Without Zia's independence call, Bangladesh's freedom was in doubt: Moyeen Khan

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan, MP, on Wednesday made a striking claim about the birth of Bangladesh, saying he had "doubts" the country would have become independent had Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman not dared to declare independence.

"If Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had not dared to declare independence, I have doubts whether Bangladesh would have become independent," Moyeen Khan said, crediting Zia with three defining qualities — discipline, honesty and service to the people.

The minister was speaking as chief guest at a discussion session of "Zia Smriti Boimela-2026", organised by Zia Smriti Pathagar and Jatiyatabadi Prokashana Sangstha on the Bangla Academy premises, as part of events marking BNP's 48th founding anniversary.

"As bearers of Ziaur Rahman's nationalism, we will continue to serve the people," he told the gathering.

Moyeen Khan also credited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with laying the groundwork for BNP's current political shape, saying Rahman had personally driven grassroots organising in the party's early years. Between 2001 and 2006, he said, Tarique Rahman travelled to haats and fields across the country to organise young party workers — an effort he said had transformed the BNP of today.

Much of the minister's address, however, turned to books and the value of reading, in keeping with the book-fair setting.

Tracing what he called the history of the book back to 3000 BC, when writing first appeared on stone and clay, Moyeen Khan walked the audience through its evolution — from the scroll era of ancient Egypt, China and Rome around 500 BC, to the codex format that emerged in Rome and is still recognisable as the book today.

He identified the invention of the printing press in Germany in 1440 as the single most important turning point in that history, before the more recent arrival of the e-book.

He struck a note of concern about the fate of physical books and libraries in the digital age, noting that many bookshops are shutting down as new technology reshapes reading habits.

Libraries, he said, are "treasure troves of knowledge" — a status underscored, he argued, by history itself: invading Mongol forces destroyed libraries in conquered regions specifically to erase civilisations.

"The practice of reading must not be lost," he said, adding that no nation can attain glory without education.

Those responsible for guiding the next generation, he said, must do so properly, particularly as new technology reshapes how people engage with knowledge.

Syeda Fatema Salam, Vice-President of the central committee of Zia Smriti Pathagar, presided over the event, which was moderated by Amanullah Aman, Organising Secretary of Chhatra Dal.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP, and Member of Parliament Nilufar Chowdhury were among others who also spoke at the event.