Staff Correspondent
BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia received floral greetings from Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on her 81st birthday. On Friday afternoon, a bouquet was delivered to her Gulshan residence, “Feroza,” by the Chief Advisor’s Office Director Nazmul Islam and Principal Secretary Sajeeb M Khairul Islam. BNP Standing Committee Member AZM Zahid Hossain confirmed the gesture, stating, “The people’s leader observes her birthday simply, though party members nationwide are holding prayer gatherings.”
The three-time prime minister, born on August 15, 1945, in Dinajpur, has faced criticism for sharing her birthdate with the anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination. While cake-cutting ceremonies were once customary, recent years have seen only religious observances. Earlier, the Chinese embassy had also sent flowers on Thursday night.
BNP organized milad and dua mahfils across the country, including at its central office in Nayapaltan, where senior leaders gathered. Khaleda Zia, currently residing at her Gulshan home, has maintained minimal public appearances since her conditional release in 2020. The subdued celebrations reflect both personal preference and Bangladesh’s complex political symbolism surrounding August 15.