BNP’s 42nd founding anniversary today

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party celebrates its 42nd founding anniversary today.

The party observes the day through extensive programmes without its chairperson Khaleda Zia for the third consecutive year after she has been jailed in a corruption case.   

Khaleda was sentenced on February 8, 2018 in a case that the party termed false, fabricated and vexatious.

The critically ill 75-year-old leader was released from jail for six months on humanitarian ground on March 25 and since then she is staying in her Gulshan house.

The party has planned different programmes to mark the day in the capital in major towns, said party leaders.

An online discussion on the party’s activities and struggle will be held at 3:30pm today.

The party flag will be hoisted atop at the party’s central and local offices across the country at 6:00am.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other leaders and activists will pay tribute to the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman by placing wreaths at his grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka at 11:00am.

Dhaka City South BNP will also place wreaths at the grave of Ziaur Rahman at 11:30am.

Then, the Dhaka City North BNP will pay its respect at party founder’s grave at 12:00 noon. 

Party branches will hold virtual meetings to mark the day.

The late president Ziaur Rahman, a sector commander in the independence war, launched BNP on September 1, 1978 with a 19-point programme to make Bangladesh self-reliant and prosperous.

His wife Khaleda Zia held the helm of BNP after his assassination on May 30, 1981.

She was elected BNP vice-chairperson in 1983 and chairperson in 1984.

Khaleda became the first female prime minister of Bangladesh in 1991.

In a message ahead of the founding anniversary, Mirza Fakhrul greeted the party leaders and activists, well-wishers and common people and urged the party leaders and activists to wage movement for the restoration of democratic system in the country and for the release of the party chairperson as she was a victim of political vengeance.

‘The country is under misrule. People are passing days amid utter insecurity. The government is out to keep law, judiciary and administration in its grip. Law enforcement agencies are forced to do illegal acts. As a result, dangerous indiscipline prevails in society,’ Fakhrul said in the message.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net