Zia’s 35th death anniversary today

Staff Correspondent: Today (May 30) is the 35th death anniversary of the late President Ziaur Rahman, also the founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

BNP and different socio-political and cultural organisations have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day.

BNP and its front and associate organisations took 15-day programmes that began on May 20 marking the death anniversary of Zia.

The party flag has been hoisted at half-mast along with black flags atop at BNP offices across the country today.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with her party leaders and activists, would place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.

Khaleda is scheduled for distributing food among the destitute in various areas in the capital from today to Wednesday.
All district and city units of BNP across the country organise different programmes on their own.

Ziaur Rahman was a sector commander and led the Z Force in the Liberation War in 1971. He was adorned with gallantry award Bir Uttom for his contribution in the war.

Zia reached the helm of power on November 7, 1975. He became president of the country in April 1977. He founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978.

Zia, who was the 7th president of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981, was born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari village in Bogra.

Zia, the then president, was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.

risingbd/DHAKA/May 30, 2016/Mukul