Lt. General Ziaur Rahman
Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was born at village Bagmari in the district of Bogra on 19 January 1936. He was the second son of Mansur Rahman and Jahanara Khatun. Zia studied at Hare School, Kolkata. He passed his matriculation examination from Academy School, Karachi. While studying at D. J. College, Zia joined the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in 1953 as a cadet. He was commissioned in 1955. In the army, he received commando training, became a paratrooper and received training in a special intelligence course. He fought valiantly as a company commander in the Khemkaran sector in 1965 Indo-Pak War and in 1966 was made an Instructor at the PMA, Kakul. In the same year, he joined the Staff College, Quetta. Towards the end of 1969, he was sent to West Germany for training and later on spent a few months with the British Army. In October 1970, Major Zia was transferred to the newly raised 8th EB Regiment at Chittagong. Following the crackdown on unarmed civilians on the midnight of 25 March 1971, he led the revolt against the Pakistan Army and later announced the historic declaration of independence on behalf of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from the Kalurghat radio station. Zia became a sector commander of the liberation forces in April 1971 and raised the first Brigade of the Bangladesh Army at Raumari (in Kurigram district) with the help of First, Second and Eighth Bengal Regiment Jawans. The Brigade came to be known as 'Z' force. Zia was promoted to the rank of Lt. Col. in the same month. For distinguished services in the War, Zia was decorated with the gallantry award "Bir Uttam".
After liberation of the country, Zia was promoted to the rank of Colonel in February 1972 and commanded a Brigade in Comilla. In June 1972, Zia was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. He became Brigadier in 1973 and on 10 October of the same year was promoted to the rank of Major General. On 25 August 1975, Ziaur Rahman, B.U., psc was promoted to the rank of Lt. General and assumed the responsibility of Chief of Army Staff. In a coup d'etat on 3 November 1975, he was, however, removed from his
command and was put under house arrest. 'Sepoy-Janata Biplob' followed this event on 7 November 1975, leading to Zia's release and reinstatement. He became one of the Deputy CMLAs, and on 29 November 1976 became the CMLA. The Chief Justice of SC, Justice Syed A. B. Mahmood Hussain on 21 April 1977, swore in Lt. General Ziaur Rahman as President of the Republic.
Late President Zia floated a new political party called the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on 1 September 1978. He became its Chairman. Election to JS was held on 18 February 1979 and BNP won 207 seats out of 300. In the very first session of Parliament held in April, Martial Law was lifted (6 April 1979) after the passage of the Fifth Amendment Bill. Believing in free flow of information, he also lifted all restrictions relating to printing and publication of news and views.
The recruitment of women in the police force started on 8 March 1976. In November 1977, Zia started a programme of canal digging for increasing agricultural output. He set up Women's Affairs Ministry on 11 December 1977. He also increased the number of reserved seats for women in the JS from 15 to 30 and raised the quota for women in government jobs. In February 1980, Zia set up organizations at village level called Gram Sarkar with a view to uplifting the social and economic condition of villagers. An anti-dowry act was also passed on 12 December 1980. Besides, he set up the Ministry of Youth Development, which was later merged with the Ministry of Sports.
Ziaur Rahman rejuvenated the cultural life of Bangladesh. In 1976, he introduced the annual 'Ekusay Padak' to give recognition to renowned litterateurs, artists, educationists and prominent personalities who had taken part in the Language Movement and in other walks of national life. In 1977 Swadhinata Puraskar (Independence Award) - the highest national award - was also introduced to recognize significant contributions of persons/ organizations in various fields. He set up the Shishu Academy and Shishu Park.
He was the initiator of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which became a reality in 1985. Zia became one of the members of the Al Quds Committee on the liberation of Jerusalem (1981) and a member of the Peace Mission to end the Iran-Iraq War (1981). At home, he established the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in 1978.
Ziaur Rahman married Begum Khaleda Zia in 1960. Khaleda Zia is the Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). She had been the Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice. They have two sons, Tareq Rahman, and Arafat Rahman.
Late President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in an abortive army coup on 30 May 1981 at the Chittagong Circuit House.
After liberation of the country, Zia was promoted to the rank of Colonel in February 1972 and commanded a Brigade in Comilla. In June 1972, Zia was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. He became Brigadier in 1973 and on 10 October of the same year was promoted to the rank of Major General. On 25 August 1975, Ziaur Rahman, B.U., psc was promoted to the rank of Lt. General and assumed the responsibility of Chief of Army Staff. In a coup d'etat on 3 November 1975, he was, however, removed from his
command and was put under house arrest. 'Sepoy-Janata Biplob' followed this event on 7 November 1975, leading to Zia's release and reinstatement. He became one of the Deputy CMLAs, and on 29 November 1976 became the CMLA. The Chief Justice of SC, Justice Syed A. B. Mahmood Hussain on 21 April 1977, swore in Lt. General Ziaur Rahman as President of the Republic.
Late President Zia floated a new political party called the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on 1 September 1978. He became its Chairman. Election to JS was held on 18 February 1979 and BNP won 207 seats out of 300. In the very first session of Parliament held in April, Martial Law was lifted (6 April 1979) after the passage of the Fifth Amendment Bill. Believing in free flow of information, he also lifted all restrictions relating to printing and publication of news and views.
The recruitment of women in the police force started on 8 March 1976. In November 1977, Zia started a programme of canal digging for increasing agricultural output. He set up Women's Affairs Ministry on 11 December 1977. He also increased the number of reserved seats for women in the JS from 15 to 30 and raised the quota for women in government jobs. In February 1980, Zia set up organizations at village level called Gram Sarkar with a view to uplifting the social and economic condition of villagers. An anti-dowry act was also passed on 12 December 1980. Besides, he set up the Ministry of Youth Development, which was later merged with the Ministry of Sports.
Ziaur Rahman rejuvenated the cultural life of Bangladesh. In 1976, he introduced the annual 'Ekusay Padak' to give recognition to renowned litterateurs, artists, educationists and prominent personalities who had taken part in the Language Movement and in other walks of national life. In 1977 Swadhinata Puraskar (Independence Award) - the highest national award - was also introduced to recognize significant contributions of persons/ organizations in various fields. He set up the Shishu Academy and Shishu Park.
He was the initiator of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which became a reality in 1985. Zia became one of the members of the Al Quds Committee on the liberation of Jerusalem (1981) and a member of the Peace Mission to end the Iran-Iraq War (1981). At home, he established the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in 1978.
Ziaur Rahman married Begum Khaleda Zia in 1960. Khaleda Zia is the Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). She had been the Prime Minister of Bangladesh twice. They have two sons, Tareq Rahman, and Arafat Rahman.
Late President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in an abortive army coup on 30 May 1981 at the Chittagong Circuit House.
