Khaleda reaches Sylhet, offers fateha at two shrines

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today offered special munajat at two shrines in Sylhet with only two days left for the verdict of the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The BNP chief entered the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) two hours after she reached Sylhet Circuit House around 4:30pm, reports our local correspondent.

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She spent an hour at the shrine to offer prayer amid huge crowds of her party's leaders and activists.

Later, she went to the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) around 7:30pm and spent around half an hour for the same purpose, the correspondent said.

After ending the prayers, Khaleda returned to the Sylhet Circuit House around 8:30pm.

Hundreds of supporters were seen standing on both sides of the city streets with colorful banners, placards and festoons.

Hundreds of supporters were seen standing on both sides of the city streets with colorful banners, placards and festoons as they welcomed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on her way to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) on Monday, February 5, 2018. Photo: STAR

They also welcomed Khaleda on her way to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal by chanting slogans, the correspondent said.  

The BNP chief along with her motorcade left for Dhaka from Sylhet Circuit House at 9:50pm.

Earlier in the day, she Zia left her Gulshan residence around 9:00am with BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moeen Khan and some top ranking leaders accompanying her.

Talking to reporters before starting the journey, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said their chairperson is going to Sylhet only to offer fateha at the shrines of the country's two great saints.

Replying to a question, he said Khaleda is not going to launch her party's next election campaign from Sylhet unlike Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is seen on her way to Sylhet, where she offered prayers at two prominent Islamic shrines, on Monday, February 5, 2018. Photo: Collected

"The election will be held around one year later so there is no scope for beginning the election campaign now. How will she conduct the campaign in absence of a level playing field?" the BNP leader said.

On January 25, a special court in Dhaka fixed February 8 to announce verdict of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others.