The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to observe the 45th death anniversary of its founder and former President Ziaur Rahman on Saturday.

The party alongside its associate bodies has chalked out an extensive eight-day nationwide programme to mark the death anniversary with due respect. The scheduled programmes officially commenced on May 25 and are slated to continue until June 1.

Ziaur Rahman, who established the BNP in 1978, was assassinated by a group of disgruntled Army officers at the Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981.

While addressing a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Friday morning, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi stated that their party is fully prepared to mark the occasion with due respect and reverence.

“Tomorrow (Saturday) marks the 45th martyrdom anniversary of statesman Ziaur Rahman. As part of our announced eight-day programme, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will lead party leaders and activists in offering Fateha and placing wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11 am,” Rizvi announced.

Rizvi further detailed that party flags will be kept at half-mast while black flags will be hoisted at the BNP central office and all other party offices across the country starting from 6 am on the day.

He noted that various associate bodies and professional groups affiliated with the party have lined up multiple programmes, including discussions and photo exhibitions that highlight the life and works of Ziaur Rahman.

The BNP leader also affirmed that party units throughout the country will observe the day with diverse programmes dedicated to the memory of the party founder.

In addition, Rizvi, who also serves as the prime minister’s political adviser, shared that Tarique Rahman will distribute clothes and dry food items among the poor at several spots in Dhaka following his visit to the grave.

“I think one spot has been fixed in each constituency under Dhaka North and South where clothes and dry food will be distributed,” Rizvi stated.

He added that the Prime Minister is also expected to distribute food among destitute people in front of the Nayapaltan central office in the afternoon, as part of the events organized by five associate bodies and one affiliated organization.

Furthermore, milad and doa mahfils will be arranged in observance of the day.

Rizvi mentioned that BNP leaders and activists have been wearing black badges as part of the ongoing eight-day programme, and special supplements have been published in national newspapers to mark the anniversary.

Providing further operational details, BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told a local media that Tarique Rahman will attend all the food and clothing distribution programmes at 16 spots on Saturday in his capacity as the chief guest.

Sayrul specified that the Prime Minister will commence the distribution of food items and clothes among the poor and destitute from 11:30am at the T&T playground on Manik Mia Avenue.

He added that Tarique Rahman will subsequently attend similar distribution programmes at 16 locations across the capital in phases throughout the day, where ministers, MPs, and leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies will be present.

In parallel relief efforts, Sayrul noted that BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan will distribute relief items among poor people in front of the FDC at Karwan Bazar at 11:20 am.

Earlier in the day, at 10 am, members of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation will pay homage at the founder's grave.

Following this, at 10:30am, Rizvi, alongside leaders of the Association of Engineers, Bangladesh (AEB), will pay tribute at the graves of both former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Rizvi is later scheduled to distribute relief items among destitute people in the High Court Mazar gate area at 11:20 am under a welfare initiative organized by lawyers.

As part of the closing segments of the anniversary observations, the BNP will organize a formal discussion programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium at 2 pm on May 31.