Zia’s death anniversary today

The BNP will observe the 39th death anniversary of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman today.

The BNP and pro-BNP socio-political organisations have drawn up different programmes, including online discussions, and distribution of food and clothes among the destitute, to mark the day.

Zia founded the party in 1978. He was assassinated by some army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.

Born on January 19, 1936, in Bogura's Bagbari, Zia was a sector commander during the Liberation War.

On Wednesday, the BNP announced a 12-day programme to observe the death anniversary.

The programmes will begin today and end on June 10. All of them will be held maintaining social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak.

As part of the programmes, black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the party's offices, including its Nayapaltan headquarters, at 6:00am today.

Besides, only the party's standing committee members will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital at 11:00am, maintaining social distancing.

The party will hold an online discussion in the afternoon in memory of Zia.

The party leaders will also distribute relief materials and clothes among the destitute at different spots of the city on the day organised by Dhaka North and South units of BNP.

They will avoid any mass gatherings and public meetings.

BNP and its associate bodies will arrange virtual discussions on Zia's activities, from May 1 to June 10 as part of the death anniversary programmes.