Today is the 67th birth anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

To celebrate the late leader's birthday in a befitting way, the ruling BNP began an 11-day programme yesterday through distribution of warm clothes among the poor in the city.

Party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and First Joint Secretary Tareque Rahman distributed ward clothes in different city areas including Ramna, Kotwali, Nazirabazar, Lalbag and Mirpur. Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and some other party leaders also joined them. The 11-day programmes chalked out by BNP, its front organisations and various socio-cultural bodies include offering of fateha and wreath at Zia's mazaar, discussion meetings and cultural programmes.

Today's programmes will begin with hoisting of party flags atop offices of BNP and its front organisations across the country early in the morning. The offices will be bedecked with colourful lights at nightfall.

Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia accompanied by party policymakers and ministers will place wreath and offer fateha at Zia's mazaar at 10:00am today.

The Zia Adarsha Bastabayan Parishad (Council for Implementation of Zia's Ideals) will arrange a blood donation programme on the mazaar premises at 9:00am today.

BNP will arrange a discussion meeting on Zia's life, works and contribution at the Institute of Engineers at 3:30pm.

Its labour front Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal arranged a discussion meeting at WAPDA auditorium in the city yesterday afternoon.

Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddaha Dal and Zia Shishu-Kishore Sangathan will arrange various programmes in the capital tomorrow. Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal will hold its programme on January 21, Jatoyatabadi Mohila Dal on January 22, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on January 2, Jasas and Sechhashebak Dal on January 24, Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal on January 25, Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal on January 26 and jatiyatabadi Matshayajibi Dal on January 27.

On January 28, leaders and activists the party and its front organisations will begin a cleanliness and mosquito eradication drive in Dhaka city.

Zia Shishu-Kishore Sangathan will distribute warm clothes among distressed children. It will hold a discussion meeting and a painting competition at Ziaur Rahman Auditorium at Bangladesh Shishu Academy tomorrow afternoon.

Party units in other cities, districts and thanas have also taken up programmes to celebrate Zia's birth anniversary.