BNP Unveils 8-Day Programme for Ziaur Rahman’s Death Anniversary

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced an eight-day programme to mark the 44th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman.

The programme will be held from May 26 to Jun 2, announced BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi after a joint meeting between the party and its affiliates at the BNP Chairperson’s Office in Gulshan on Tuesday afternoon.

The joint meeting was led virtually by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is currently in a hospital in Bangkok.

Rizvi said, "Since 7th of June is Eid ul-Azha, our programme has been shortened a bit. The programme will be eight days long. That is, from 25th of May to 2nd of June."

Flowers will be presented at the grave of Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on May 30 at 10:30am. There will also be a discussion meeting, rice, lentils and clothes will be distributed among the needy, alongside other programmes.

On the occasion of the death anniversary, the BNP flag will be hoisted at half-mast at the party's central office in Naya Paltan, the chairperson's office in Gulshan, and the party offices across the country, and a black flag will be raised.

The BNP and its affiliate organisations will publish posters about Ziaur Rahman and the party will take measures to publish special supplements in various national dailies.

The programme includes a discussion meeting at the Engineers Institution auditorium in Ramna at 3:00pm on May 29, and mass prayers in mosques.

Under the initiative of the Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units, rice and lentils will be distributed among the needy in various Thanas and wards. Clothes will also be distributed.

In addition to the central programmes, BNP units in districts, Upazilas, Thanas, and municipalities across the country will also organise various programmes in memory of Ziaur Rahman, including discussions, and distribution of food and clothes among the needy.

On Aug 15, 1975, a group of army personnel killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and members of his family. After that, Ziaur Rahman became the army chief.

After the coup d’etat on Nov 7 of that year, Zia assumed power as the deputy chief martial law administrator under the leadership of president justice ASM Sayem and as the chief martial law administrator on Apr 21, 1977. He was sworn in as the president on Apr 21, 1978.

On May 30, 1981, President Zia was shot dead by a group of soldiers at the Chittagong Circuit House.

BNP observes the day as his “Martyrdom Day”.