On the occasion of the 44th martyrdom anniversary of President Ziaur Rahman, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia delivered a virtual address, rallying the nation toward the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh.

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday, May 29, Khaleda invoked her late husband’s legacy as a beacon of hope, urging leaders, activists, and citizens to unite in rebuilding a democratic future.

Khaleda Zia opened her speech with a heartfelt tribute to Ziaur Rahman, who was assassination on May 30, 1981.

“Every year, this day brings painful memories, not just for our family but for the entire nation,” she said. She portrayed Ziaur Rahman as a towering figure in Bangladesh’s history, a patriot who declared independence in Chattogram and dedicated his life to the nation’s sovereignty, self-reliance, and development.

“Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman is inseparable from the birth of our beloved motherland,” Khaleda said, highlighting his contributions to establishing democracy, an independent press and judiciary, and a distinct Bangladeshi nationalism.

She described him as a visionary leader whose commitment to these ideals cost him his life, yet his vision continues to inspire the nation’s democratic aspirations.

Her speech was not merely a reflection on the past but a call for the future. “The journey of democracy for which Ziaur Rahman was martyred remains obstructed at every step,” she noted, acknowledging the challenges facing Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Addressing BNP leaders, activists, and supporters, Zia urged unity in pursuit of this goal. “We must honour Ziaur Rahman by embracing politics that resolves conflicts through democracy and fosters development for all,” she said.

The virtual discussion, presided over by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from Singapore, featured Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman as the main discussant from London, alongside other party leaders.

Khaleda Zia concluded her address with a prayer for Ziaur Rahman’s soul and a deep expression of respect for his memory, reinforcing the emotional and political weight of the occasion.