<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>BNP will celebrate the 88th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman on Friday with due respect.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogura, Ziaur Rahman, founded BNP in 1978 and became the country’s seventh president.</div><div><br></div><div>Zia was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP on Wednesday announced a two-day programme to mark the birth anniversary of its founder.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the programmes, the party flags will be hoisted atop its offices, including Nayapaltan headquarters, on Friday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the party leaders and activists, led by its standing committee members, will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11am on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP arranged a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon in memory of Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s associate bodies will also mark the day with various programmes, including discussions and warm clothes distribution, as part of the birth anniversary programmes.</div><div><br></div><div>The party’s city, district and upazila units will also observe the day with different programmes.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi issued a message on the occasion paying deep homage to Zia, according to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>He recalled the BNP founder’s contributions to the country’s development and restoration of ‘multiparty democracy’.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>