BNP arranges doa mahfil to mark Khaleda’s birthday

Senior Correspondent: This year Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not celebrate the 73rd birthday of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia gorgeously due to deteriorating flood situation in different parts of the country.

Instead, its leaders and activists celebrated the occasion through holding a doa and milad mahfil.

The party arranged the doa and milad mahfil at its Nayapaltan central office in the capital at 11:30am on Tuesday.

Speaking at the milad mahfil, party standing committee member Mirza Abbas said, "Today (Tuesday) is the 73rd birthday of our leader Khaleda Zia. As flood situation has taken a serious turn in the country, putting people in danger, our leader (Khaleda) asked us not to celebrate her birthday with any joyous programme."

"So, we've kept our today's programme limited to doa and religious rituals. Under the current situation of the country, we shouldn't celebrate the occasion in a festive manner," he added.

Through the doa mahfil, Abbas said, they are praying to Allah for the early recovery of their chairperson who underwent a surgery in her right eye last week.

Later, a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for Khaleda's long and healthy life, and seeking salvation of the departed souls of party founder Ziaur Rahman and his younger son Arafat Rahman Koko.

On July 15, Khaleda went to London for receiving medical treatment and spending time with her family members there.

The BNP chief underwent the surgery for cataract in her right eye at Moorfields Eye Hospital last week. She may return home after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with her family members in London.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 15, 2017/Reza/Amirul