Now Khaleda says Zia was first president

Khaleda Zia has lent support to her son’s claims that her husband Ziaur Rahman was actually the ‘first president’ of Bangladesh.

The BNP chief’s assertion came at a discussion by ‘Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal’ to honour freedom fighters of the 1971 Liberation War on Thursday.

She too accepted an award as a freedom fighter.

Ziaur Rahman announced independence when no one was saying anything, she claimed. That makes him the first president of Bangladesh, she added.

This is precisely why Awami League is so afraid of Zia, she further said.

Their son Tarique Rahman recently presented the startling claim that his father was the first president.

Speaking at a discussion in London, the BNP senior vice-chairman claimed that Bengalis fought the liberation war at no one but Zia’s call and it was all in history.

According to the late architect of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro Belal Mohammad, Zia had read out the declaration of independence on behalf of independence leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the onset of the war.

The BNP website also describes Ziaur Rahman as the seventh president of Bangladesh.

Following the murder of Bangabandhu in 1975, Zia, one of the sector commanders of the Liberation War, came to the centre of power. Following a military rule he also became the president.

The BNP claims Zia declared the independence of Bangladesh, although there is a High Court directive forbidding this.

Awami League leaders blame Zia for rehabilitating anti-liberation forces in the country.

Former prime minister Khaleda claimed Zia took responsibility of the nation for the needs of the people.

“I feel prouder to identify myself as the wife of the man who declared our independence, rather than the wife of a president and a prime minister,” she said.

LDP President Oli Ahmed, who once served Bangladesh Army, said, “It is true that Zia had declared our independence from the Kalurghat Radio Station. I was there with him. Hannan, Mannan – those people were hiding under their beds.”

The BNP chairperson also accused the Awami League of distorting the history of the Liberation War.

“They did not declare our independence. We cannot deny that they inspired the Liberation War. But Awami League leaders during the war mostly just crossed the border,” she said.

She claimed the Awami League government was reluctant to honour freedom fighters.

“The farmers, workers, soldiers and people of the country fought in this war together. But this government is more keen on honouring foreigners than our own freedom fighters,” she said.