The 40th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was observed amid various programmes across the country on Sunday.

Black flags were hoisted while party flags kept at half-mast atop the party's offices at 6am as part of its programme to mark the day.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with party senior leaders paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave on the occasion.

They also offered fateha and munajat there seeking eternal peace of Zia’s departed soul.

Zia founded BNP in 1978. He was assassinated by some army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.

Leaders of BNP’s different associate bodies also placed wreaths at Zia’s grave, maintaining social distancing rules due to the prevalence of coronavirus.

Mirza Fakhrul and party standing committee members distributed food and clothes among the destitute at 24 points of the capital on the day arranged by Dhaka North and South units of BNP.

READ: BNP chalks out 15-day prog to observe Zia's death anniv

They will also distribute food and clothes among the poor at different parts of the capital on Monday.

The party's all district, city and thana units also observed the day amid various programmes, including virtual discussions and distribution of food among the poor.

BNP and its different associate bodies chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the 40th death anniversary with due reverence.

READ: BNP announcers 12-day programme for Zia's death anniversary

The programmes include arranging virtual discussion meetings, photo exhibition and free medical camps, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food among the destitute.