BNP Unveils Five-Day Programme to Mark 48th Founding Anniversary

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a five-day programme to mark its 48th founding anniversary on September 1.

BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister's Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a press conference at the party's central office in Nayapaltan this afternoon.

Earlier, a joint meeting of the party was held at the same venue, chaired by Rizvi. Senior leaders, joint secretaries, presidents and general secretaries of the party's north and south units, conveners and member secretaries and leaders of affiliated organisations attended the meeting.

As part of the observance, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit the graves of party founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia at 9am on September 1. 

A discussion meeting will be held on September 5 to mark the occasion, Rizvi said.

The party will also organise a fish-release programme on a suitable date under the leadership of Joint Secretary General Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel. Another programme, a tree plantation drive will be led by Joint Secretary General and Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anne.

Rizvi said drafts of several other programmes have also been prepared and will be announced later after consultation with the party chairman. 

At the press conference, Rizvi highlighted the political role of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, saying the party was established with three key commitments -- independence, protection of sovereignty and democracy.

He said Ziaur Rahman played a role in inspiring people from different sections of society to join the Liberation War and later introduced multi-party democracy, which created scope for political parties and newspapers to operate freely.

Regarding the opposition's criticism of the government's performance during its first 180 days, Rizvi dismissed the allegation as a sweeping political statement.

He said various economic institutions and organisations that monitor government activities had conducted studies on the government's performance, claiming their findings showed progress in different sectors.

Rizvi said the government's progress had already been communicated to the people through the Prime Minister's Office, which presented relevant statistics at press briefings.