Khaleda pays homage to Zia on birth anniv

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday paid homage to party founder and late president Ziaur Rahman on his 82nd birth anniversary.

The BNP chief along with her party leaders and activists went to Chandrima Udyan at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in city around 11:15am and paid homage by placing wreath at his grave.

Khaleda also offered a munajat there seeking salvation of the departed soul.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and other leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies were present.

Born on 19 January 1936 at Bagbari in Bogra, former president of the country, Ziaur Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978.

The BNP and its associate bodies chalked out a weeklong programme to observe the day in a befitting manner.

As part of the programmes, the party flag was hoisted atop all the BNP offices across the country early in the morning.

Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) organised a daylong free medical camp at BNP's Nayapaltan central office on the occasion.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the BNP's student wing, organised a photo exhibition on Zia's life and works at the party's central office. Mirza Fakhrul inaugurated it around 9:00am.

Earlier on Thursday, the party arranged a discussion at the Supreme Court Bar Association's auditorium, marking the day.

The party's different city, district, upazila and thana units are marking the day with various programmes, including milad, discussions and essay competitions.