DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia paid tribute to former President Ziaur Rahman, also founder of the party, by placing floral wreaths at the grave of him in capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Sunday morning.

After placing wreath, the widow of Ziaur Rahman offered fateha and monajat at the grave to mark his 78th birth anniversary.

Party’s standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharrof Hossain, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman,
Vice-chairman Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, chairperson’s adviser Dr Osman Faruk, among others, accompanied the BNP chief.

Later, hundreds of BNP activists and its supporters flocked to Ziaur Rahman`s mazar.

Doctors Association of Bangladesh, a pro-BNP organization, also has arranged a voluntary blood donation programme in front of its Nayapaltan central office.

After independence, Ziaur Rahman became Bangladesh`s Army Chief and later the President during military rule.

He came to power after a political turmoil in the country following the killing of Bangabandhu and formed the BNP on Sep 1, 1978.

The former President was killed in a coup in 1981. Since then the BNP is being headed by his wife Khaleda Zia.

BDST: 1227 HRS, JAN 19, 2014
Edited by: Rubaiat Saky, Senior Newsroom Editor