BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday paid homage to his father and the party’s founder, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and his mother, former Prime Minister and former BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, as the party marked its 48th founding anniversary.

Tarique Rahman arrived at his parents’ graves in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 9:17 am and laid wreaths alongside members of the party’s standing committee and other senior leaders.

They also recited the Fatiha and joined a special munajat seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of the BNP founder and former chairperson.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and other senior BNP leaders were present.

After paying tribute, Rahman, accompanied by party leaders, planted saplings on the Ziaur Rahman mausoleum grounds and released fish fry into the adjacent lake.

After the prime minister left and the security cordon was lifted, large numbers of party leaders, activists and supporters gathered at the mausoleum to pay tribute to the memory of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia.

They brought out processions and chanted slogans including “Shubho Shubho Shubho Din, BNP'r Jonmodin” and “Ek Zia Lokantore, Lokkho Zia Ghore Ghore”, turning the mausoleum grounds into a festive gathering.

The BNP is marking its 48th founding anniversary with a five-day programme.

District and metropolitan units across the country are also holding various programmes, including discussions, to mark the occasion.

The anniversary comes at a significant time for the BNP, which has returned to state power after two decades, with Tarique Rahman serving as prime minister for the first time.

Ziaur Rahman founded the BNP on September 1, 1978, and served as its chairman. He was succeeded by Khaleda Zia, while Tarique Rahman now leads the party.

Tarique Rahman took charge of the party following the death of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on December 30, 2025.