Print: 28 Oct 2025
Photo: Daily Sun
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a liberal democratic party founded by martyred President Ziaur Rahman, who introduced multi-party democracy in the country, has long cast itself as a leading force for democracy and people's rights in Bangladesh. Today, under the leadership of his elder son, acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the party continues its struggle.
The story begins with Major Ziaur Rahman, who revolted against the Pakistani occupation forces on 25 March 1971.
The following day, he proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence from Kalurghat Radio Station in Chattogram.
On 1 September 1978, he established BNP based on the principles of Bangladeshi nationalism. His vision, encapsulated in a 19-point programme, aimed to institutionalise democracy, foster national unity and build a self-reliant nation.
Ziaur Rahman established multi-party democracy in the country by abolishing the one-party rule of BAKSAL (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League). He became the President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977 when President Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem resigned, but soon sought the people’s mandate, reflecting his deep respect for democracy. In the 1979 parliamentary polls, BNP won 207 out of 300 seats. Ziaur Rahman lifted bans on political parties, restored freedom of the press, and encouraged peaceful political activities.
Following Ziaur Rahman's martyrdom, his wife, Khaleda Zia, took the helm of the party. She quickly became a central figure in the movement to restore democracy, leading a fierce resistance against the autocratic rule of HM Ershad. Her unwavering commitment and readiness to face detention- seven times between 1983 and 1990- earned her a reputation as a steadfast leader. In 1991, her party won a free and fair general election, making her the country's first female prime minister. Under her leadership, Bangladesh formally transitioned back to a parliamentary democracy.
Khaleda Zia has endured severe oppression and persecution for 17 years before the interim government took charge in August last year, for her struggle to restore democracy, upholding the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
Since 2009, when the Awami League government came to power, she endured severe repression for her role in resisting authoritarianism. She was forcefully evicted from her cantonment home, placed under house arrest, jailed on fabricated charges, and denied basic rights. However, she did not bow down to any political pressure or partisan interest for the sake of greater interest of the country and its people. Even before the national election in 2018, the then Awami League government tried to send her abroad, but she chose to go to jail instead.
Even while suffering personal tragedy- losing her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in 2015- she remained unbending. Her sacrifices turned her into one of the most persecuted yet invincible political figures in the world.
The mantle of leadership has now passed to Tarique Rahman, who has continued BNPs’ struggle for democracy from exile. For nearly 15 years, BNP, first under Khaleda and later under Tarique, has led anti-fascist movements against the Hasina regime. The student protests against the quota system ignited a nationwide uprising in 2024, where Tarique’s strategic leadership proved decisive.
On 30 December 2022, the BNP launched a simultaneous anti-government campaign outlining 10 core demands, including the pivotal call for an election under a non-partisan caretaker government. Then from 12 July 2023, the party narrowed down the demands to a single-point one: the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. Over 40 political parties joined this movement, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the regime.
Under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, the BNP worked tirelessly to raise political awareness and empower citizens. Decades of activism have drawn people out of their homes and onto the streets, demanding their basic rights. In the process, thousands of party members, including top leaders, have been victims of enforced disappearances, abductions, or state-sanctioned killings. Over 50,000 party men faced trumped-up charges; many have been imprisoned.
After the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman emerged to lead the BNP movement, which was almost paralysed by the intensity of torture of conspirators of the 1/11 changeover, and led the party with utmost skills even from a distance of 8,000 kilometres. As a result, despite being plagued by torture, murder, disappearance, imprisonment, oppression, lawsuits and attacks for the 17 years, millions of leaders, activists and supporters have shown incredible unity and loyalty. Despite unbearable tortures, they were adamant, not a single one deviated from the ideology and left the party. And finally, the lava of heated protests built up over 17 years was released in a great explosion on the July-August mass uprising of 2024.
Despite living in exile, Tarique Rahman was instrumental in uniting registered and unregistered opposition parties, encouraging them to boycott the 12th parliamentary election and continue their collective fight against the regime. He remained in constant communication with party leaders, provided logistical support, and ensured the movement's momentum did not falter. During the movement, he was implicated and convicted in over a hundred false cases, and his voice was gagged by a ban on public or broadcasting of his speech in the Bangladeshi mass media. Though his mother, Khaleda Zia, was sick and his dearest only younger brother died, he could not come to the country either to meet his mother or to see his brother's body for the last time.
The BNP has been facing many ups and downs in its 47-year-long journey for establishing a true democracy and people's rights and welfare of the people and the state. Many evil efforts were made against the party to destroy it, but this political party has raised its head from the ashes like a phoenix again and again. It has occupied a special place in people's hearts which is immortal. The previous authoritarian government made all efforts to split and destroy the BNP by resorting to repression and oppression, luring its party men with benefits and attempting to create division inside it, but the party men did not deviate from their commitment to the party.
Today, the party stands on the eve of an election and is waiting for the immense possibility of returning the ownership of the country to the people through the February 2026 general election. But unfortunately for people, the clouds of fear are slowly creeping in as confusion about holding the election in time has been created. Some parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, are active with different demands like the proportional representation system, while another party National Citizen Party is demanding a Constituent Assembly. So, BNP is again facing a challenge on the way to transition to democracy.
To sum up, the family of martyred President Ziaur Rahman has arguably borne the brunt of state-sponsored repression. This political dynasty has long been targeted only for standing for democracy and people's rights. And their fight is still on as the party has been demanding a free, fair and natural parliamentary election to return to parliamentary democracy immediately. Amid their move, the interim government has declared that the national election will be held in February next year, but a conspiracy is being hatched to stop or foil the election to stop the return to democracy, for which the country's people have been struggling.
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]
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Zia, Khaleda, Tarique: BNP’s unending fight for democracy
Commentary
Photo: Daily Sun
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a liberal democratic party founded by martyred President Ziaur Rahman, who introduced multi-party democracy in the country, has long cast itself as a leading force for democracy and people's rights in Bangladesh. Today, under the leadership of his elder son, acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the party continues its struggle.
The story begins with Major Ziaur Rahman, who revolted against the Pakistani occupation forces on 25 March 1971.
The following day, he proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence from Kalurghat Radio Station in Chattogram.
On 1 September 1978, he established BNP based on the principles of Bangladeshi nationalism. His vision, encapsulated in a 19-point programme, aimed to institutionalise democracy, foster national unity and build a self-reliant nation.
Ziaur Rahman established multi-party democracy in the country by abolishing the one-party rule of BAKSAL (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League). He became the President of Bangladesh on 21 April 1977 when President Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem resigned, but soon sought the people’s mandate, reflecting his deep respect for democracy. In the 1979 parliamentary polls, BNP won 207 out of 300 seats. Ziaur Rahman lifted bans on political parties, restored freedom of the press, and encouraged peaceful political activities.
Following Ziaur Rahman's martyrdom, his wife, Khaleda Zia, took the helm of the party. She quickly became a central figure in the movement to restore democracy, leading a fierce resistance against the autocratic rule of HM Ershad. Her unwavering commitment and readiness to face detention- seven times between 1983 and 1990- earned her a reputation as a steadfast leader. In 1991, her party won a free and fair general election, making her the country's first female prime minister. Under her leadership, Bangladesh formally transitioned back to a parliamentary democracy.
Khaleda Zia has endured severe oppression and persecution for 17 years before the interim government took charge in August last year, for her struggle to restore democracy, upholding the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
Since 2009, when the Awami League government came to power, she endured severe repression for her role in resisting authoritarianism. She was forcefully evicted from her cantonment home, placed under house arrest, jailed on fabricated charges, and denied basic rights. However, she did not bow down to any political pressure or partisan interest for the sake of greater interest of the country and its people. Even before the national election in 2018, the then Awami League government tried to send her abroad, but she chose to go to jail instead.
Even while suffering personal tragedy- losing her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in 2015- she remained unbending. Her sacrifices turned her into one of the most persecuted yet invincible political figures in the world.
The mantle of leadership has now passed to Tarique Rahman, who has continued BNPs’ struggle for democracy from exile. For nearly 15 years, BNP, first under Khaleda and later under Tarique, has led anti-fascist movements against the Hasina regime. The student protests against the quota system ignited a nationwide uprising in 2024, where Tarique’s strategic leadership proved decisive.
On 30 December 2022, the BNP launched a simultaneous anti-government campaign outlining 10 core demands, including the pivotal call for an election under a non-partisan caretaker government. Then from 12 July 2023, the party narrowed down the demands to a single-point one: the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. Over 40 political parties joined this movement, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the regime.
Under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, the BNP worked tirelessly to raise political awareness and empower citizens. Decades of activism have drawn people out of their homes and onto the streets, demanding their basic rights. In the process, thousands of party members, including top leaders, have been victims of enforced disappearances, abductions, or state-sanctioned killings. Over 50,000 party men faced trumped-up charges; many have been imprisoned.
After the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman emerged to lead the BNP movement, which was almost paralysed by the intensity of torture of conspirators of the 1/11 changeover, and led the party with utmost skills even from a distance of 8,000 kilometres. As a result, despite being plagued by torture, murder, disappearance, imprisonment, oppression, lawsuits and attacks for the 17 years, millions of leaders, activists and supporters have shown incredible unity and loyalty. Despite unbearable tortures, they were adamant, not a single one deviated from the ideology and left the party. And finally, the lava of heated protests built up over 17 years was released in a great explosion on the July-August mass uprising of 2024.
Despite living in exile, Tarique Rahman was instrumental in uniting registered and unregistered opposition parties, encouraging them to boycott the 12th parliamentary election and continue their collective fight against the regime. He remained in constant communication with party leaders, provided logistical support, and ensured the movement's momentum did not falter. During the movement, he was implicated and convicted in over a hundred false cases, and his voice was gagged by a ban on public or broadcasting of his speech in the Bangladeshi mass media. Though his mother, Khaleda Zia, was sick and his dearest only younger brother died, he could not come to the country either to meet his mother or to see his brother's body for the last time.
The BNP has been facing many ups and downs in its 47-year-long journey for establishing a true democracy and people's rights and welfare of the people and the state. Many evil efforts were made against the party to destroy it, but this political party has raised its head from the ashes like a phoenix again and again. It has occupied a special place in people's hearts which is immortal. The previous authoritarian government made all efforts to split and destroy the BNP by resorting to repression and oppression, luring its party men with benefits and attempting to create division inside it, but the party men did not deviate from their commitment to the party.
Today, the party stands on the eve of an election and is waiting for the immense possibility of returning the ownership of the country to the people through the February 2026 general election. But unfortunately for people, the clouds of fear are slowly creeping in as confusion about holding the election in time has been created. Some parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, are active with different demands like the proportional representation system, while another party National Citizen Party is demanding a Constituent Assembly. So, BNP is again facing a challenge on the way to transition to democracy.
To sum up, the family of martyred President Ziaur Rahman has arguably borne the brunt of state-sponsored repression. This political dynasty has long been targeted only for standing for democracy and people's rights. And their fight is still on as the party has been demanding a free, fair and natural parliamentary election to return to parliamentary democracy immediately. Amid their move, the interim government has declared that the national election will be held in February next year, but a conspiracy is being hatched to stop or foil the election to stop the return to democracy, for which the country's people have been struggling.
The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]