Jubo Dal's 48th founding anniversary: activists throng Zia Udyan, Rizvi to pay tribute at Ziaur Rahman's mausoleum

Activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal have thronged Zia Udyan in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for the organisation's 48th founding anniversary. Leaders and activists from the central, metropolitan and other levels of the organisation have gathered at the park, the site of martyred President Ziaur Rahman's mausoleum, to pay tribute at their leader's grave and offer prayers.

From Tuesday (27 October) morning, the presence of Jubo Dal leaders and activists around Zia Udyan kept growing. With activists of the Jubo Dal central committee and of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South in attendance, a festive atmosphere prevailed there. The activists took part in the anniversary programme chanting various slogans.

Among the slogans heard were 'Bangladesh is blessed for Tarique Rahman', 'No compromise, struggle, struggle', 'On this day today, Zia, we remember you' and 'Soldiers of Zia, unite and fight'.

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is scheduled to pay tribute at martyred President Ziaur Rahman's mausoleum for the founding anniversary. Central and metropolitan-level Jubo Dal leaders will take part in it.

Robiul Islam Noyon, member secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo Dal, said the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal is a day of great joy and pride for them. Holding the ideals of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, Jubo Dal has worked since its founding for the country's democracy, people's rights and nationalist politics, he noted. He said they are working unitedly to make Jubo Dal more organised and stronger under Tarique Rahman's leadership, and that Jubo Dal leaders and activists will play a leading role in meeting the people's expectations and building a democratic Bangladesh.

Sajid Hasan Babu, communications secretary of the Jubo Dal central committee, said that holding martyred President Ziaur Rahman's ideals in their hearts, Jubo Dal has long played an important role in the movement to establish people's rights and restore democracy. The founding anniversary is not only a day of joy and celebration, it is also a day for them to take a fresh oath, he remarked. He said they are working to make Jubo Dal stronger and more organised under Tarique Rahman's leadership, and that every Jubo Dal leader and activist will work unitedly to meet the people's expectations.

On 27 October 1978, BNP founder and then president Ziaur Rahman founded the Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal. Since its founding, the organisation has played an important role in BNP politics; Jubo Dal leaders and activists have actively taken part in implementing the party's various political programmes and organisational activities.

Jubo Dal has announced a two-day programme for this year's founding anniversary. As part of the central programme, a blood donation programme and free medical services are scheduled to begin at 12 noon on Tuesday at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan.

In addition, on 27 and 28 October the organisation will hold discussion meetings, rallies and gatherings across the country, along with blood donation, free medical services, tree plantation and cleanliness drives. Initiatives have also been taken for releasing fish fry and distributing food items among the destitute.

Abdul Munaem Munna is currently serving as Jubo Dal president, and Nurul Islam Noyon is in charge as general secretary.