Professor Dr. Farhad Halim Doner delivered the keynote address at the scholarship award ceremony organized by ZRF. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, July 28, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson's Adviser and Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) Executive Director Professor Dr. Farhad Halim Donar today said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman brought radical changes in the country in his three and a half years of rule.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a scholarship distribution ceremony organized by ZRF. Scholarships were awarded to 23 meritorious students of Rayerbazar High School in the capital.

BNP International Affairs Secretary Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim chaired the event while ZRF Monitor Dr. Parvez Reza Kakon moderated it.

Agriculturist Shamimur Rahman Shamim, Professor Lutfar Rahman, Engineer Mahbub Alam, Agriculturist Shafiul Alam Didar, College Governing Body Chairman Farida Yasmin, Shapla Academy's Hasina Akhter and Barrister Mehnaz Mannan also spoke on the occasion.

About BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Dr. Farhad Halim Doner said, Ziaur Rahman, proclaimer of the great independence, governed the country for only 3 and a half years. 

During this time, he radically changed the country. “He was a very honest, worker-friendly and hardworking leader. Ziaur Rahman contributed to every field,” he said. 

ZRF stands by the people of the country in all disasters, the executive director of the foundation said, wherever storms, floods and storms have occurred they rushed there. 

“Since 2005, we have introduced scholarships for talented and poor students. We felt that many people pass SSC or HSC, but cannot go to university. Later, we took up a scholarship scheme. Today, many have studied in universities, studied engineering,” he said.

“Many have also become doctors under this scheme. It is very good to see all this. We have arranged drinking water. We have distributed free paddy seeds in the name of ‘Komol’ among farmers. We have given various things including poultry to the marginalized people to become self-reliant,” said Donar.

Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim said Ziaur Rahman did nothing for himself. 

“He always thought and worked for the people. He always thought about the people of the country. He lived a very simple life. He made the country self-sufficient in just three and a half years. He is an idol among the people all over the country. In fact, he was very simple,” he said.

He said Ziaur Rahman is not only of BNP, but of the whole of Bangladesh. The biggest contribution behind today's GDP and growth is Ziaur Rahman, Asim said. 

“He thought about the country till his death. We should all hold his ideals in our hearts, above party affiliations. If we move forward on the path shown by him, the country will move forward further,” he said.