Family members of the army officers who were killed on November 7 in 1975 have demanded a posthumous trial of General Ziaur Rahman.
They held a rally at the central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Sunday, marking the day.
November 7 is a black day in Bangladesh’s history when many soldiers and officers were killed. Many soldiers and officers including freedom fighters Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf, Colonel Huda, Colonel Haider were killed on this day in 1975.
But the BNP observes it as the national revolution and solidarity day. Zia is the founder of BNP.
They said Zia illegally seized power on this day and continued killing army, navy, and air force officers to hold onto it.
He even killed Colonel Taher who had freed him from jail, and BNP started its journey as a political party.
Left-wing army personnel and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal launched a coup on November 7, 1975. Ziaur Rahman was freed from house arrest on the day and allowed to eventually come to power and become president.
However, Khaled Mosharraf, who had removed those involved in the assassination of Sheikh Mijibur Rahman from power, was killed in the coup.
Educationist Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, Professor of BSMMU Dr Mamun Al Mahtab Shwapnil, former adviser to the caretaker government Prof M Tamim and Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Quddus, were present, among others, at the rally.