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Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain on Friday said that Major Ziaur Rahman took responsibility at a time when the nation was in despair during the 1971 Liberation War.
Speaking to journalists after paying tribute and offering prayers at the first grave of the late president in Pomra of Rangunia upazila in Chattogram, Dr Zahid said Ziaur Rahman, then a Major in the East Bengal Regiment, had led the initial resistance in Chattogram.
“There is a reluctance to learn from history. In the past, there were attempts to spread inaccurate historical narratives and teach our children and younger generations a distorted version of history,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the minister placed a wreath at the first grave of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in Pomra Zianagar, joined a special prayer and planted a tree sapling in his memory.
Later, he visited the Rangunia Vocational Training Centre for Orphans and Destitute Children, where he distributed clothing and educational materials among trainees of its 48th batch at a programme held at the centre’s conference room.
Humam Quader Chowdhury, Member of Parliament; Rangunia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Nazmul Hasan; leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); and officials of the Social Services Department. The programme was conducted by Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Director of the Chattogram Divisional Social Services Office, among others, were present on the occassion.
President Ziaur Rahman was initially buried at Pomra in Rangunia after he was assassinated at the Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981. His remains were later transferred to Dhaka and reburied at Zia Udyan.