Dhaka: BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday planted a tree at Zia Udyan and released fish into Crescent Lake at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital as part of programmes marking the party’s 48th founding anniversary.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Tarique engaged in these activities shortly after paying homage to the graves of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former chairperson Khaleda Zia by placing wreaths there around 9:20am. The event was attended by BNP Standing Committee members, Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, and Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, among others.
The party’s anniversary programmes commenced early in the morning with the national and party flags being hoisted at its central office in Nayapaltan and the chairman’s office in Gulshan. As part of the celebrations, BNP has announced a five-day central programme that includes tree plantation, fish release, and a discussion session.
At around 11:30am, Rizvi inaugurated a free medical camp organized by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on the ground floor of BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan. The inauguration was graced by the presence of DAB President Professor Harun Al Rashid and Secretary General Zahirul Islam Shakil.
BNP was founded by Ziaur Rahman on September 1, 1978, with a 19-point programme aimed at building a self-reliant Bangladesh. He led the party as its chairman, succeeded by Khaleda Zia and subsequently Tarique Rahman. The BNP is celebrating its 48th founding anniversary at a significant juncture, having returned to state power after around two decades under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, with him serving as prime minister for the first time. It is also the first founding anniversary the party is observing without Khaleda Zia, who passed away on December 30, 2025.