Zia's emergence in politics was inevitable
President tells inaugural ceremony of Ziaur Rahman Mausoleum Complex
UNB, Dhaka
President Iajuddin Ahmed said soldiers and patriotic people from all walks of life in a united uprising vested late Ziaur Rahman with the onerous responsibility of running the country by protecting its sovereignty and independence at a crucial time in 1975."Zia's emergence in Bangladesh politics was not a mere coincidence, but in an inevitable course of history, the people bestowed the responsibility on him to lead the country caught in a vortex of crisis," he said. Iajuddin made the observations at the inaugural ceremony of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Mausoleum Complex at ZIA Udyan in the city yesterday. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was also in the function as an audience. Besides, ministers, diplomats, intellectuals, senior citizens and BNP leaders attended the function. Iajuddin recalled the historic role of late late Zia in the War of Liberation and in restoring multiparty democracy, basic rights and civil liberties. "Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman is that great man who set the irreversible course of history initiating the war of independence through his proclamation in 1971. A stunned nation regained courage and direction at the call of Major Zia," he said. He recalled that Zia had initiated politics of production, organised the rural people in productive activities and removed discrimination and oppression from the society and established the rule of law. He said that Zia had realised that there is no alternative to national unity for development and so propounded the ideology of Bangladeshi nationalism. Leading the country with the belief that "party is above individual and country is above the party", he was soon able to create national unity, solidarity and became a permanent symbol of development. Highlighting the necessity of the Complex, the president said on the one hand it depicts the respects to the memory of the late leader and on the other reflects the hopes and aspirations of millions of people at home and abroad. Minister for Housing and Public Works Mirza Abbas and State Minister Alamgir Kabir also spoke. Later, Iajuddin unveiled the plaque of the Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Mausoleum Complex. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was present at the time. The President also placed wreath and offered fateha at ZIA's mazar on the occasion of 7th November, the National Revolution and Solidarity Day. This day in 1975, Zia came to the helms of power amid a soldier-mass uprising.
| 
