(BSS) - Gallantry award winning frontline Freedom Fighter Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said the people of the country will forever remember Major Ziaur Rahman as a true patriot and a symbol of the Liberation War.

"A soldier of the then East Bengal Regiment Major Ziaur Rahman took the lead and stood for the oppressed people on the fateful night of March 25, 1971. He himself took arms and fought in the battlefield (for Independence)," he told BSS.

In an interview on Victory Day, Hafiz Uddin, also BNP`s Standing Committee Member, said, "Ziaur Rahman united everyone and declared the independence of Bangladesh and called for war," enunciating his valor and vigor during the Liberation War.

While reminiscing the memory with Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the renowned freedom fighter said, "Ziaur Rahman was our instructor at the Pakistani Military Academy. That`s where I met him. I was his private secretary for one and a half years between 1973 and 1974 when Ziaur Rahman was the `Deputy Chief of Army Staff`".

Hafiz Uddin said the then Major Zia was an indomitable brave man as he skillfully led the `Z Force` during the Liberation War and this force received the most bravery award among the Bangladesh Army.

He said that during the war, Ziaur Rahman came to the front line and led the war despite he had an opportunity to live a safe and peaceful life beyond border.

"During the war, Ziaur Rahman, as a senior officer, could have gone to the other side of the Indian border if he wanted. He could have lived a safe and peaceful life. But he did not do that. He also came to the front line with the army members and united everyone and led the war. He declared independence in a strong voice," he also said.

Even after coming to power in the post-war period, he showed strong leadership as in 1971, Hafiz Uddin said.

The senior BNP leader said, "Even no one could ever bring charges of corruption against Ziaur Rahman. The people of the country will remember Major Ziaur Rahman as a patriot and a symbol of the Liberation War forever".

He also highlighted the contribution of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to the Liberation War, saying Khaleda Zia became one of the forces of the Liberation War.

Stating Khaleda Zia was an independent-minded woman, Hafiz Uddin said, "I knew her even before she entered politics. As a junior officer in the army, I used to go to her house. I saw her simple life from close quarters".

Khaleda Zia encouraged her husband Ziaur Rahman to participate in the liberation war, the gallantry award winning freedom fighter said, adding that she herself was also with him in the liberation war.

"As a result, the Pakistani army searched for her in Dhaka and different parts of the country. At one stage, the invading army captured her. At that time, she had two small children with her. Still, her morale was unwavering. She was not afraid at all," he said.

Even despite the order from Pakistan to surrender weapons, she forbade the soldiers of the East Bengal Regiment to give in their weapons, he added.

"She (Begum Khaleda Zia) inspired the soldiers in the war, turning her into one of the forces of the liberation war of Bangladesh," Hafiz Uddin said.

In the post-war period; after the death of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia with strong hand maintained the party BNP, he said.

Calling her an uncontested politician, he also said Khaleda Zia has won every election from different parts of the country, exposing herself to a towering personality in the political arena.

The BNP senior leader also elaborated the war time memory saying the only regiment of Bengali speaking soldiers was East Bengal Regiment in the Pakistan Army.

Its five battalions were spread across Joydebpur, Jashore, Cumilla, Syedpur and Chattogram in East Bengal. The remaining three were in Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan. Since March 20, 1971, the Bengali soldiers realized that something was going to happen.

The great warrior said, "I was the only rebel officer in the East Bengal Regiment in Jashore at that time. There was an 8-hour battle in the Jashore cantonment. When I came out of the cantonment, I saw thousands of young men standing with axes, kural and khunta".

"Then they told us, `give us weapons, sir, we will fight.` I was overwhelmed by the spirit of these people, their desire for independence, and their courageous morale," he added.

Hafiz Uddin said the rebellion began as on the morning of March 30, Brigadier Sardar Abdur Rahim Durrani issued an order to disarm the East Bengal Regiment.

Hearing this order, the soldiers rebelled. The soldiers broke into the armory and took their weapons. Later, when Major Hafiz was requested to lead, he took a stand in favour of the rebellion.

He said, "I was their commander. Lieutenant Anwar Hossain joined this fight on behalf of the Bengalis. Later, an eight-hour hard frontal battle took place against the Pakistanis in Jashore Cantonment. Anwar Hossain was martyred. But, fortunately, I survived,"

The brave freedom fighter said, "I left the cantonment and entered Khitibdia with the soldiers. There, thousands of villagers were ready to take part in the liberation war with local weapons. Seeing us, the villagers embraced us. They heard from the people that a Major named Ziaur Rahman had declared independence from the Chittagong Kalurghat radio station. This is how the participation in the great liberation war began."

He also elaborated how he formed a strong defence unit with 400 soldiers and later a full-fledged battalion in the East Bengal Regiment with six hundred youths recruited from Jashore and Kushtia.

Hafiz Uddin said the first regular brigade of the Bangladesh Army - `Z Force` led by the then Major Ziaur Rahman fought in several fierce battles including Kamalpur in greater Mymensingh against the powerful Baloch regiment.

He also remembered the attack by Z Force and Indian force on Pakistan army on the Sylhet border on November 21 as the enemy was severely defeated.

"On November 23, I led an attack on Chargram in Zakiganj to defeat the West Pakistani paramilitary force and captured Chargram," he said.

The BNP leader minutely described his fierce fighting against Pakistan occupation force in Sylhet as Z Force Commander Major Ziaur Rahman joined this battle.

The titled freedom fighter expressed his resentment over distortion of the Liberation War history, saying, "I consider myself lucky to have participated in the freedom struggle. But the purpose for which the country was liberated was not achieved".

The audacity has been shown repeatedly to take away the title of the proclaimer of independence, Major Ziaur Rahman, he said with heavy heart.

He said the freedom fighters fought for the restoration of human dignity, establishment of democracy, equality, social justice and economic emancipation. But, the previous Awami League government destroyed democracy, fundamental rights and freedom of speech in Bangladesh, he added.

"(But) still, I am not disappointed. With the dream of a new day in mind, I want to say; the next generation will come forward to implement the goals of the Liberation War through struggle," he continued.

The warrior of the 1971 battlefield said, "The Liberation War started with the joint initiative of Bengali workers, soldiers, students and the people. The Awami League has not acknowledged this simple truth. They even kept the people in the dark about how the Liberation War started".

He said, "If the East Bengal Regiment had not started the Liberation War, the country would still be Pakistan".

Recalling the painful memories of the liberation war, Hafiz Uddin said, "I was completely separated from my family. My father was a member of the Pakistan National Assembly. He himself fled. He did not cross the border. He fled to different villages in Bhola. It was not possible for him to find me. I could not find my family members either".

Even in independent Bangladesh, he said he was subjected to the victim of the Awami government`s wrath.

"I had to go to the courtrooms with the sword of numerous false cases on my head. I did not get justice. I have been arrested and jailed 5 times in the last 15 years. Last year, I got out of jail and became very ill. Even I was not allowed to go out of the country for treatment. I was turned back from the airport," he said.

The BNP leader said due to the changing situation in the country, he is now on `temporary relief`.
He said the people of the country have initiated a change with their blood, expressing his hope that there will be welfare for the people in future.

Congratulating the brave people of the country on the month of victory, Hafiz Uddin extended his love to the students and the people who fought hard in the July-August and overthrown the dictatorship.

In the new war against the dictatorship, the students are brave revolutionary soldiers, he happily said.

He said, "Along with the students, my party BNP and its workers also fought and struggled against the dictatorship for the past 17 years".

In the final stage, the fascist were defeated by the combined forces of the student and mass people, he said, adding: "Many call it the second independence. The Liberation War of 1971 was a war to establish democracy, human dignity and equality. The July Revolution was also similar".

Major Hafiz said, "After many years, we have got a new opportunity to re-establish democracy in the country. I hope that together we will build Bangladesh as a prosperous state".

"We will also help and cooperate with the current government so that this August revolution does not fail. Therefore, we are waiting for a fair election to build a new country," he concluded.