PM Tarique plants tree, releases fish marking BNP founding anniversary

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (1 September) planted a tree at Zia Udyan and released fish into Crescent Lake at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital as part of programmes marking the party's 48th founding anniversary.

Tarique planted the tree and released fish shortly after paying homage to the graves of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former chairperson Khaleda Zia by placing wreaths there around 9:20am.

BNP Standing Committee members, Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee and Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku were, among others, present.

The party's anniversary programmes began early in the morning with the national and party flags being hoisted at its central office in Nayapaltan and the chairman's office in Gulshan.

The BNP has announced a five-day central programme to mark its founding anniversary, including tree plantation, fish release and a discussion.

At around 11:30am, Rizvi inaugurated a free medical camp organised by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on the ground floor of BNP's central office at Nayapaltan.

DAB President Professor Harun Al Rashid and Secretary General Zahirul Islam Shakil were present.

Ziaur Rahman founded BNP on 1 September,1978 with a 19-point programme aimed at building a self-reliant Bangladesh.

He led the party as its chairman, followed by Khaleda Zia and subsequently Tarique Rahman.

The BNP is celebrating its 48th founding anniversary at a significant juncture, having returned to state power after around two decades under Tarique Rahman's leadership, with him serving as prime minister for the first time.

It is also the first founding anniversary the party is observing without Khaleda Zia, who died on 30 December, 2025.