Editorial
Our new head of state
Zillur Rahman must be president of all citizens
WE take this opportunity to extend our heartiest congratulations to President Zillur Rahman on his assumption of the high office of head of state. The new president brings to the office a dignity and a stature that he has built over the years through his dedicated service to democracy and everything that has had to do with the promotion of public welfare. Zillur Rahman has been a fervent believer in the ideals that his party, the Awami League, has always espoused; and he has in his long and distinguished career never flinched from the challenges involved in bringing those ideals to fruition. He has been a respected confidante of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; and in the years since 1975 has consistently underscored his faith in the ability of democracy to bring about social and political change in the country.
Perhaps no tribute could be bigger to the acumen of the new president than that he has always been regarded with unalloyed respect by people across party lines. He has deserved it all, particularly through the determined, level-headed manner in which he not only kept his party on track in the just-ended two years of emergency rule but also convinced others that a return to democracy necessitated an objective understanding of political realities. It was an attitude that earned him kudos. As we welcome the new president to Bangabhavan, we also note that life has not been all smooth sailing for him. His resilience was demonstrated when he emerged from the shock of seeing his wife, the equally committed politician Ivy Rahman, assassinated in the grenade attacks on an Awami League rally in Dhaka in August 2004. Zillur Rahman's sacrifice, and that of his family, to the cause of democracy has therefore been intense and unique. The nation has shared his grief as it has respected his political sagacity.
In the days ahead, President Zillur Rahman will be expected to demonstrate the change he can bring about in the way Bangabhaban conducts business, especially in light of the controversies that have dogged it in recent times. He has vowed to uphold the law and the constitution. The opposition has welcomed his ascension to the presidency. He will now need to build on his reputation through convincing the country that he means to be president of all citizens of Bangladesh, that he will uphold the constitution and that he will abhor and eschew anything that is partisan in his dealings as head of state. That will only reinforce our faith in and hold on democracy.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments