Dhaka – The BNP has no formal programme, like the previous year, to celebrate its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s 72nd birthday on Tuesday, according to party sources.
The former premier, who is now in London for the treatment of her eyes and legs, is likely to celebrate her birthday with her family members there, sources said.There is no instruction for the party leaders and activists in this regard but they may celebrate the day of their own, the sources added.
This time, the chairperson is now London and she would not celebrate her birthday formally. She may rather celebrate with her family members in the British capital.
When contacted, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that he did not receive any instruction in regards to celebrate the birthday of the party chairperson.
A standing committee member expressed his ignorance whether the birthday would be observed in any manner.
Meanwhile, Juba Dal in a press release yesterday said it will organise doa-mehfil and distribute relief in different places of the country.
Last year the BNP celebrated Khaleda’s 71st birthday through holding a prayer session instead of cutting any cake.
Many leaders then went to the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office to greet her but they had to enter the office keeping their bouquet outside it.
The BNP has taken the decision not to celebrate Khaleda’s birthday on August 15, which coincides with the National Mourning Day that commemorates the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the members of his extended family in 1975.
Leaders of the ruling Awami League had then asked the BNP chairperson not to celebrate her birthday on the day of the Bangabandhu’s assassination.
The former premier started celebrating her birthday since August 15, 1993, after being elected Bangladesh’s prime minister in the 1991 national election. But she made the celebration formal after her party lost power in 2006 and went on to occupy the Opposition benches in Parliament. The then Opposition leader began celebrating her birthday with party leaders and activists at her official Mintoo Road residence on August 15, 2006. – Staff Reporter
