Thousands gather at Zia Udyan

A large number of leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal gathered at Zia Udyan in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Tuesday to mark the 48th founding anniversary of the BNP’s youth wing.

Supporters began arriving in processions from different parts of Dhaka in the morning, converging on the burial site of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

A visit to the area on Tuesday showed hundreds of activists carrying banners and festoons and chanting slogans on both sides of Zia Udyan, stretching from the Bijoy Sarani intersection.

The crowd chanted slogans including “Bangladesh is blessed by Tarique Rahman,” “No compromise, only struggle,” “Zia, we remember you on this day,” and “Zia’s soldiers, unite and fight.”

As the day progressed, the park became increasingly crowded, with activists from the Jubo Dal central committee and its Dhaka North and South units gathering for the anniversary observance.

Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna and General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan, along with leaders from the Dhaka North and South units, attended the programme organised by the central committee to pay tribute at the gravesite.