In the absence of party chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP hosted an iftar party for orphan students and alem-ulema (Islamic scholars) on the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The programme was held at the city’s Ladies Club with the participation of around 150 orphans and some alem-ulema, reports the UNB.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party standing committee members received the guests and exchanged pleasantries with them.

Khaleda used to take iftar with orphans and alem-ulema on the first day of Ramadan every year.

The chair of the chief guest of the BNP’s iftar the programme was kept vacant as Khaleda is now in jail.

Speaking at the programme, Fakhrul said they arranged the programme with a heavy heart this year as their chairperson is now in jail.

‘She (Khaleda) used to take iftar with orphans every year on the first day of Ramadan. But this time, she took iftar solitarily in jail. It’s very tragic for all of us. We pray to Allah so that we get her back among us soon,’ he added.

Fakhrul said their party and the nation are passing through a critical time under the rule of current ‘autocratic and fascist’ government. ‘We must face the situation with courage to restore democracy and free our leader (Khaleda) from jail.’

He urged the country’s people to get united and wage a movement to get rid of the current government’s rule.

Prior to the iftar, a munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for Khaleda’s early recovery and her release from jail.

Apart from Fakhrul, BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury joined the iftar party.