Dhaka: A special prayer session seeking divine blessings for the martyrs of historic Language Movement on the occasion of Amar Ekushey (21 February), the Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day was held at Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday.

Khaleda Zia, who has been staying in her Gulshan office since 3 January, arranged the session at her office after Asar prayers skipping the visit to the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of Saturday.

This was the first time since in 1982 after her entry into politics Khaleda skipped the Shaheed Minar visit.

Maulana Mahmudul Hasan Shamim, a teacher of Nurani Hafizia madrasah conducted the prayer on the first floor of the office while Khaleda Zia took part in the prayer session with female party leaders from the second floor, said her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan.

Among others the special prayer was also attended by Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Quaiyum and Shirin Sultana.

However, a BNP delegation, led by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, along with activists of the party and its front organisations went to the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning and placed a wreath there to pay homage to the language martyrs on behalf of the party.