Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Photo:Collage

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 8, 2026 (BSS) - From Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, a steadfast promoter of parliamentary democracy, to the nation's first female Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and now to the current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Chattogram has consistently played a pivotal role in state affairs and political initiatives. 
 
The 'Zia family', which has a profound connection to the nation's struggle for independence and the advancement of democracy, has continually placed its faith in the leadership of Chattogram, emphasizing the enhancement of the living conditions for the residents of this area. Observers note that just as President Ziaur Rahman initiated all his political endeavors from Chattogram, the late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia also commenced the significant agenda of the last anti-fascist movement from this region. 
 
The current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is following in their footsteps, with schedule to visit Chattogram on August 9, just six months after taking office in February. The Prime Minister is scheduled to spend an entire day in Chattogram. He plans to present new homes to 100 families who have been impacted by the recent floods, distribute relief supplies, and provide cash as a gesture of goodwill to individuals with disabilities. 
 
Senior leaders of the BNP in Chattogram told BSS, In 1971, during a pivotal moment in our national history, when the nation was without leadership, Major General Ziaur Rahman declared independence from the Kalurghat Radio Station in Chattogram. This declaration initiated the great liberation war, leading to the country's independence. Following the shift in circumstances in 1975, when Ziaur Rahman assumed power, he made numerous significant state decisions alongside the capable, skilled, and patriotic leaders from Chattogram. 
 
Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman placed a strong emphasis on the development of the Chattogram region and maintained steadfast trust and confidence in its leaders. His dedication to Chattogram was so profound that he regarded this area as his own. He was assassinated at the Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981, by 'a group of rogue army personnel.' Subsequently, when Begum Khaleda Zia became the Prime Minister, she also held a deep affection for Chattogram.
 
The current Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, is prioritizing Chattogram in his state and party initiatives. 

When questioned about the Zia family and its connection to Chattogram, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, the Member of Parliament for Chattogram-5 and State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, told BSS, "Chattogram and the Zia family are intertwined by a common thread. The profound legacy and sentiment that martyr President Ziaur Rahman instilled in the people of this region by proclaiming independence from Chattogram will be cherished for millennia."
 
Ziaur Rahman executed the majority of his political ideology by placing Chattogram at the forefront. Our late Prime Minister, the steadfast national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, always held a deep affection for the people and leaders of this area. The current Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, is dedicated to the welfare of all citizens; he tirelessly works to transform the lives of everyone in the nation. Amidst this, we can sense his affection for Chattogram. Whenever we discuss the needs of the local populace, he promptly responds positively, said the state minister.
 
Mir Helal continued, "But, he aims to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the country through a pragmatic approach."

Golam Akbar Khandaker, who entered politics alongside Ziaur Rahman during the formation of the BNP, an advisor to the current BNP Chairman and former convener of North District BNP, told BSS today, "The most significant evidence of Ziaur Rahman's love for Chattogram is that he established the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1, 1979, at the Chattogram Circuit House."

"He served as the leader of Bangladesh during a tumultuous period. The Awami League was unabled to announce independence in 1971; however, when that political leadership faltered and the nation was engulfed in despair, Major Ziaur Rahman emerged as a beacon of hope on the national stage. His declaration of independence initiated the Liberation War, ultimately leading to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Bangladesh," said Golam Akbar Khandaker. 
 
Since that time, the Zia family has maintained a strong connection with Chattogram, from Begum Khaleda Zia to Tarique Rahman, who has consistently advanced Chattogram in various sectors. Reflecting on the past, Golam Akbar Khondoker remarked, "Among the leaders from Chattogram who attended the inaugural meeting of the BNP in 1979, only two of us remain alive. One is former State Minister and Mayor Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, and the other is myself."

Dr. Shahadat Hossain, former President of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP and Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, said, "From the moment of Bangladesh's great independence, all significant accomplishments can be attributed to the Zia family. For very practical reasons, Chattogram holds a deep emotional significance for the Zia family. Whenever the needs of the Chattogram populace were brought to the attention of our late former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, she promptly took action. The current Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, also places significant emphasis on Chattogram."

"Ziaur Rahman proclaimed the great independence from Chattogram and was martyred in this very city. Consequently, the residents of Chattogram feel a 'blood debt' to the Zia family," said Chattogram Metropolitan Union of Journalists (CMUJ) president Mohammad Shah Nawaz.