Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday commenced a widespread initiative to distribute clothing and food items among poor and destitute people across the capital, marking the 45th death anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman.

The mass distribution programme officially began around 11:30 am on the Rajdhani High School premises located on Manik Mia Avenue.

This initial event signaled the launch of a comprehensive, day-long schedule featuring the nationwide distribution of clothes, essential goods, and free healthcare services targeted at underprivileged populations on the solemn occasion of Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary.

A number of high-profile government and municipal officials accompanied the Premier at the inaugural venue, including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Safiqul Islam Khan, and former city councillor Anwaruzzaman, among others.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to physically attend and oversee similar humanitarian distribution operations at 16 additional locations stretching across the jurisdictions of both Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations throughout the day.

Prior to launching the welfare drive, the Prime Minister paid rich tributes to Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Tarique Rahman first laid a wreath at Ziaur Rahman’s grave in his capacity as the Prime Minister of the country.

He later placed a secondary wreath acting in his role as the BNP Chairman, accompanied by members of the party’s central Standing Committee, including Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Prof. AZM Zahid Hossain.

The BNP alongside its diverse units and associate bodies are observing the 45th death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman through various multi-layered programmes across the country.

Ziaur Rahman, who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978, was assassinated by a group of disgruntled Army officers at the Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981, while serving as the President of the state.

The ruling BNP strictly observes this national day annually as Zia’s "Shahadat Barshiki."