Dhaka, May 30 (UNB) – The 31st death anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh National Party (BNP), was observed on Wednesday with countrywide programmes taken up by his party.

President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30 in 1981.

The BNP and its associate organizations have calked out a 8-day programme to observe the death anniversary of their leader.

Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, widow of the slain president along with party leaders, activists and supporters placed wreaths at the mazar (grave) of Ziaur Rahman and offered special prayers. Then she attended a milad mahfil organised by Jatiyatabadi Olema Dal on the mazar premises.

Later, she inaugurated a voluntary blood donation programme organised by Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) accompanied by BNP leaders and activists among others.

She also inaugurated a four-day-programme for food distribution among the destitute at the capital's Mohammadpur.

The food distribution programme will continue until June 2.

Apart from food distribution in the capital, cooked food was distributed among poor people by BNP and its front and association bodies in other parts of the country and discussion meetings about life, works and achievement of Zia were also held.