Engineers Recall President Ziaur Rahman’s Legacy of Food Self-Sufficiency and Teesta Barrage
Engineers have stated that Bangladesh achieved food self-sufficiency, agricultural mechanization, and significant infrastructural progress—particularly through the construction of the Teesta Barrage—under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. They said these achievements left a lasting legacy for the nation’s engineers. This is why, despite extensive attempts during the fugitive Awami League regime, it was not possible to erase his name from history, they remarked.
These views were expressed by leaders of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) at a discussion meeting titled “Historic 7 November National Revolution and Solidarity Day 2025,” held on Thursday, November 6, at the seminar hall of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).
The event was attended as chief guest by Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Special guests included former IEB President and Acting President of AEB Engineer A. N. H. Akhtar Hossain; AEB Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Mowdud Hossain Alamgir Pavel; BNP Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Ashraf Uddin Bokul; and Convener of Amra BNP Poribar Atikur Rahman Ruman.
The meeting was presided over by former Member of Parliament and AEB Convener Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin. The welcome address was delivered by Engineer Kazi Abul Kashem, Member of the Convening Committee and Convenor of the Organizing Committee. The session was moderated by Engineer Shamim Rabbi Sonchoy, Member-Secretary of the Organizing Committee, along with committee member Engineer Shafiul Azam Fahim.
In his remarks, the chief guest Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said:
“Although Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971, we did not attain true freedom. The establishment of BAKSAL distorted the people’s identity. The National Unity of November 7, 1975 restored genuine freedom. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman ensured democracy, sovereignty, and dignity for the people. He made Bangladesh food self-sufficient and introduced agricultural mechanization. Sheikh Hasina has tried to undermine him in her speeches, but she could not erase the ideology of ‘Bangladeshi Nationalism’ that he established.”
Special guest Engineer A. N. H. Akhtar Hossain, PEng., stated:
“Although independence came in 1971, the Awami League did not allow people to experience its essence. True freedom came on November 7, 1975. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman sought to transform Bangladesh into a self-reliant nation. When there was a proposal to bring engineers from abroad to build the Teesta Barrage, he insisted on taking up the task with our own engineers. He honored and utilized the intellectual capacity of the nation’s engineers.”
Professor Dr. Mowdud Hossain Alamgir Pavel said:
“The BNP is not merely a political party; it is a humanitarian party. Whenever Bangladesh faced crisis, the family of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman stood by the nation. The National Solidarity Day of November 7 brought true independence to the people. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was the first to inscribe ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim’ in the Constitution. He called upon everyone to work in unity for the 2026 national election.”
Chairing the session, Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin said:
“It is doubtful whether independence would have come to this land without Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. He fought the liberation war while leaving his family unprotected. Without the BNP, Bangladesh would have become like Bhutan or Cambodia. After independence, Sheikh Mujib hindered the people’s sense of identity, and Hasina continued that pattern when in power.”
The program was attended by notable members of the AEB Convening Committee including Engineer Shoaib Bashri Hablu, Engineer Helal Uddin Talukder, Engineer Atikur Rahman, Engineer Motahar Hossain, Engineer Muhammad Ahsanul Rasel, Engineer Aminul Islam, Engineer Shaheen Hawlader, Engineer K. M. Asaduzzaman Chunnu, Engineer Golam Mostafa Khan, Engineer H. M. Moinul Islam, Engineer Robiul Alam Uzzal, Engineer Muhammad Kamrul Hasan Khan Saiful, Engineer S. M. Faisal Mahmud, Engineer Hasanuzzaman Siddiqui Mithul, Engineer Abdul Momen Talukder Prince, Engineer Alimul Bahar Ripon, Engineer Mansur Ahmed, Engineer Mahabub Alam, among others.
Distinguished advisors, members of the convening committee, national leaders, and engineers from across the country were also present and participated in the discussions.
DBTech / SK / IK / OR
