BNP on Thursday chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the 40th death anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman.

The observance of Zia's death anniversary programmes will begin on May 29 and end on June 12.

BNP organising secretary Syed Imarn Saleh Prince announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

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.

He said all the programmes will be arranged by maintaining health safety rules due to the coronavirus prevalence.

Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May 1981.

Prince said black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the offices of the party and its associate bodies, including its Naya Paltan headquarters, at 6:00am on May 30.

Besides, party senior leaders will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.

BNP will organise a virtual discussion on 29 May, in observance of the day.

Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members will distribute food among the destitute at 80 spots of the capital on May 30-31 arranged by Dhaka North and South units of BNP.

BNP's different associate bodies will arrange various programmes, including discussions, from 29 May to 12 June in observance of the death anniversary.

The party's all district, city and thana units will also observe the day with various programmes, including virtual discussions to be participated by  BNP senior leaders.