BNP observes party founder Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, widow of former president Ziaur Rahman, paid tribute at the grave of her late husband along with party leaders and supporters observing his 35th death anniversary on Monday.

Khaleda laid a wreath and offered prayers at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar mausoleum of the former army chief and president, who was assassinated in Chittagong on this day in 1981.

He was killed at the port city Circuit House in a 'failed coup' orchestrated by a section of the army.

After paying homage, Khaleda distributed food among the poor at the Manik Mia Avenue.

The BNP launched a number of programmes from May 21 to observe the death anniversary of the party founder. On Monday morning, the party flag flew at half-mast at the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters.

Ziaur Rahman, then a major, first attracted public notice by announcing the independence war from Chittagong’s Kalurghat radio station on behalf of Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Mar 27, 1971.

General Zia, one of the sector commanders of Bangladesh's war of independence from Pakistan, was subsequently widely criticised for imposing military rule and rehabilitating the anti-liberation elements in politics.

He took the charge as army chief soon after the assassination of then president Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members by army men on Aug 15, 1975.

On Nov 7 the same year, Gen Zia became deputy chief martial law administrator under president ASM Sayeem's government and took charge as chief martial law administrator on Apr 21, 1977.

He was sworn in as president of the state on Apr 21, 1978.