Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today announced an eight-day programme from May 25 to June 1 marking the 45th martyrdom anniversary of the party’s founder, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement at a press conference held at the party's central office in Nayapaltan this afternoon.

Earlier, a joint meeting was held at the BNP central office to mark the anniversary. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi presided over the meeting, while BNP Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, leaders of the executive committee, and leaders of affiliated organisations were present.

Marking the anniversary, posters will be published and black badges will be worn from May 25 to June 1.

Supplements will also be published in newspapers and online portals. Discussions will be held and posters published at the initiative of BNP's front and associate organisations. BNP will arrange a discussion on May 31 (Sunday) at 2pm at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Ramna of the capital.

On Saturday (May 30), the party flag will be lowered to half-mast and black flags will be hoisted at the party's central office in Nayapaltan at 6am.

On the day, at 11am, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, along with the party's national leaders and leaders and activists from all levels, will offer floral tributes and pay respects at the mausoleum of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. After the visit, they will join a prayer gathering organised by the Jatiyatabadi Ulama Dal on the mausoleum premises.

On the occasion, clothes, rice, lentils and other food items will be distributed among the underprivileged people at every police station under Dhaka Metropolitan North and South.

Marking the day, BNP along with its affiliated bodies’ all units, will lower the party flag to half-mast and hoist black flags at 6am on May 30.

According to the convenience of their respective areas, they will hold discussions and prayer gatherings and distribute clothes, rice, lentils and other food items among the underprivileged people.

Rizvi said Ziaur Rahman had brought hope during a critical period in the country's political and state affairs. “Before him, democracy had been murdered, extreme anarchy had prevailed, the country had fallen into the grip of famine and society was plagued by horrific bloodshed, violence and killings,” Rizvi said.

He added, “During the process of overcoming that post-independence crisis, the people and members of the armed forces jointly accepted Shaheed Ziaur Rahman as their leader in the hope of establishing a peaceful environment, and he assumed responsibility for the state."

Rizvi further said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's success remains a bright chapter in history. "The example of restoring peace and the rule of law during his tenure, irrespective of party affiliation, is rare. The groundbreaking steps he took to put the country on the path to prosperity remain indelible in people's minds."

Rizvi said another significant contribution of Ziaur Rahman was the restoration of multi-party democracy. "On January 25, 1975, the then Awami League government murdered democracy by forming BAKSAL. Ziaur Rahman revived that dead democracy. He introduced multi-party democracy, allowing many political parties to resume activities and speak freely. The contribution of this great man cannot be forgotten."

Rizvi also strictly instructed party leaders and activists to avoid causing public suffering while carrying out programmes, saying, “No programme should be conducted that causes hardship to the public.”

He also directed that discussion meetings should not be held at street corners with temporary stages. Programmes will only be held in open fields or auditoriums.