Tarique says Zia’s actions on Mar 26 a ‘crucial document’ for historians

He says previous attempts to belittle Zia’s contributions only proved his "unavoidable" role in the nation's founding

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has described the late president Ziaur Rahman as an "inevitable" figure of the Liberation War, asserting that his Declaration of Independence was the result of longstanding mental preparation rather than an impulse.

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) on Friday, the premier highlighted a specific essay written by Zia as a vital historical resource.

“What happened at 2:15am on Mar 26, 1971 can serve as a crucial document for researchers of our independence and Liberation War history,” said Tarique.

The essay the premier was referring to was published in the daily Dainik Bangla on Mar 26, 1972, titled “Ekti Jatir Jonmo”, or The Birth of a Nation.

Quoting the article, Tarique noted that Zia had written: "It was then 2:15am, Mar 26, 1971. A day written in the hearts of Bengalis with letters of blood... The people of Bangladesh will remember this day forever."

The prime minister pointed out that when the essay was republished in the weekly Bichitra in 1974, no political figures or members of the then-government contested its contents.

“Those who were in power or active in politics at that time knew that every word in that essay was true. No one raised any objections because the facts were fresh in the minds of the freedom fighters who were all still alive,” he added.

Addressing the younger generation, Tarique cautioned against distorting history for political gain.

While emphasising that the nation must not forget its past, he warned against becoming trapped by it.

“If we remain stuck in the past, we are blind in one eye, but if we forget the past, we are blind in both eyes,” he remarked.

“In the recent past, we have seen excessive obsession with history being used to obstruct our path toward a prosperous future.”

He maintained that previous attempts to belittle Zia’s contributions only proved his "unavoidable" role in the nation's founding.

Although Zia began his career as a soldier and not a politician, his writings reveal a long-held dream of a sovereign Bangladesh, Tarique said.

The event, held to mark the 55th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, began with prayers for the martyrs of 1971, the party's founder Zia, and former premier Khaleda Zia.

Drawing parallels between historical struggles, Tarique said just as independence was earned through millions of sacrifices in 1971, the nation’s freedom was "protected" through the sacrifices of 2024.

“From 1971 to 2024, the aspiration of every martyr has been the same: to establish a sovereign, secure, and democratic Bangladesh based on equality, human dignity, and social justice, free from subservience,” he concluded.