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is all set to mark the occasion with due respect and reverence.

“Tomorrow [Saturday] marks the 45th martyrdom anniversary of statesman Ziaur Rahman. As part of our announced eight-day programme, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will lead party leaders and activists in offering fateha and placing wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11:00am.”

Rizvi said party flags will be kept at half-mast and black flags will be hoisted at the BNP central office and other party offices across the country from 6:00am on the day.

He said different associate bodies and professional groups of the party have undertaken various programmes, including discussions and photo exhibitions highlighting Ziaur Rahman’s life and works.

The BNP leader added that party units across the country will observe the day with different events in memory of the party founder.

He said Tarique Rahman will distribute clothes and dry food items among poor people at several spots in Dhaka after visiting the grave.

“I think one spot has been fixed in each constituency under Dhaka north and south where clothes and dry food will be distributed,” said Rizvi, who is also the PM’s political adviser.

He said the prime minister is also expected to distribute food among the destitute in front of the Nayapaltan central office in the afternoon as part of programmes to be organised by five associate bodies and one affiliated organisation.

The BNP leader said milad and doa mahfils will also be arranged in observance of the day.

He added that BNP leaders and activists have been wearing black badges as part of the eight-day programme. Special supplements have also been published in national newspapers, marking the anniversary.

BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB that Tarique Rahman will attend all the food and clothing distribution programmes at 16 spots today as the chief guest.

He added that the premier will begin distributing food and clothes among the poor and destitute at 11:30am in front of Rajdhani High School on Manik Mia Avenue.

Ministers, MPs, and leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies will remain present at the programmes, he added.

Sayrul added that BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan will distribute relief items among the poor in front of FDC at Karwan Bazar at 11:20am.

Rizvi will pay tribute at the graves of former president Ziaur Rahman and former PM Khaleda Zia at 10:30am, along with leaders of the Association of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Earlier at 10:00am, members of Ziaur Rahman Foundation will pay homage at the grave.

Rizvi will later distribute relief items among the destitute in the High Court Mazar gate area at 11:20am under a programme organised by lawyers.

Besides, BNP will arrange a discussion at the auditorium of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, at 2:00pm tomorrow to observe the death anniversary of its founder.