Secretary General of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Quader Gani Chowdhury has lauded BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s pivotal contributions to Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and the strengthening of its democratic institutions.

Describing his efforts as enduring and significant, Chowdhury emphasised that Zia’s legacy will be etched in golden letters in the nation’s history.

The journalist leader made the remarks at a prayer meeting and food distribution programme organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Private Bankers and Financial Institutions Employees Association on Friday to mark the 44th death anniversary of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman (Bir Uttam).

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He also said that through honesty, loyalty, patriotism, hard work, and leadership strength, Ziaur Rahman touched the hearts of the people of this country.

He brought everyone together by introducing the politics of unity in the country. President Zia introduced multi-party democracy, restored freedom of speech, and individual liberty.

Having the opportunity to govern the state for a short time, Zia gained immense popularity and freed the country and nation from the slander of bottomless baskets. He gave Bangladesh the courage to stand tall in the world court. He reshaped the military of Bangladesh. How popular he was was proven in the Namaz-e-Janaza held in his memory at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka.

Referring to Zia as the embodiment of our nationhood, he said that Shaheed Zia is the only statesman of Bangladesh in the last 54 years.

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He showed the path of light to the nation that was directionless in the political and military path after independence, and in domestic and foreign conspiracies. In just three and a half years of rule, he took the country forward from a bottomless basket to self-reliance in the sectors of agriculture, industry, and human resource development.

He established multi-party democracy and Bangladeshi nationalism in the country.

Sheikh Muhammad Zayed Al Fattah (Sheikh Sabbir), convener of the Bangladesh Nationalist Private Bankers and Financial Institutions Employees Association, banker MA Saeed Chowdhury, Sheikh Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, Raisul Alam, Alimul Bin Aziz, HM Mizanur Rahman, and others were present at the programme.