President invites Khaleda on Independence Day

President Abdul Hamid has invited BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at his official residence Bangabhaban in Dhaka to attend a programme marking the Independence Day of the country tomorrow.

An employee of Bangabhaban handed over the invitation letter to the staff of Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office around 1:30pm today, Syrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP chief's media wing, told The Daily Star.

The BNP chief was informed about the invitation, Sayrul said. He however could not confirm whether Khaleda would attend the programme.

Twenty-one senior leaders of the party have also been invited but their names could not be known immediately.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, now in jail, is among the leaders who got the invitation, Syrul said.

"Some of the invited leaders are now in jail. How can they attend the programme," he questioned.

Khaleda has been staying at her Gulshan office since January 3.

Though the BNP-led 20-party alliance has been enforcing non-stop countrywide blockade since January 6 and also enforcing hartal (shutdown) in all working days since February 1, it did not enforce shutdown today and tomorrow marking the Independence Day.