The BNP and its associate bodies on Friday observed the 88th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman taking a fresh vow to 'restore' democracy in the country as early as possible.

BNP leaders and activists, led by its standing committee members, placed wreaths at Zia's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar grave around 11.00am.

Later, they offered fateha following a special munajat seeking salvation of the departed soul of Zia. Leaders and activists of BNP's different units and associate bodies also placed wreaths at Zia's grave.

Talking to reporters after paying tributes to Zia, party standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said the nation was celebrating late President Ziaur Rahman's birthday in a moment when democracy is dead in Bangladesh.

“The people of the country, the democratic countries and human rights organisations around the world are saying in one word that Bangladesh has become a state of one-party rule,” he said.

The BNP leader said people in Bangladesh now do not have basic and democratic rights, including the right to vote and the freedom of expression.

Another BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said Ziaur Rahman brought back democracy by ending the despotic rule of Baksal while Khaleda Zia restored democracy by ending Ershad's military dictatorship.

“We’re now fighting to restore democracy under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. On the birth anniversary of Ziaur Rahman, we take a fresh vow that we’ll restore democracy in the country as soon as possible with the help of the democracy-loving people of this country,” he said.

To mark the day, the party flag was hoisted atop all of its offices across the country in the morning.

BNP arranged a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon in memory of Zia.

BNP’s associate bodies also marked the day with various programmes, including discussions and warm clothes distribution, as part of the birth anniversary programmes.

The party’s city, district and upazila units also observed the day with different programmes.

Ziaur Rahman was born on 19 January, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogura. He founded BNP in 1978 and became the country's seventh President. Zia was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chattogram Circuit House on 30 May, 1981.