Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall (Dhaka University)

To mark the contribution of late presidents Ziaur Rahman and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, especially during the Bangladesh War of Liberation, the Dhaka University named two of its new dormitories (halls of residence) after their name. The "Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall" and "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall" were formally inaugurated on 1 June 1988.

The Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall is a 5-storied building with 121 rooms and 482 seating capacity.

Dr. Rahim B. Talukdar acted as the Project Director whilst A. F. M. Khodadad Khan, Professor in the Department of Mathematics, acted as its first Provost - a university administrator of high rank - and Professor Dr. Syed Abul Kalam Azad acted as the first senior House Tutor of the Hall.

Shaheed Zia Smriti (Memorial) Complex

In 5 December 2004 the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs in Bangladesh gave the go-ahead to build a heritage park called "Shaheed Zia Smriti Complex" (Martyred Zia Memorial Complex) at Bangladesh Betar Transmission Center (BBTC) at Kalurghat, Chotrogram, where Ziaur Rahman gave the famous proclamation of the country's Independence from Kalurghat Radio Transmission Center during the 1971 Swadhinata Juddho.

'Mini Bangladesh'

Visitors to the complex get a chance of enjoying mini replicas of the the country's many historical, archeological and architectural structures and sites of importance. These include:

• Jatiyo Smriti Shudho (National Martyrs' Memorial, Savar)
• Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Assembly, Dhaka)
• Shaheed Minar (Dhaka)
• Shat Gambuj Masjid (Khulna)
• South Gate of Lalbagh Fort (Dhaka)
• Buddhist Temple (Paharpur)
• Mahasthangarh (Bagura)
• Curzon Hall of Dhaka University (Dhaka)
• Ahsan Manzil (Dhaka)
• Sona Masjid (Rajshahi)
• Chhoto Kutir and Boro Kutir (Rajshahi)
• Darbar Hall (Dhaka)
• St Nicolas Church (Gazipur)
• Kantaji Temple (Dinajpur)
• Jamindar's Bari in Putia (Rajshahi)

For this reason the complex is also known as 'Mini Bangladesh'.

The complex cost Tk 64 crore to implement and is spread over 17 acres near Kalurghat radio station. It was inaugurated in xxxx by Khaleda Zia, then Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

The project was initially scheduled to be completed by June 2006, however, all efforts were made to speed up the construction before the BNP-led government tenure expired in xxxx.

After inaugurating the complex, the government had leased operations to a private company, Concord Amusement Company Limited, for five years, which lasted till January 2010. http://theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/metropolitan/others/7350-renamed-new-avatar-of-zia-complex-to-open-in-chittagong-after-eid.html Concord were responsible for the construction and engineering of many of Bangladesh's monument and theme parks including the Jatiyo Smriti Shudho (National Memorial Monument) in Savar and Fantasy Kingdom - Bangladesh's equivalent of Disneyland - in Jamgora, Ashulia near Dhaka.

Interestingly, Concord operated Zia Memorial Complex as ‘Ananda Bhaban’, and all tickets and documents were printed under that name.

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Capture cultural diversity

as it will be decorated with life and culture of people of different parts of the country, including the tribal people, and also set up recreational facilities.

A number of rides for the children, including cable car and electric train, also have been set up in the complex, in addition to a still-under-construction 52-meter-high watchtower, which will house a revolving restaurant and provide a breathtaking view of the city.

For entertainment, there are the Paris wheel, circus swing, bumper car, a toy train, among others. A 71-feet tower with a glass-enclosed movable restaurant, the only of its kind, also adds to its charm.

I think both the political parties – Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - failed to establish the desired image of it.

There was no need for BNP to spend crores of Taka to build a revolving tower which is being used for marriage and other occasions; rather amounts should have been spent to make the radio station a kind of war museum so that our generation could get to know the importance and role of ‘Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro’.

I think this [Awami League] government ignores this matter intentionally because Ziaur Rahman’s name is related to it

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Renamed to 'Swadhinata Park'

In February 2010 the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs decided to rename the Shaheed Zia Smirti Complex to "Swadhinata Park" following recommendation from the then Chittagong city's Mayor Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury of the Awami League party. This follows the Dhaka High Court’s controversial verdict to declare the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, including Ziaur Rahman's ruling, 'illegal'.

The contract with Concord had also expired and responsibilities were passed onto the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC). The CCC were given the tender to operate Swadhinata Park for the next five years (i.e. until 2015), at a cost of Tk 1.75 crore.

Surprisingly, the rename was not undone even after the BNP candidate, Mohammad Manjur Alam, became the Mayor of Chittagong on 18 June 2010 after defeating ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury by the largest ever margin (95,528) in the corporation's history.

PROFILE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._B._M._Mohiuddin_Chowdhury Mohiuddin was the first elected mayor of the port city, who has been in the post for 17 years. Outgoing mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury, also the existing president of AL's Chittagong City unit, became the first elected mayor of the city defeating BNP nominated Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin by some 17,000 votes in the first CCC election in 1994. He was elected the mayor for the second time in 2000 amid a boycott by BNP, and for the third consecutive time defeating Mir Nasir again by a margin of 91,480 votes in 2005 during the last BNP regime.

Many had expected the new BNP-backed mayor, Alhaj M Manjur Alam, who thumped three-time mayor and Awami League candidate ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury by a historic margin, would put a spanner in the rechristening of Zia Memorial Complex, but Manjur Alam decided against interfering.

"The CCC will take charge of Swadhinota Park’s management,” M Manjur Alam said. "We will not change the name and violate the government’s decision."

...According to sources, the park was the brainchild of the then BNP-led alliance government as an aleventh-hour decision

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http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=1a68f4f8f9bba5102b63861793900b47&nttl=2012051236928

Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH), Bogra

In 1992 the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SZMC) was established as a public (governmental) medical college in Bogra town, Rajshahi, where President Zia was born. The college offered 5-year medical education course leading to MBBS, and was initially affiliated with the local Mohammad Ali Hospital - named after the prominent diplomat Mohammad Ali 'Bogra'.

However, on 31 August 2006 the college was shifted to a newly constructed campus on the outskirts of Bogra, beside the Dhaka-Rangpur highway. The new campus contained a brand new hospital with 91,922 square meters of floor space and 500 beds (with extra 200-300 beds spacing available if required) http://www.szmcbd.org/. Previously about 50 students http://www.banglapedia.org/httpdocs/HT/S_0265.HTM were admitted into the college every year after passing the government medical admission test . From 2005, the numbers increased to about 150 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaheed_Ziaur_Rahman_Medical_College.

The whole campus (including the hospital) have been built on 40 acres of land at a cost of more than Tk 234 crore http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/09/01/d60901060184.htm. It contains indoor and outdoor facilities, including an academic building, two hostels for students and two hostels for interns.

The college is located in south-western part of the district town, Bogra, just beside the Dhaka-Rangpur national highway, about 80 km from Bangabondhu Jamuna bridge, where it is connected with other highways viz. to Rajshahi, Naogoan and Joypurhat-Hili. With the most convenient roads and railway communications, Bogra stands at the centre of Rajshahi division in the map having fluorescencent cultural, historical and archeological heritage. The once mighty river Korotoa, said to have carried the the legendary craft of Behula-Lakshindar, flows through the eastern edge of the town. Mohasthangarh, the oldest archaeological site of Bangladesh is 15 km north of the college and Paharpur Buddhist Monastery is somewhat 50 km to the west.

The campus has become well known for its beautifully designed interior, great architectural view and well-planned residential accommodations. Having Play grounds, gymnasium, mosque, kindergarten school, botanical and floral gardens, the campus have become popular for harmonious inhabitation by the students, teachers and other staffs.

Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SZMC) official website

One-year internship after graduation is compulsory for all graduates. The college is affiliated to the University of Rajshahi, and the degree is recognised by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council. The SZMC also has its own official journal known simply as the 'Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical college Journal' which is published quarterly.