BNP hosts Iftar for diplomats, editors

The BNP has organised an Iftar gathering on behalf of its jailed Chairperson Khaleda Zia in honour of diplomats and editors.

Ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, including India and the US, attended the programme at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir welcomed the guests to the event.

He sat with Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Vatican to Bangladesh George Kocherry, US Ambassador Earl Miller, and Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das.   

French Ambassador Marie-Annick Bourdin, Australian High Commissioner Julia Niblett, Qatar Ambassador Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al-Dehaimi, Canadian High Commissioner Benoit Prefontaine, Turkish Ambassador Devrim Öztürk, Pakistan Acting High Commissioner Shah Faisal Kakar, Norway Ambassador Sidsel Bleken, Afghan Ambassador Abdul Rahim Oraz, and US Deputy Chief of Mission Joel Reifman attended the event.

European Union Head of Delegation and Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink, UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo, Red Cross Head of Delegation Ikhtiyar Aslanov and representatives of different donor agencies were also present.

Former president of the National Press Club Reazuddin Ahmed, Daily Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, The Daily Jugantor Acting Editor Saiful Alam, bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, and Bangladesh Pratidin Deputy Editor Abu Taher were among the editors who joined the event.

The BNP threw an Iftar event in honour of diplomats and editors at a Dhaka hotel on Tuesday. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Salehuddin Ahmed, Zafrullah Chowdhury, Emajuddin Ahamed, Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman, Dilara Choudhury, Asif Nazrul, Borhan Uddin Ahmad, Shahdeen Malik, Fazle Elahi Akbar, former ambassadors Humayun Kabir, Sirajul Islam Sabuj, and Shamim Ahmed attended the programme.   

The BNP leaders who attended the event included Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Abdullah Al Noman, Hafizuddin Ahmed, Barkatullah Bulu, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Mahbub Hossain, Mir Nasir Uddin, Mir Helal Uddin, Zainal Abedin, Golam Akbar Khandaker, Sukomol Barua, Shawkat Mahmud, Abdul Kaiyum, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Masud Ahmed Talukder, Rumeen Farhana, Shama Obayed, and Zeba Khan.

The BNP chairperson’s former press secretary Tajul Islam, personal secretary Abdus Sattar, press wing members Shairul Kabir Khan, Shamsuddin Didar and Riazuddin Nosu were also present.  

Former prime minister Khaleda used to host Iftar in honour of diplomats every year. The leaders of the party continued with the programme after she was jailed in February last year.