“That is Main Zia talking.” That’s how Main Ziaur Rahman debuted within the public lifetime of his nation on March 27, 1971. Minutes earlier, Zia had pushed to the Kalurghata radio transmitter centre of Chittagong. In his agency voice, he introduced the independence of East Pakistan and the start of Bangladesh. The situation of Bangladesh was tragic at the moment. Two days earlier, the Pakistani forces had began Operation Searchlight with the killing of a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals throughout Dhaka and elsewhere, triggering an enormous exodus of individuals to neighbouring Indian States.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the chief of the motion for freedom, had been arrested and flown to Pakistan. Different prime leaders like Tajuddin Ahmed and Syed Nazrul Islam had begun their perilous journey to the border with India the place weeks later they’d launch a guerrilla motion. A disciplined officer within the Pakistani Military, Zia had fought within the western sector within the 1965 struggle with India and had been adorned for his valour. However Zia had been seething due to the shortage of respect that Bengali officers have been proven in Pakistan’s navy.
Quickly after the bloodbath started on March 25, Zia rebelled and arrested and killed the commanding officer of his unit, Lt. Col. Abdur Rashid Janjua, and different non-Bengali officers. He requested the radio operator to convey to the guerrilla fighters that, “Eighth battalion of the East Bengal Regiment has rebelled. They are going to now combat for the independence of Bangladesh.” Thus started a brand new journey that will lead Zia to launch his personal guerrilla group Z-force that fought in Sylhet, Dhaka and the jap a part of Bangladesh whereas basing out of Tura in Meghalaya and Tripura.
The guerrilla struggle by the Mukti Bahini and Z-force and different smaller teams lastly culminated within the India-Pakistan struggle of 1971 and liberation of Bangladesh. Liberation, nevertheless, began a brand new warfare — an inside energy battle of Bangladesh.
In January 1975, Sheikh Mujibur, unable to include public disturbances following the disastrous famine of 1974 and poor financial situations, launched a single-party system known as BAKSAL (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League). Mujib was assassinated in a coup.
After his killing, Khondokar Mushtaq, an in depth associate- turned-betrayer, shaped a authorities consisting of Awami League and BAKSAL leaders. On October 3, he introduced that the scenario would begin normalising from subsequent 12 months and that from August 15, 1976, the ban on political actions can be lifted and a common election can be held on February 28, 1977. A strong part of the navy that prolonged assist to Mushtaq felt that in case of elections, different 4 prime leaders of Awami League who have been imprisoned may win.
Rise to energy
That highly effective wing of the navy that needed extended management over civilian administration killed 4 different nationwide leaders (Tajuddin Ahmed, Syed Nazrul Islam, Mansur Ali and A.H.M. Quamruzzaman) who had shaped the Bangladesh authorities in exile in 1971. 4 days after the jail killings, Dhaka witnessed the “navy mutiny” that introduced in Ziaur Rahman to the forefront. On paper, Zia was the Deputy Martial Regulation Administrator however precise management of the federal government slipped to his palms within the absence of efficient political management.
The historical past of 1971 Liberation Conflict is written from a number of angles. In a single model, Mujib gave the decision for liberation along with his rousing speech of March 7, 1971 that was adopted by the April 10 declaration by Tajuddin Ahmed because the chief of the federal government in exile. In one other model, the story is narrated from the perspective of Zia, who declared independence after killing his Pakistani commanding officer in Chittagong. Within the second story, Zia is the image of freedom of Bangladesh and that’s the place the legendary origin of the BNP’s politics lay.
Since taking cost successfully in November 1975, Zia experimented with politics and beliefs. He launched himself in public speeches as a soldier first after which as a farmer. He needed to take full management of the armed forces and convey a semblance of normalcy in civil forms. In a speech broadcast on radio and TV on November 11, 1975, Zia mentioned: “I’m not a politician. I’m a soldier. I’ve no relation with politics and our authorities is completely nonpartisan and apolitical.” On April 21, 1977, Gen. Zia declared himself the President and in a subsequent nationwide referendum, he secured 98.8% vote to remain in energy.
On Could 22, 1977, Zia launched the 19-point agenda that expressed his religion in “Almighty Allah” and mentioned his authorities would guarantee justice for all residents irrespective of faith, caste, and different variations.
His political philosophy first got here out as the general public announcement from the temporary experimental ‘Nationalist Entrance’. On June 3, 1978, Bangladesh witnessed a presidential election by which Zia contested because the chief of the Nationalist Entrance and obtained a majority vote at the same time as his opponents criticised the election as controversial. On June 12, 1978, Zia took the oath of workplace because the President of Bangladesh. As President, he wanted a political car. In accordance with veteran creator Mohiuddin Ahmed, it was President Zia who got here up with the identify of Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP). On August 30, 1978, the BNP was registered.
On September 1, 1978, in a press convention on Dhaka’s Romna Restaurant premises, Zia formally introduced the launch of the occasion.
Out of the seven years between the Liberation Conflict and the launch of the BNP, Zia spent 4 within the shadow of Mujib. The BNP emerged at a time when a weakened Awami League was led by Zohra Tajuddin, widow of Tajuddin Ahmed, and Abdel Malek Ukil. The BNP based mostly itself on “Bangladeshi nationalism”, not Bengali nationalism. Humayun Kobir, the international coverage adviser of the present BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, mentioned: “Bangladeshi nationalism is territorially outlined. It means nationalism of the residents who reside on the land of Bangladesh.”
Interval of agitation
Zia’s nationalistic outlook was meant for his home viewers. Overseas he advocated multilateralism and dialogue and reached out to world leaders, together with Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai and U.S. President Jimmy Carter. After the assassination of President Zia on Could 30, 1981 within the Chittagong Circuit Home, the BNP’s political journey was paused. Gen. Hossein Mohammed Ershad took cost of the nation.
Through the interregnum, Khaleda Zia, widow of Gen. Zia, took cost of the occasion in 1984. Through the Ershad years, the BNP agitated for restoration of parliamentary democracy alongside the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina. Khaleda Zia introduced the BNP again to energy in 1991. Tarique Rahman entered the centre stage after the BNP got here to energy in 2001. Tarique is now credited with main the occasion to a historic victory within the February 12 election, and is about to turn out to be the following Prime Minister.
The BNP’s origin lies within the psychology of the proud armed forces and bureaucratic elite of East Pakistan who have been caught between the liberty motion for Bangladesh and the instability of the mid-Seventies, says Mohiuddin Ahmed, an skilled on the BNP’s historical past. Right now, the occasion has emerged as probably the most highly effective political car in a stressed nation.
Printed – February 15, 2026 01:15 am IST