Senior leaders of the BNP, have laid wreaths at the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman to mark the anniversary of his death.
Despite the rain, thousands of leaders and activists led small processions from different wards in Dhaka and gathered at Zia`s grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, reports bdnews24.com.
They wore black badges on their chests and chanted slogans in remembrance of the party’s founder.
BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, AZM Zahid Hossain and other senior leaders arrived at the grave at 10:30am on Friday. After standing in silence for some time, they laid wreaths at the grave and then held a prayer service seeking forgiveness for the former president`s soul.
On Aug 15, 1975, a group of army personnel killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family. Zia then became the army chief.
After the “Sepahi-Janata Revolution” on Nov 7 of that year, Zia became the deputy chief martial law administrator under President Justice ASM Sayem. He became the chief martial law administrator on Apr 21, 1977. He was sworn in as the president on Apr 21, 1978.
On May 30, 1981, Zia was shot dead by a group of soldiers in Chattogram. The BNP observes the occasion as “Martyrdom Day”.
To pay tribute to the party founder, the party’s flag was lowered and black flags were hoisted at the party`s central office in Naya Paltan and the BNP Chairperson`s Office in Gulshan on Friday morning.
In addition to the Standing Committee, members of the party chariperson’s Advisory Council Amanullah Aman, AHM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Lutfozzaman Babar, joint secretaries general Khairul Kabir Khokon and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, and central leaders Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, Sultan Salauddin Tuku, Mir Newaz Ali, Mir Ali Newaz, Saiful Alam Nirob, Taiful Islam Tipu, SM Jahangir, Aminul Haque, Tanvir Ahmed Robin and others.
Afterwards, they attended a prayer service organised by the Nationalist Ulema Party at the graveyard.
Many branches and affiliate organisations of the party, including its Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units, the Muktijoddha Dal, Jubo Dal, Swechchha Sebak Dal, Krishak Dal, Mahila Dal, Tanti Dal, Matsyajibi Dal, Doctors Association, Engineers Association, Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad, also placed wreaths at the grave.
As part of an eight-day programme to mark Zia’s passing, a free medical camp was opened at the Naya Paltan central office in the morning by the Jubo Dal. Specialist doctors are seeing patients and providing medicine for free throughout the day.
The BNP and its affiliates have published posters with Ziaur Rahman`s picture at the central office. Special supplements have been published in newspapers.
After paying homage at Zia`s grave, BNP Standing Committee members were scheduled to inaugurate a food distribution programme among the needy at various spots in the north and south of the metropolis, including T&T College on Manik Mia Avenue, the High Court area, the Gulshan-2 Dhaka City Corporation Market, the Vasabo Field, Dhanmondi’s Abahani Field, the Dhanmondi KFC, Kalabagan, Dhaka Medical College, and the party headquarters in Naya Paltan.
