BNP announced 8-day program on the occasion of the 45th martyrdom anniversary of martyred President Ziaur Rahman.

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News Desk: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced an eight-day program from May 25 to June 1 marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of the party’s founder, the proponent of multi-party democracy, and former President Ziaur Rahman.

The programs were announced on Monday at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Earlier, a joint meeting was held at the party office to ensure the successful observance of the anniversary. The meeting was chaired by Rizvi and attended by Joint Secretary General Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel, conveners and member secretaries of BNP’s Dhaka North and South units, as well as top leaders from affiliated and associate organizations.

According to the announced schedule, special posters will be published nationwide from May 25 to June 1, and party leaders and activists will wear black badges. Special supplements will also be published in newspapers and online portals.

On Saturday, May 30, at 6:00 am, party flags will be flown at half-mast and black flags hoisted at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan and all party offices across the country. Later that day, at 11:00 am, Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, along with national leaders and party activists, will place wreaths and pay respects at the grave of Ziaur Rahman. Following the visit, a prayer gathering will be organized at the grave premises by the Nationalist Ulema Dal.

The party also announced that clothing, rice, lentils, and other food items will be distributed among poor and underprivileged people at every police station area under Dhaka North and South and in other units nationwide.

Similarly, district, metropolitan, and local units across the country will observe flag-lowering and black flag-hoisting programs at 6:00 am on May 30, along with discussion meetings, prayer gatherings, and distribution of food and clothing for the needy according to local convenience.

The following day, Sunday, May 31, at 2:00 pm, BNP will organize a discussion meeting at the auditorium of Institution of Engineers Bangladesh in Ramna, Dhaka.

Recalling Ziaur Rahman’s role during a critical period in the country’s history, Rizvi said, “At a time of national crisis, Ziaur Rahman illuminated both politics and state leadership. Before that, democracy had been destroyed, extreme chaos prevailed, the country had fallen into famine, and society was plagued by bloodshed, violence, and killings.”

He added that during the difficult post-independence period, people and members of the armed forces jointly accepted Ziaur Rahman as a leader in hopes of restoring peace, after which he assumed state responsibility. According to Rizvi, Zia’s efforts to restore peace and the rule of law remain a rare example, and his landmark initiatives to move the country toward prosperity are still remembered by people today.

Speaking about the revival of multi-party democracy, Rizvi claimed that on January 25, 1975, the then Awami League government had “killed democracy” by forming BAKSAL, and that Ziaur Rahman later revived that democracy by introducing a multi-party political system, allowing many political parties to operate and express opinions freely.

Rizvi also instructed party leaders and activists to ensure that the programs do not cause suffering for the public. He said no discussion meetings should be held by setting up temporary stages at road intersections, and all programs must instead be conducted in open fields or auditoriums.