Zia's death anniversary today

Today is the 32nd death anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
To observe the day, the main opposition BNP and its associated bodies have chalked out a 10-day programme including discussions, blood donation and free medical treatment.
General Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh's first military ruler, rose to power on 7 November 1975 following the coup of mid-August and the counter-coup of November 3. In April 1977, he took over as president from Justice ASM Sayem, who had been installed in office by General Khaled Musharraf on November 6, 1975 but was kept on by the new military leadership.
Zia organised presidential elections in June 1978 in which he defeated General MAG Osmany, the candidate of the combined opposition. In the same year, he founded the BNP. On his watch, general elections in early 1979 gave his new party a majority in parliament. Zia was assassinated in 1981 in an abortive coup at the Chittagong Circuit House.
The BNP yesterday asked all its units to observe the day with due respect and solemnity.
The party flag will be hoisted at half-mast at its Nayapaltan central office in the capital and at all party offices across the country.
Leaders and activists of the party, including BNP Chairperson and Zia's widow Khaleda Zia, will offer Fateha and place wreaths at Zia's grave in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar early in the morning.
Later in the day, she will attend a milad mahfil and inaugurate a blood donation programme at the party's central office premises.
Pro-BNP doctors will provide free medicine and medical treatment in front of the party office in the morning.