Everything beautiful, successful today is Ziaur Rahman’s contribution: DU VC

Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam has credited Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for everything beautiful and successful in Bangladesh, saying the 7 November 1975 uprising by the soldiers and the people paved the way for protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty.

“Everything beautiful, everything successful today is the contribution of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,” he said, adding that Bangladesh began to undergo significant changes after Ziaur Rahman took charge of the state.

He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day photography exhibition organised by the DU unit of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Saturday, marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

The VC also presided over a separate discussion meeting organised by the university administration at the Student-Teacher Centre (TSC) auditorium to mark the occasion.

At the exhibition's inauguration, Prof Obaidul Islam said Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty might not have survived had the events of 7 November not taken place. The country had endured an extremely difficult period from 3 to 7 November 1975 amid domestic and foreign hegemonic influences, successive coups and political instability, making it increasingly difficult to safeguard its independence and sovereignty.

Recalling the events of 1975, he said the then army chief and President Ziaur Rahman had been detained before soldiers and ordinary people jointly rescued him and brought him back to lead the country in the national interest.

Describing 7 November as a revolution of the soldiers and the people, he said, “It was a revolution of the soldiers and the people. Everyone expressed solidarity and joined hands to bring him back. That was 7 November.”

Highlighting Ziaur Rahman's political philosophy, the VC said he had introduced the concept of Bangladeshi nationalism in place of Bengali nationalism. The concept brought all ethnic communities, including the Chakma, Marma, Mugh, Murong, Garo and Khasia, under a common national identity alongside the Bengali population.

Read More

Dhaka University ranks 16th in South Asia

He also credited Ziaur Rahman with taking Bangladesh towards development and self-reliance. The former president had played a significant role in restoring multi-party democracy and press freedom, while also creating opportunities for different political parties, including the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami, to engage in politics, he said.

The VC prayed for the eternal peace of Ziaur Rahman's soul and asked Almighty Allah to grant him Jannatul Ferdous.