Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its associate bodies on Thursday celebrated the 81st birth anniversary of their founder Ziaur Rahman across the country with a vow to ‘restore’ people’s rights.

BNP leaders and activists, led by party chairperson Khaleda Zia, placed wreaths at Zia's grave at the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar around 11:30am.

Khaleda also offered fateha there and joined a munajat with the party followers, seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Zia.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairmen Ahmed Azam Khan, AZM Zahid and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi were, among others, present.

Leaders and activists of different associate bodies of the party also placed wreaths at Zia's grave on the occasion.

Talking to reporters after placing wreaths, Fakhrul said their party will continue their struggle for ‘restoring’ democracy and people’s all rights by holding the ideals of Zia who ‘introduced’ multiparty democracy in the country.

Born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogra, Zia was also a sector commander during the Liberation War and awarded with Bir Uttam, the highest gallantry award for a living officer for his wartime services.

He founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978.

BNP and its associate bodies marked the day with different programmes, hoisting of the party flag atop its offices, placing wreaths and arranging discussion and free medical camp.

The party arranged a discussion on the life of Ziaur Rahman on Wednesday at Mohanagar Natyamancha in observance of the day.

BNP's district, upazila and thana units also celebrated the day with various programmes, including discussion and milad mahfil.

Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged a free medical camp and voluntary blood donation on the ground floor of BNP's Nayapaltan central office from 9:00am to 3:00pm.