Arafat Rahman Koko. File Photo

DHAKA, Jan 23, 2025 (BSS) - The 10th death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, will be observed today.

The party and its associate bodies have taken various programmes to mark the day with due respect and remembrance which will start through a doa mahfil at its Nayapaltan central office at 11am seeking eternal peace for Koko’s departed soul.  

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, alongside senior leaders from the central, metropolitan, and affiliate organizations, will attend the occasion, BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan told BSS.

A Quran recitation programme and prayers will also be arranged at 10 am at Banani Graveyard after placing wreaths at Koko’s grave and offering fateha which will be attended by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and other central leaders.

Another doa mahfil will be held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office after Asr prayers at 4:30pm, to be attended by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, party standing committee members and central leaders.

The BNP’s UK chapter will also arrange a doa mahfil at Brick Lane Mosque, London, set to take place after Asr prayers, said Shairul Kabir Khan.

Different associate and professional bodies of BNP and its city and district units will also observe the day by holding various programmes, including discussions and prayer sessions, across the country.

On January 24, 2015, Koko died of cardiac arrest aged at 45 in Malaysia. His body was brought back home on January 27 and buried at Banani Graveyard.