Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, along with newly appointed chairmen of several development authorities, paid tribute at the graves of late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar’s Zia Udyan in Dhaka on Sunday. Floral wreaths were placed at the graves, followed by special prayers seeking eternal peace for their souls. A large number of leaders and activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations were present during the ceremony.

The visit coincided with the recent establishment of six new development authorities under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, covering Sylhet, Mymensingh, Barishal, Cumilla, Rangpur, and Narayanganj. These authorities aim to ensure balanced urban development, prevent unplanned urbanization, promote disaster-resilient city management, and foster growth in information technology and tourism sectors.

According to the ministry, the overarching goal of these initiatives is to create well-planned, modern cities that maintain environmental balance while providing improved civic amenities.