Dhaka, May 30 (UNB) - The 31st death anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is being observed across the country today.

BNP chalked out an 8-day elaborate programme to observe the anniversary of death of its founder who was assassinated on this day in 1981 by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House.

The programmes began through a discussion organised by BNP on Zia’s life and works at Engineers Institution here on Tuesday.

BNP hoisted its party flag at half mast while black flag atop its party offices at 6 am. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, widow of the slain president, along with the party’s leaders and workers will place wreaths at the mazar of Zia at the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 10 am.

Jatiyatabadi Olema Dal will hold Qurankhwani and doa mahfil at the mazar of Zia at the same time. Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) will arrange a voluntary blood donation programme on the mazar premises. Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the blood donation programme.

DAB will also hold a free medical camp near the BNP central office at Nayapaltan at 11am.

Khaleda Zia will inaugurate a food distribution among poor people at different parts of the city to be organised by Dhaka city BNP. She will launch the food distribution near Town Hall at Mohammadpur at 11:30 am.

The food distribution programme will continue until June 2.

The BNP chief and other senior leaders will distribute food among the poor.