Leaders, activists, and supporters of BNP and its front organisations paid tribute to the late president and the founder of their party by offering their prayers at his grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital, led by party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Although only a selected number of leaders got permission to go to the mausoleum with their party chief, after her departure many supporters were also allowed to visit the grave.

Ziaur Ralman was also the commander of the 'Z' force and a sector of the freedom fighters during the liberation war. He was assassinated on the day in 1981 by some disgruntled army officers in Chittagong Circuit House, while on a visit there as the president of the country.

Prsident Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser to the Interim Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker Jamir Uddin Sircar, Deputy Speaker Akhter Hamid Siddique and the chiefs of three armed forces paid tributes to the former president amid tight security by placing wreaths on his grave and by observing a moment of silence.

Former prime minister Khaleda Zia went to her late husband's mausoleum around 10:40am but no other family member was present there. She placed a wreath on her husband's grave and offered prayers.

Among others BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Standing Committee Member M Saifur Rahman, Dr RA Gani, Khandaker Delwar Hossain, M Shamsul Islam, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, BNP Vice-president MK Anwar, Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Adviser to the BNP Chairperson Mofazzal Karim, Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan, Joint Secretary General Ghoyeshshar Chimera Ray, Selima Rahman, Office Secretary Mofiqul Islam Tripti, Assistant Office Secretary Emran Saleh Prince, Shechhwashebok Dal President Rizvi Ahmed, Krishok Dal General Secretary Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Jubo Dal General Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Azizul Bari Helal, its General Secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, former state minister Sarwari Rahman, former lawmaker Mohammad Shahjahan, Zia Parishad leader Kabir Murad, Mohila Dal leader Shirin Sultana, Nurjahan Yasmin, Sultana Ahmed, and Rehana Akhtar Ranu also accompanied the BNP chairperson.

Ali Ahsan Mujahid, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, a key partner of BNP in the four-party alliance was also present.

A milad and doa mehfil was held at the mausoleum as part of BNP's programmes marking the day. A special munajat was also offered.

Police however arrested Mowlana Nurul Islam and Mowlana Jasim, two men affiliated with BNP, as they were trying to carry a banner to the mausoleum. Police also charged batons on a group of young supporters leaving at least ten injured as they were allegedly trying to chant slogans near the mausoleum.

After Khaleda's departure from the area a large number of BNP leaders, activists, and supporters were also allowed to visit the grave of the former president to pay tributes. They were allowed in, after thorough checks, one by one from a queue.

After the milad and doa mehfil, former finance minister and BNP Standing Committee Member M Saifur Rahman said, "This is a melancholy day for me as president Ziaur Rahman was killed on this day."

"He laid a strong foundation for the country's economy, established a nationalist philosophy, and gave us a strategy for running the country," Saifur Rahman told journalists, adding that he is a follower of Zia's philosophy and his party is now operating on the basis of that philosophy.

"Zia worked to make the country self-reliant and to establish a multi-party democracy," he said adding, "I hope democracy will be restored in the country soon again."

Earlier the interim government allowed only 150 leaders of the party to accompany Khaleda Zia during her visit to the grave of the founder of BNP.

BNP leaders, activists, and supporters had no permission to give political speeches or statements, to chant slogans, or to carry banners. Law enforcers did not even allow the supporters to bring flowers to the mausoleum.