45th death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman being observed
The 45th death anniversary of former president Ziaur Rahman, proclaimer of the great independence, one of the sector commanders of the Liberation War, BNP founder and advocate of multi-party democracy, is being observed today with due respect and solemnity.
On May 30, 1981, he was brutally killed at the Chattogram Circuit House by a group of disgruntled army officers as part of a domestic and foreign conspiracy.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. To mark the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Ziaur Rahman, BNP announced an eight-day special programme from May 25 to June 1.
According to the programme, special posters are being published across the country from May 25 to June 1, and party leaders and activists are wearing black badges.
Party flags were hoisted at half-mast and black flags were flown at the party's Nayapaltan central office and party offices across the country at 6:00am.
Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, national leaders of the party, and leaders and activists from all levels will place wreaths and offer prayers at the grave of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman at Zia Udyan in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11:00am.
All preparations have been completed to observe the day with due respect and solemnity, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office on Friday.
The party's various units, associated and affiliated organisations, professional bodies and cultural organisations will organise discussion meetings, milad and dua mahfils, photo exhibitions and other programmes highlighting the life and works of Ziaur Rahman across the country.
After offering prayers at the grave of Ziaur Rahman, Tarique will join a clothes and food distribution programme at different places in the capital.
The premier will attend a food distribution event in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office in the afternoon. Five associated bodies and one affiliated organisation of BNP will organise the event.
Special supplements have also been published in national newspapers.
BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan told BSS that the prime minister will begin the distribution of food items and clothes among the poor from the T&T playground at Manik Mia Avenue at 11:30am.
Shairul said the premier will also participate in programmes at 16 locations in the capital sequentially.
Ministers, MPs, and leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated bodies will attend these programmes.
Marking the day, Rizvi, along with leaders of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, will pay tribute in the morning at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Later, he will participate in a distribution programme of various items among the poor, to be organised by lawyers in the area adjacent to the High Court shrine at 11:00am.
BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan will join a programme to be organised by cultural activists in front of the FDC at Karwan Bazar at 11:20am.
On May 31, BNP will hold a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the capital's Ramna area at 2:00pm.
Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of independence, was one of the sector commanders of the Liberation War and commander of Z Force. He was the founder of the ruling BNP, one of the country's largest political parties.
The BNP founded by him has now become one of the major political forces in Bangladesh. Ziaur Rahman introduced multi-party democracy in Bangladesh. For this reason, he is regarded as the pioneer of multi-party democracy.
He is also credited as the visionary architect and founder of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). Ziaur Rahman established a timeless political philosophy based on Bangladeshi nationalism.
The BNP founded by him secured an overwhelming majority in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election held on February 12 and later formed the government.
Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, is currently serving as BNP chairman and prime minister of the new government.
With the overwhelming trust and support of the people, BNP has so far been entrusted with running the state five times, including the current term.
Apart from BNP and its associated bodies, people from various walks of life also observe the day every year with due respect.
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