Former President Ziaur Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1, 1978, through the reading of a formal declaration at the Ramna Restaurant. Accordingly, today marks the party’s 47th founding anniversary. To mark the occasion, BNP has announced various programs, including discussions and processions.

On May 30, 1981, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in Chattogram during a failed military coup. Following his death, his wife, Khaleda Zia, transitioned from a housewife into politics. She made her political debut on January 13, 1983. In March 1983, she became the party’s Senior Vice-Chairperson, and on May 10, 1984, she was elected Chairperson of the BNP.

On February 8, 2018, during the tenure of the then-Awami League government, Khaleda Zia was arrested and sentenced to prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. After serving over two years in prison, she was released on conditional bail. On August 6 of last year, she was released again by presidential order.

Now 79 years old, Khaleda Zia has been inactive in politics due to imprisonment and later illness. Since February 2018, her son Tarique Rahman has been serving as the party’s Acting Chairman. He has been living in the United Kingdom since 2007 during the army-backed caretaker government, from where he continues to lead the party.

BNP came to power after winning the fifth national election on February 27, 1991. On February 15, 1996, the BNP-led government formed an administration through a controversial election but survived only 45 days due to protests from the Awami League and other opposition parties. In 2001, the BNP-led four-party alliance again came to power by winning the eighth national election. That was the last time BNP held state power, and the party has remained out of power for more than 17 years.

On the occasion of the 47th founding anniversary, Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman extended greetings to party leaders, activists, and well-wishers. In his message, he said, “The BNP’s main goal is to ease the suffering of the people, protect the country’s independence and sovereignty, and re-establish multi-party democracy. True democracy has not yet been established in the country. Only by ensuring the rule of law, freedom of expression, and independence of the press and judiciary can the democratic rights of the people be realized. For this, a democratically elected and accountable government is absolutely necessary.”

He further said, “On September 1, 1978, President Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of our great independence, founded the BNP to unite the people under the ideals of nationalism. This day is a source of joy, enthusiasm, and inspiration for the people of Bangladesh. The party remains committed to the principles of complete independence of the Bangladeshi territory, safeguarding sovereignty, and establishing a permanent multi-party democracy.”

In a separate message, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that free and fair elections and strengthening the rule of law are essential to ensure citizens’ freedom. He added that the authoritarian structure of misrule must be uprooted, and a tolerant, peaceful, and socially just society must be established as the core objective of nationalist forces.

For the anniversary, a 16-member National Celebration Committee has been formed, with BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan as convener and Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as member secretary.

To mark the day, BNP will hoist party flags at its central office and across the country in the morning, and at 11 am, they will offer Fatiha and pay respects at the grave of the party’s founder, Ziaur Rahman, in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Discussion meetings and rallies will also be held in districts and cities across the country.

On Tuesday, a rally will be brought out from in front of the party’s central office, while on September 3, discussions and rallies will be held at the upazila and municipal levels.