Ziaur Rahman was a Bangladeshi military officer and politician who served as the 7th President of Bangladesh from 1977 until his assassination in 1981. He was a decorated war hero who famously announced the declaration of independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. As president, he founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the two major political parties in the country. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the nation, promote free-market policies, and improve foreign relations, leaving a complex and lasting legacy.