BNP’s founding anniversary today

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BNP and its fringe organisations will observe the party's 29th founding anniversary today (Saturday) on a limited scale amid a ban on political activities, reports bdnews24.com.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in separate messages have urged party leaders and workers to observe the day with proper dignity.
The day's programmes include hoisting of the party flag at the BNP's Naya Paltan central office in the city at dawn and laying of wreaths at the grave of the party founder and late president Ziaur Rahman.
Khaleda Zia and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan will be among those who will offer Fateha at Zia's graveside at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.
In a press release signed by the BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan, the conditions as given by the government for observing the founding anniversary are that 20 persons queuing up at a time will be able to pay their tributes with wreaths at the grave.
Carrying of banners, festoons or placards, and chanting of slogans or visiting the grave in procession are not permitted.
BNP sought permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police on August 25 to observe a two-day programme to mark the anniversary and to lay wreaths, hold open discussions and distribute relief.
However, a meeting of the advisory council committee on law and order Wednesday decided to allow only the paying of tributes at Zia's grave.
Law Adviser Mainul Hosein told reporters after the meeting: "The decision has been taken to allow laying flowers at the grave of the late president on BNP's founding anniversary. But carrying banners is not allowed. And no permission has been given for holding discussions."
BNP has asked local party leaders throughout the country to confer with their local administrations on how to observe the founding anniversary.
Ziaur Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1, 1978.
UNB adds: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has greeted the people and her party leaders and workers on the occasion of the 29th founding anniversary of BNP.
Paying rich tributes to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, she urged the party leaders and workers at all tiers to remain united to materialise the policy, ideals and programmes of the slain leader.
In a message, Khaleda paid homage to party members who died in last 28 years since the inception of BNP.
She said BNP is profoundly loyal to independence and sovereignty of the country as well as multi-party democracy.
"Insha-Allah, we'll discharge the responsibilities reposed on us by maintaining unity and dedicating our combined efforts to strengthening the BNP," she said.
Calling upon all to stand beside the flood-affected people, the BNP chairperson said: "The main commitment of BNP is to stand beside the distressed people."
Talking to reporters ahead of the party's founding anniversary, BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan paid his deep respect to party's founder Ziaur Rahman.
He also prayed for salvation of the departed souls of the party leaders and workers who died since the founding of BNP in 1978.