Tarique Pays Tribute to Zia on 45th Death Anniversary

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday paid tribute to BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman on the occasion of his 45th death anniversary.

Tarique Rahman first placed a wreath at Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in his capacity as Prime Minister. He later paid tribute again as BNP chairman, accompanied by senior party leaders and members of the party’s Standing Committee.

Among those present were Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who received the Prime Minister upon his arrival at the mausoleum around 11:00am.

Following the wreath-laying ceremony, Tarique Rahman and senior party leaders observed a brief silence in memory of the late president and offered prayers seeking eternal peace for his soul, as well as for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

He later joined a doa mahfil organised by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal at the grave premises and took part in a special munajat.

A large number of BNP leaders and activists gathered around Zia Udyan to mark the anniversary, while the party and its affiliated bodies observed the day through various programmes across the country.

Ziaur Rahman, who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978, was assassinated on May 30, 1981, at Chattogram Circuit House while serving as President. The party observes the day as Zia’s “Shahadat Barshiki.”

As part of the observance, BNP offices nationwide, including the party’s Nayapaltan central office and chairman’s office in Gulshan, flew black flags and kept party flags at half-mast.

Leaders and activists from BNP’s Dhaka North and South city units, along with affiliated organisations including Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Krishak Dal, Mohila Dal, Sramik Dal, Chhatra Dal, and other professional bodies, also paid homage to the party founder.

The BNP launched an eight-day programme on May 25 to commemorate the anniversary. A discussion meeting is scheduled at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium on Sunday.

Following the tribute programme, Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to distribute clothes and dry food among underprivileged people at multiple locations across Dhaka as part of the anniversary observance.