Khaleda to end social hiatus by joining Bengali new year celebrations

Khaleda Zia’s hiatus from social programmes appears to be coming to an end with the BNP announcing her plans to join a Bengali new year programme of their cultural wing.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 April 2015, 02:32 PM
Updated : 13 April 2015, 02:52 PM

The three-time prime minister did not pay customary tribute to martyrs on the International Mother Language Day on Feb 21 and Independence Day on Mar 26.

She preferred to remain within the confines of her Gulshan office, drawing flak from people of all walks of life.

International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon, who is filling in as party spokesperson, said on Monday that the BNP chief will be attending, for the first time, the annual cultural programme hosted by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) in front of the party headquarters in Naya Paltan on Tuesday.

The programme is normally attended by senior leaders of the party and this will be the first time Khaleda would attend the event.

She will also visit the party office in nearly half an year. The last time she was in the headquarters was on Oct 21.

Her room has been cleaned in the office that opened on Apr 5 after being locked down for nearly three months throughout the party’s anti-government movement that started on Jan 5.

Khaleda spent the time in her Gulshan office after calling for an indefinite transport blockade.

The party stepped up the agitation with sporadic calls of shutdowns which became regular on weekdays from February.

She returned home on Apr 5 after securing bail in two corruption cases. The agitation had also slowed down.

The BNP chief also responded to the Pahela Baishakh greetings sent by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She had sent a return greeting card on Sunday.