Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia took iftar with orphans and alem-ulema (Islamic scholars) on the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan on Friday.

The BNP chief hosted the iftar party at the city’s Ladies Club.

Entering the venue at about 6:40pm, Khaleda Zia, also a former Prime Minister, exchanged pleasantries with the guests, including the orphans.

Over 300 guests, including boys and girls, from different orphanages in the capital’s Sahntinagar, Tejgaon and Fakirerpool areas as well as a good number of Islamic scholars from various areas, attended the Iftar party.

A munajat was offered before the iftar seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country and welfare of its people.

BNP standing committee members, Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar, Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, Jamiruddin Sircar, ASM Hannan Shah, Begum Sarwari Rahman, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan Islami Oikya Jote chairman Abdul Latif Nezami, its vice chairman Abul Hasnat Amini, and BNP spokesman and its international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon, among others, joined the iftar.

The BNP chairperson will also host an iftar party at the city's Bashundhara Convention Centre on 3rd Ramadan on Sunday in honour of politicians. Top leaders of all political parties, including that of Awami League and Jatiya Party, have been invited to the iftar programme.

Khaleda has also invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the iftar party.