On 30 May 1981, Bangladesh lost one of its bravest and most visionary leaders, President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, to a tragic and premeditated assassination. As we mark his death anniversary today, the question we must ask is not just what we lost because of his death, but what we still carry forward from his life. Ziaur Rahman was more than a soldier and a president. He was the architect of Bangladesh’s multiparty democracy, the founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and the proponent of an ideology that gave shape to Bangladeshi nationalism. His life was defined by patriotism, reform, and resilience, and his legacy continues to inspire the struggle for justice and democracy even today. 
Born in 1936 in Bogura, Ziaur Rahman came from humble beginning. After receiving military training and serving in key commands, he emerged as a national hero during the Liberation War of 1971, when he boldly proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence from the Kalurghat radio station in Chattogram on 27 March, in the absence of formal leadership. As a freedom fighter and later commander of the Z Force, his gallantry earned him the Bir Uttam, the second-highest award for valour in Bangladesh. But Zia’s leadership truly began after the war. In a country devastated by conflict and facing rising authoritarianism, his emergence brought hope, order, and national unity. Following the political chaos of 1975, he rose through a popular and peaceful military-civilian transformation and eventually became the President of Bangladesh in 1977. Unlike many leaders in history, Zia’s rule was not marked by personal gain; it was driven by a mission to rebuild a broken state.
Ziaur Rahman’s most enduring political legacy lies in his 19-point programme, launched in the late 1970s. This agenda was not simply a list of policies; it was a comprehensive national vision to restore economic self-reliance, administrative decentralisation, social justice, and participatory governance.
The programme called for strengthening rural development through decentralisation; revitalising the economy through private sector support; forging national unity through the ideology of Bangladeshi nationalism; expediting agricultural reform, educational access, and self-reliant development; promoting meritocracy, and ending elite-centred politics. 
It was Zia who redefined nationalism, not by limiting it to language or ethnicity, but by linking it to geography, citizenship, and inclusive belonging. His belief in “Bangladeshi nationalism” was a powerful rebuttal to divisive politics and laid the foundation for a modern, pluralist state.
Ziaur Rahman’s governance was bold and reformist. He lifted bans on political parties, allowed free press, and encouraged opposition’s participation, including the return of the Awami League to political arena. His focus on institution-building led to the reactivation of parliament, local governments, and law enforcement. He launched campaigns like canal excavation, adult literacy, and food self-sufficiency with measurable results. By 1979, Bangladesh achieved a record food production and positive GDP growth. He turned the nation away from aid dependency towards productivity and self-respect.
Above all, Zia understood that the path to democracy was not through dictation, but through empowerment. He believed in elections, devolution, and people-centric politics -- values that stand in stark contrast to the autocratic repression Bangladesh faces today. 
Today, as Bangladesh struggles under the weight of electoral manipulation, judicial compromise, political persecution, and economic mismanagement, Zia’s ideology is more relevant than ever. It is no coincidence that Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of BNP and Zia’s political heir, has built his 31-point reform outline on the foundations of the 19-point programme. The 31-point outline, declared in 2022, expands Zia’s vision for the 21st century. While the 19-point plan responded to the needs of a post-war nation, the 31-point agenda addresses the crisis of constitutional collapse, digital authoritarianism, human rights violations, and economic inequality in present-day Bangladesh. 
Whereas Zia focused on economic decentralisation, the 31-point plan proposes empowerment of the local government and an administrative reform commission.
Wherein Zia pushed for free press and political plurality, the 31-point plan demands a media commission, repeal of repressive laws like the Digital Security Act, and restoration of press freedom. While Zia empowered the private sector and farmers, the 31-point roadmap includes fair pricing for agriculture, support for youth employment, and investments in ICT, education, and climate resilience. And just as Zia believed in returning power to the people, the 31-point outline calls for restoring the non-partisan caretaker government system to ensure fair elections, echoing his lifelong belief that legitimacy comes only through the people’s mandate. The BNP’s 31-point reform outline is the modern embodiment of Zia’s dream of a Bangladesh defined by accountability, prosperity, justice, and dignity. 
When Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in Chattogram on 30 May 1981, the gunshots did not just kill a man -- they tried to silence a movement. But his vision lived on through Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, and countless activists across generations who still believe in the promise of a just Bangladesh. In the years following his assassination, the ruling regime has tried to erase his legacy, distort history, and crush BNP’s ideology. But they failed to wipe out Ziaur Rahman’s ideology. 
As we mark Ziaur Rahman’s 44th death anniversary, let us remember that commemorating a leader is not enough; we must also carry forward his mission. Ziaur Rahman believed that the people shall rule. And that promise must be fulfilled. 
___________________________________
The writer is the Country Coordinator for Malaysia & Singapore, Amnesty International UK. He can be reached at [email protected]