BNP observes Zia’s death anniv, demands congenial election atmosphere [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

BNP observes Zia’s death anniv, demands congenial election atmosphere

Local May 31, 2017

Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Tuesday observed the 36th death anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman paying tributes to his memory and raising voice for creating a congenial atmosphere for the next general election.
Ziaur Rahman, the seventh president of Bangladesh from 1977 to 1981, was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia flanked by senior party leaders and activists paid their respects to the late president by placing wreaths and offering fateha at his graveside at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital about 11:15am.
Zia, who was adorned with gallantry award Bir Uttam for his contribution in the Liberation War, founded BNP in 1978. Khaleda took part in a prayer session on the premises of Zia’s grave organised by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal.
Later, the BNP chairperson launched a Khaleda launched her 2-day distribution of clothes, iftar items and essential food items among the destitute at various places in the capital, starting from Dhanmondi area.
On the first day, she distributed foods and clothes at 22 spots, including Mohammadpur Town Hall, Kalabagan, Azimpur, Nawabpur, Nayabazar, Sutrapur, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel, Nayapaltan, Bijoynagar and Hatirpul.
BNP’s front and associate organisations and various socio-cultural organisations took various programmes to observe the death anniversary of Zia.
Zia came to limelight after broadcasting a declaration of independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding president of the country, in March 1971. He was a sector commander and led the Z-Force in the Liberation War.
Zia was born on January 19, 1936 at village Bagbari in Bogra.
Talking to journalists on the premises of Zia’s tomb, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that there had to have a road before a roadmap, suggesting that a congenial atmosphere for election had not been created.
‘Here, the opposition has no scope for raising voice and carrying out their activities,’ Fakhrul said, adding that opposition leaders and activists, particularly of the BNP, were being detained and sent to jail after being implicated in false cases.
‘No fair election is possible under this unequal environment,’ he observed.
The BNP secretary general said, ‘Whatever roadmap was revealed [by the incumbent Election Commission], the first condition of it had to be that a level playing field be created to ensure equal opportunities for all the parties.’
He also added that false cases against the party’s leaders and activists must be withdrawn.
‘Then the BNP would consider it logical to talk about the roadmap,’ he remarked.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of BNP, organised a day-long photography exhibition on the life and works of Zia at the National Press Club.
Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh, a platform of pro-BNP physicians, launched a free medical camp in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan and provided free medical treatment.
The party flag was hoisted half-mast while black flag atop the poles at party offices across the country, to mark Zia’s death anniversary.