The 90th birth anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman is being observed today (Monday) with various programmes across the country.

Ziaur Rahman was born on January 19, 1936, into a distinguished Muslim family at Bagbari village in Gabtali upazila of Bogura. His father, Mansur Rahman, was a chemist, and his mother was Jahanara Khatun Rani. He was the second among five brothers and was popularly known by his nickname, Kamal.

Zia joined the then Pakistan Army in 1953. During the 1971 Liberation War, he played a valiant role as one of the sector commanders and led an independent sector. The famed ‘Z Force’ was formed in his name during the war.

On March 26, 1971, Zia made a historic declaration of Bangladesh’s independence on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, calling upon the nation to join the Liberation War.

Following the political upheaval after the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, Zia was appointed Chief of Army Staff on August 25. Later, through the November 7 uprising the same year, he emerged at the centre of state power and was appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator on November 29, 1976.

Ziaur Rahman was elected President on April 21, 1977. He founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1, 1978. He was assassinated on May 30, 1981, by a group of army personnel at the Chattogram Circuit House.

Marking the birth anniversary, BNP has announced a two-day programme. On Monday, party leaders and activists, including members of the BNP Standing Committee, will place wreaths and offer fateha at Zia’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

On Tuesday morning, a discussion meeting will be held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) multipurpose hall in Kakrail, where senior BNP leaders and eminent citizens will speak.

Besides, BNP central and local offices across the country are hoisting party flags today. The party and its associate bodies are also organising discussion meetings and doa mahfils at district, metropolitan, upazila and thana levels to commemorate the occasion.