Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda embarks on a tour of Sylhet on Monday as a special court is set to pronounce its verdict in a graft case against her.

‘Our chairperson will go to Sylhet by road on Monday to offer fateha at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal ® and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA),’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he said Khaleda is scheduled to start her journey for Sylhet at 8:30am from her Gulshan residence on Monday.

Asked whether their party chief is going there to launch her party’s next general election campaign, Rizvi replied in the negative. ‘Khaleda Zia is a pious person, and she is going to Sylhet only to offer fateha at the shrines of two great saints of the country.’

Meanwhile, local BNP leaders at a press conference at a hotel in Sylhet City alleged that police have started raiding the houses of their party men while the administration has asked them not to carry out any campaign through loudspeakers ahead of Khaleda’s visit.

They urged the local administration to cooperate with them to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during their party chief’s tour.

The BNP leaders said Khaleda is scheduled to go first to the mazar of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) around 4pm while at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) around 4:30pm.

Later, they said, she will stay overnight at Sylhet Circuit House on Monday night. She will leave Sylhet for Dhaka on Tuesday morning.

The Special Court-5 in Dhaka on Thursday fixed February 8 to deliver its verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against Khaleda and five others.

Khaleda will be disqualified for the next general election if she is convicted in the case.

On January 30, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched her party’s campaign from Sylhet for the upcoming national election slated for December this year.

The Prime Minister offered fateha at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA), Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) and Hazrat Gazi Borhan Uddin (RA) in the city.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also formally launched his party’s election campaign from there.

He also offered fateha at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran in the afternoon and left Sylhet after holding a meeting with local party leaders at the circuit house.