Zia the father of a multiparty democracy

[Muazzam Kazi]

Zia is embedded as the father of modern Bangladesh and as the one who ‘constitutionalized’ and established multi-party democracy and Bangladeshi nationalism. Writes Muazzam H. Kazi, Ph.D., Diplomat of American Board of Radiology.  

 

 

 

If we want to Sketch his life, we have to divide his life into four parts.

1. Soldier Zia

2. Freedom fighter Zia

3. 7th of November and Zia

4. Father of multi-party democracy in Bangladesh.

 

 

 

Soldier Zia: Zia joined Pakistani military in fifty’s and fought against Indian army in the Khemkaran sector in Punjab. His unit received the highest numbers of gallantry awards for heroic performances in the war. Ziaur Rahman himself won the distinguished and prestigious Hilal-e-Jurat medal (Crescent of Courage) is the second highest military award of Pakistan. As a professional soldier he delivered his wisdom and courage between India and Pakistan wars in 1965.

Freedom Fighter Zia: Zia with most of the Bengali army officers were worried for the intense situation in Bangladesh during early days of 1971. Zia was stationed in Chittagong with Col. M R Chowdhury and Brigadier Majumdar. Brigadier Majumdar was the most senior Bengali army officer in Chittagong. At the eve of operation search light the supreme Bengali leader Seikh M Rahman arrested by Pakistani army. This is unprecedented in the history, where supreme leader arrested by the enemy with out any blood shade.

When whole nation was in disarray and in panicky situation, Zia risked his and his family’s life to safeguard the people and the country. Zia not only revolt against Pakistani military establishment he also declared the independent of Bangladesh.

His unit received the highest numbers of gallantry awards for heroic performances in the war. Ziaur Rahman himself won the distinguished and prestigious Bir Uttam medal is the second highest military award of Bangladesh. As a professional soldier he delivered his wisdom and courage between Bangladesh and Pakistan war in 1971. The declaration of our independent was vividly described by Hymeyan Ahmed in his book Jusna and Jononir golpo.

7th of November and Zia:

On 3rd of November, 1975 Brig. Khaled Mosharraf and Shafat Zamil took over power from Mustaq Ahmed and they arrested Zia and dismissed him from the army. Zia was a captive inside his home from 3^rd of November to 7^th of November, 1975. Khaled tried to consolidate power during this time, but he was not able to convince his fellow army officers and general soldiers.

On the morning of 7^th of November 1975, general soldiers started mutiny against Khaled and Zamil. Ziaur Rahman was freed by the 2nd Artillery regiment under Lt. Col. Rashid and re-appointed him as army chief.

When Zia came out from the house arrest, he told his fellow soldiers to lay down their arms and follow the instructions of their respective officers. This time was one of the most crucial times in our entire history. If Gen Zia failed to back the army to the cantonment, Bangladesh would turn into a fail country.

Let see General Syed Asrafuzzaman comments about 7^th of November.

"On November 07, 1975 ordinary soldiers, who mutinied against the newly appointed army chief Brig Gen Khaled Mosharraf, rather forced Gen Zia to become the army chief. There being no government in existence in those tumultuous days Gen Zia had no choice but to proclaim himself as the CMLA too. Later he had to become the president under circumstances beyond his control. At that time I was posted as a staff officer in the AHQ. I am an eye witness to many of the incidents that took place in those days in the army. Those who blame Gen Zia for usurping power are not correct. Let me also add here that at that critical time there was no other senior armed forces officer who was acceptable as a commander and leader to the unruly armed soldiers. Gen Zia was acceptable because of his clean and courageous image as a sector commander in the Liberation War, and for his personal honesty, integrity, efficiency and, above all, his charismatic leadership qualities. There was no one else who could beat him in this regard. I was personally present in the meeting in 2nd Field Regiment Artillery in Dhaka Cantonment wherein the armed soldiers (officers present were unarmed and without badges of rank) were insisting upon Gen Zia (the only officer with badges of rank on) to take the command of the army. Gen Zia was not willing to do so. Finally the senior officers present also requested Gen Zia to take over. Gen Zia in his usual way bullied the soldiers for being unruly. He also admonished the officers for failing to exercise command over their respective troops. Finally he came out with some preconditions both for the soldiers and the officers. His preconditions were accepted by all. Gen Zia became the army chief. The army started getting back into discipline. Finally chain of command was restored. If Gen Zia had refused to be the army chief on that day only God knew what would have been the fate of the army and the country".

Zia the father of multiparty democracy: Zia is embedded as the father of modern Bangladesh and as the one who ‘constitutionalised’ and established multi-party democracy in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Awami League, Jamata Islam, communist Party, NAP emerged as a political party under the blessing of Ziaur Rahman.

Zia not only save the country at this turmoil time of our history, he also entry in the political domain and state governance, and that the political dynamics are no longer confined to one party (as was during and immediately after the war of independence) or to a political ideology. He introduces Bangladeshi nationalism and multi-party democracy in Bangladesh.
Any country to flourish and progress, patriotic and visionary leaderships are indispensable. Such leaderships may come from founding fathers and from visionaries such as Zia who with correct guidance steered the future of the country on the right path.

Vision of Zia:

Face and tackle flood through digging rivers and cannels.
Confined the population growth through effective birth control policy.
Fight against illiteracy.
Consulates the press freedom.
Effective foreign policy to safe guard the sovereignty and economical diversity.
Promote free market economy to bolster economical growth.
Mandatory participation of SSC and HSC student to tackle illiteracy.
Send human expertise to wealthy country to earn foreign currency.
 

The stature Zia enjoys today in Bangladesh, even after almost thirty three years since his passing away, is unprecedented, given the short period during which he governed and his unplanned and circumstantial entry into politics and governance. Hence, Zia’s name and the goodwill it carries will triumph in its own right as he has earned it and the people of Bangladesh have evidently reciprocated their respect for him. The fact remains that Zia and his legacy still lives on and will prevail.
Zia has been granted his rightful place in the history of this country by those who hold actual power – the people, the ultimate owners. And it is a place where no leaders have treaded before or since, where Zia is entrenched as a true patriot, an honest leader, a legendary visionary, and an effective governor.

References:

Ziaur Rahman encyclopedia
General Syed Asrafuzzaman
Tamina Mahmud Chowdhury is a research associate/lecturer at the Institute of Governance Studies, Brac University.

　

[RANU CHOWDHURY]

Thanks, Muazzam Bhai, for a short life sketch of President Ziaur Rahman. Being one of the unit commanders (2 Field Artillery) of the Z Force in the liberation war, I had the rare opportunity to come close to Ziaur Rahman. I maintained the contact until a few months (I last met him in Sept 1980) of his death. Zia succeeded where politicians, particularly Mujib, failed--be that declaration of independence, be that running the country. That's where Hasina's heartburn. 

The best example of his popularity was that some 20 lakhs mourners gathered at his funeral in Dhaka. I also had the opportunity to visit his Mazaar one night in 1981. I never saw such a stream of people, even at that time of the night, coming to pay their respects for a leader they loved. Zia

Compare it with Mujib, for whom there was no tears, no regret, no Innalillah. It was jubilations and celebrations of happiness for the fall of a Zalim Feraun (Malik Ukil). "There were misiles and misiles in the streets, all of happiness," Humayun Ahmed (Deyal).  And, with great difficulty only 18 persons could be gathered to complete Mujib's final rituals. 

Hasina is trying to erase the name of Zia, but Ziur Rahman will remain in the heart of 18 crore people: জিয়া আছে মিশে, সারা বাংলায় ধানের শীষে।

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From: Muazzam Kazi <kazi...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, June 6, 2022 9:22 AM
To: Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; Nazma Mustafa <naz...@yahoo.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>; rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Dr Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>
Subject: Zia the father of a multiparty democracy

 

[Outlook Team]

From: Zoglul Husain (zog...@hotmail.co.uk)

Thank you so much, Muazzam Bhai, and Ranu Bhai, for highlighting many of Zia's achievements. However much the fascist BAKSALs and the heinous Indian hegemonists try to erase Zia from the history, the opposite will happen to what they want. Zia will remain a great and immortal leader of Bangladesh. Both Mujib and Hasina will be discarded in history as fascists and national traitors.  

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From: RANU CHOWDHURY <ran...@hotmail.com>
Sent: 06 June 2022 18:32
To: Muazzam Kazi <kazi...@yahoo.com>; Nabdc Group <na...@googlegroups.com>; Nazma Mustafa <naz...@yahoo.com>; Outlook Team <zog...@hotmail.co.uk>; rashed Anam <rasheda...@gmail.com>; pfc-f...@googlegroups.com <pfc-f...@googlegroups.com>; Dr Jalal Uddin Khan <juk...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Zia the father of a multiparty democracy