Chehlum for Khaleda’s son Coco Wednesday

The Chehlum for Khaleda Zia’s youngest son Arafat Rahman Coco will be held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Khaleda’s Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan said on Tuesday: “Recitation of Quran will be held from morning. Doa Mahfil (special prayers) will be arranged after the Asr prayers.”

He said the BNP chief had urged party leaders and activists and people in general to prayfor Coco, who died of heart disease in Malaysia on Jan 24.

The Chehlum, a religious ritual for a deceased, coincides with hearing in two graft cases against the former prime minister at a special court in Dhaka.

The BNP chief faces arrest warrant in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases for skipping several hearings.

Khaleda got news of her son’s death when she as in her office, where she has been staying since Jan 3 amid political tension centring the first anniversary of the last general election.

She saw Coco for the last time on Jan 27 at her office.