History honours neither those who are just witnesses to happenings, nor is there any record of ordinary people who have played no role in the destiny of countries. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was one such leader whose life will always be recorded in history for shaping the destiny of a nation. He was not destined to read history but to make history himself. His life had nothing to do with any personal greed or thirst for supremacy. On the contrary, he had devoted his entire life to the sake of Bangladesh and its people. His dedication to Bangladesh was not just political but also rooted in its land, rivers, canals, villages, and its humble people.
On the eve of the 45th death anniversary of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 2026, the citizens of Bangladesh look back on the leadership of a man whose ideals helped transform their nation from a state beset by war devastation into one seeking self-sufficiency, progress, and pride. If history is ever to remember Ziaur Rahman for his role in declaring independence in the troubled month of March 1971, it would not be far wrong to recall him as the man who initiated a production-based political philosophy in the country.
Ziaur Rahman felt that politics ought not to revolve around sloganeering, confrontation, or hero-worship. He saw politics as the tool that would help rebuild the country. The underlying belief was that a nation would attain sovereign status only if it became productive and self-sufficient. Such a production-oriented approach towards politics marked him as distinct from many other politicians of his time and set a fresh path for Bangladesh in one of its most trying phases.
Once the country became independent, it faced severe economic, political, and food supply problems, which eventually led to its fall. The country’s economic status was weak; individuals in rural regions were poor and lacked sufficient irrigation and infrastructure.
From this perspective came the concept of ‘production politics’ coined by Zia. He did not focus solely on governing urban centres but also looked into the village, agricultural sector, and irrigation. In his own words, he said, “Bangladesh is villages,” and thus for Bangladesh to develop, its rural economy must be developed.
One of his remarkable projects included the countrywide canal-digging plan. On November 1, 1976, he launched the Ulshi-Jadunathpur Canal Digging Scheme at Jessore, an innovative effort to increase agricultural output by expanding irrigation facilities. As part of the national plan, almost 14,000 canals were dug and redug across Bangladesh. It was not just a construction project, but a development ideology based on productivity and empowerment from below. The canals helped revive irrigation systems, boost agricultural production, reduce reliance on rain, and enable year-round farming on more land. In an era when food security was a major challenge for Bangladesh, such projects were critical for enhancing agricultural self-sufficiency.
Zia’s development philosophy was one of decentralisation and localisation. He tried to localise governance through reforms of local government institutions and by involving people at the grassroots level. His many visits to different parts of Bangladesh were a testament to his ideology that leaders must stay connected to their rural surroundings. He visited various remote corners of the country to gain firsthand knowledge of public misery and the nation’s requirements.
Zia believed that education should prepare citizens not only academically but also economically and socially. In 1978, his government established a National Education Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Mustafa Bin Kashem to formulate a modern education policy suited to national development. On September 14, 1978, he organised a National Education Workshop, determined to implement a model of education that was both practical and productive, with the participation of people from all educational institutions in Bangladesh. He was keen to see his administration engage in activities of literacy movements and the improvement of madrasa education.
Zia recognised that culture and nationality were an important part of nation-building. In fact, during Zia’s period, the Ekushey Padak and the Independence Award were instituted to recognise contributions to language, culture, literature, and national service. The administration of Zia patronised Bangla Academy, children’s cultural activities, cinema production, and local cultural activities. This shows that Zia was concerned not only with material productivity but also with intellectual productivity.
Ziaur Rahman not only implemented domestic reforms but also altered Bangladesh’s foreign policy, grounded in principles of sovereignty and dignity. He wanted to take Bangladesh from dependence to independence at the international level. By building good relationships with the Muslim world, participating in the Non-Aligned Movement, and helping to form the idea behind SAARC, he improved Bangladesh’s international prestige.
However, it may well be that the biggest political contribution of General Zia was his endeavour to redefine the role of politics in Bangladesh. He tried to move politics from confrontation to production, discipline, development, and national cohesion. The 19-point plan outlined a comprehensive approach to development, economic advancement, rural upliftment, and self-reliance.
That is why most Bangladeshis viewed him not only as a politician but also as a nation-builder. His integrity, simplicity, patriotism, and close association with common people soon made him an immensely popular leader. However, it is a historical fact that leaders who chart an independent course for their nations have always faced strong opposition. Ziaur Rahman was killed on May 30, 1981, when he was just 46 years old, in an assassination plot that changed the political direction of Bangladesh forever. Despite the passage of several decades since his martyrdom, some of his principles still echo loud and clear within the political rhetoric of Bangladesh. The principles of self-reliance, agricultural productivity, grassroots-level development, and sovereignty are highly relevant to an emerging nation facing external pressures.
In today’s world, while marking the 45th anniversary of the murder of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, it is equally imperative for the nation of Bangladesh to keep in mind the soldier who called out for independence as well as the statesman who was convinced that the true essence of freedom could only be attained through production, economic dignity, and empowerment of common people. The canal-digging schemes, village upliftment programs, agrarian improvements, and production-oriented politics of his did not come about by chance; they formed part of a broader picture for the nation of Bangladesh.
Political ideologies may become subjects of controversy in history, but what will remain etched in their pages is the leadership of those individuals who leave a physical imprint upon their people’s lives. The most lasting legacy of Ziaur Rahman does not consist solely of his political speeches or ideologies, but of the canal systems built to provide irrigation for farmers, the institutions established to increase national capabilities, and the ideology of economic sovereignty.
As former US President John F. Kennedy once stated, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Ziaur Rahman was a true leader and learner who drew on the problems of his nation and, with visionary leadership, sought to turn them into the building blocks of a new, thriving Bangladesh.
The writer is a Professor and former chair, Journalism and Mass Communications, Savannah State University, Georgia, USA. E-mail: sibhuiyan@yahoo.com
