In honor of its founder Ziaur Rahman's 88th birthday, the BNP has announced a two-day event.

The programs were revealed on Wednesday, January 17, at a media briefing held at the Party's Nayapaltan headquarters by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

On Thursday, January 18, the BNP will raise the party flag at its offices around Bangladesh in honor of Zia's birthday on January 19. Later that day, a debate will be held at the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh.

Members of the party's standing committee will conduct special prayers and pay respects to Zia at his burial site in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Friday.

The party will put out pamphlets and posters, and its affiliated groups will set up talk topics and give out warm clothing.

During the Liberation War, as a major, Ziaur Rahman led his sector as a decorated freedom fighter and became the first military ruler of Bangladesh. After Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975, he took over as army head and was made a major general in 1973. It is generally accepted that he was involved in the assassination.

Zia gained control on November 7, 1975, following a coup headed by Col (retd) Abu Taher, Bir Uttam, whom he hanged on July 21 of the following year following a fabricated trial.

On September 1, 1978, Zia founded the BNP in an attempt to solidify his hold on power. The next February, the party won a heavily manipulated election. On May 30, 1981, the military strongman was killed in Chattogram.

He is well known for having allowed war criminals to return to politics under the guise of reestablishing multiparty democracy. Additionally, he protected Bangabandhu's killers and gave them various forms of compensation.