Dhaka: The 45th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, a sector commander during the Liberation War, BNP founder, and advocate of multi-party democracy, is being observed today with due respect and solemnity. On May 30, 1981, Ziaur Rahman was brutally assassinated at the Chattogram Circuit House, a tragic event orchestrated by a group of disgruntled army officers as part of a domestic and foreign conspiracy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced an eight-day special program from May 25 to June 1 to commemorate Ziaur Rahman’s martyrdom anniversary. Special posters are being published nationwide, and party leaders and activists are donning black badges in remembrance. Party flags are hoisted at half-mast, and black flags are displayed at the party’s Nayapaltan central office and other offices across the country.
Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, along with national leaders, will pay tribute by placing wreaths and offering prayers at Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi confirmed that all preparations have been completed to observe the day with the respect it deserves.
Various units of the party, as well as affiliated organizations, professional bodies, and cultural groups, will hold discussion meetings, milad and doa mahfils, photo exhibitions, and other programs highlighting Ziaur Rahman’s life and contributions. Following the grave visit, Tarique Rahman will participate in clothes and food distribution programs in the capital, including an event at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan informed BSS that the prime minister will commence the distribution of food and clothing to the needy from the T and T playground at Manik Mia Avenue. The premier is scheduled to attend programs at 16 different locations in Dhaka, accompanied by ministers, MPs, and BNP leaders.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, along with leaders from the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, will also pay homage to the graves of Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He will later join a distribution program organized by lawyers near the High Court shrine. Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan will attend a cultural activist-organized event at Karwan Bazar.
On May 31, the BNP plans to hold a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), in Ramna. Ziaur Rahman, acknowledged as the pioneer of multi-party democracy in Bangladesh, was instrumental in founding the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and promoting Bangladeshi nationalism.
Under Ziaur Rahman’s leadership, the BNP became a major political force, securing a majority in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and forming the government. His legacy continues through his son, Tarique Rahman, who currently leads the BNP and serves as Prime Minister. The BNP has governed Bangladesh five times, including the current term, with significant public support.
Every year, apart from BNP and its associated bodies, people from all walks of life observe Ziaur Rahman’s martyrdom anniversary with respect and reflection.