BNP to arrange doa mahfils on Khaleda birthday

The BNP will celebrate its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s 73rd birthday on August 15 by holding doa mahfils at district and upazila (sub-district) level, instead of cutting any cake. “August 15 is the birthday of the BNP chairperson and former prime minster Khaleda Zia. We will hold doa mahfils at district ad upazila levels to mark the day, seeking her release, early recovery, and long life,” said BNP senior joint secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. He announced the programme while speaking at a function organised by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, at the party’s central office yesterday, to mark the birthday of Khaleda Zia’s younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko.

The BNP is going to observe the birthday of Khaleda Zia in her absence, as she is serving a five-year jail term, since February 8 this year, in relation to a graft case.

Amid huge criticism, the BNP chairperson decided and refrained from celebrating her birthday on August 15 in 2016 and her decision was treated as a good political gesture. August 15 is observed as the National Mourning Day, which commemorates the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Khaleda's decision not to celebrate her birthday with fanfare on August 15 was lauded, as it ended two decades of controversy and criticism centred on her birthday bash.

The BNP chairperson began celebrating her birthday since August 15, 1993, after being elected Bangladesh’s prime minister in the 1991 national elections. But she made the celebration formal after her party lost power in 2006 and went on to occupy the opposition benches in parliament.

Khaleda began celebrating her birthday with party leaders and activists at her Minto Road residence on August 15, 2006.

According to BNP’s website, Khaleda was born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur district.

Though her ancestral home was at Fulgazi in Feni district, she lived with her family members in Danajpur after Partition in 1947.

Khaleda, who had passed the SSC examination from Dinajpur Girls High School in 1960, got married to then army officer Captain Ziaur Rahman in that same year. After the 1975 changeover, Ziaur Rahman became the martial law administrator and President of the country.

Khaleda stepped into politics two years after the death of her husband on May 30, 1981. She joined BNP as its vice-chairman in 1983. She became the chairperson on May 10, 1984.

Khaleda had become the country’s first woman prime minister after the end of HM Ershad-led autocratic regime in 1991. She also took oath as premier in 1996 and 2001. BNP had boycotted the 2014 general elections. The party has been demanding unconditional release of Khaleda and holding of the next general polls under a neutral government after dissolving the parliament.

 

BNP to arrange doa mahfils on Khaleda birthday

The BNP will celebrate its chairperson Khaleda Zias 73rd birthday on August 15 by holding doa mahfils at district and upazila (sub-district) level, instead of cutting any cake. August 15 is the birthday of the BNP chairperson and former prime minster Khaleda Zia. We will hold doa mahfils at district ad upazila levels to mark the day, seeking her release, early recovery, and long life, said BNP senior joint secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. He announced the programme while speaking at a function organised by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, at the partys central office yesterday, to mark the birthday of Khaleda Zias younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko. The BNP is going to observe the birthday of Khaleda Zia in her absence, as she is serving a five-year jail term, since February 8 this year, in relation to a graft case. Amid huge criticism, the BNP chairperson decided and refrained from celebrating her birthday on August 15 in 2016 and her decision was treated as a good political gesture. August 15 is observed as the National Mourning Day, which commemorates the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Khaledas decision not to celebrate her birthday with fanfare on August 15 was lauded, as it ended two decades of controversy and criticism centred on her birthday bash. The BNP chairperson began celebrating her birthday since August 15, 1993, after being elected Bangladeshs prime minister in the 1991 national elections. But she made the celebration formal after her party lost power in 2006 and went on to occupy the opposition benches in parliament. Khaleda began celebrating her birthday with party leaders and activists at her Minto Road residence on August 15, 2006. According to BNPs website, Khaleda was born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur district. Though her ancestral home was at Fulgazi in Feni district, she lived with her family members in Danajpur after Partition in 1947. Khaleda, who had passed the SSC examination from Dinajpur Girls High School in 1960, got married to then army officer Captain Ziaur Rahman in that same year. After the 1975 changeover, Ziaur Rahman became the martial law administrator and President of the country. Khaleda stepped into politics two years after the death of her husband on May 30, 1981. She joined BNP as its vice-chairman in 1983. She became the chairperson on May 10, 1984. Khaleda had become the countrys first woman prime minister after the end of HM Ershad-led autocratic regime in 1991. She also took oath as premier in 1996 and 2001. BNP had boycotted the 2014 general elections. The party has been demanding unconditional release of Khaleda and holding of the next general polls under a neutral government after dissolving the parliament.