• D. J. Sindh Government Science College alumni
• Mukti Bahini personnel
• Sunni Muslims
• Bangladeshi Muslims
• 1981 murders in Bangladesh
• Pakistan Command and Staff College alumni
• Majumder–Zia family
• Bogra Zilla School alumni
• Asian politicians assassinated in the 1980s
• Assassinated presidents in Asia
• National presidents assassinated in the 20th century
• 20th-century presidents in Asia
• Bangladeshi politicians assassinated in the 20th century
• 20th-century Bangladeshi politicians
• Politicians assassinated in 1981
• Heroes of the Republic (North Korea)
• Pakistan Military Academy alumni
• Bangladeshi Bengali people
• Recipients of the Order of the Nile
• People of the Bangladesh Liberation War
• Recipients of the Independence Day Award