Dhaka, Jan 19 (UNB) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is celebrating 76th birth anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman across the country today (Thursday). BNP and its front and associate organisations have chalked out an elaborate 15-day programme to observe the birth anniversary of Zia, the founder of the party.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, flanked by the party leaders and workers, placed wreath at the mazar of Ziaur Rahman in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 12 noon and offered there. She took part in a doa mahfil organised by Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal on the mazar premises.

Voluntary blood donation and free medical treatment were also organized on the premises of Zia’s mazar and in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan to mark Zia’s birth anniversary.

Talking to reporters on the Zia’s mazar premises Thursday, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir termed the Prime Minister’s remarks at a public meeting in Manikganj on Wednesday against Khaleda Zia as untrue.

He said Zia Charitable Trust is a private institution and there is no scope to do corruption there and no corruption has taken place. The case has been filed against Khaleda Zia with political motive to undermine her. Fakhrul said the Prime Minister’s statement is untrue, which has been proved when she says the prices of essentials remain at tolerable level.

“The party in power resorted to falsehood to divert public attention. People have already taken to the street following the government’s misrule and misdeeds.” Regarding inhuman torture and killing of innocent Bangladesh nationals by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), he said the government cannot even protest due to its weak-kneed foreign policy.