Khaleda postpones Saudi trip as Tarique denied visa

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has postponed her Saudi Arabia visit to perform Umrah as her elder son Tarique Rahman did not get visa from London.

"Like other previous years, it was scheduled that Tarique will join his mother Khaleda Zia in Saudi Arabia from London for performing Umrah. But, Khaleda Zia has to cancel the trip as Saudi embassy in London did not issue Tarique's visa," a senior BNP leader who is very close to Khaleda told The Daily Star.

The BNP chief took the decision last night following discussions with Tarique and senior party leaders, he added.

Earlier on Monday evening while briefing journalists at the party chief’s Gulshan office, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said, "Khaleda Zia will leave the country on July 8 to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia."

But the party did not inform media formally about the cancellation of the visit till 8:00pm today.

A top leader of the party wishing anonymity told The Daily Star that Khaleda had a plan to hold several meetings with Tarique, also the senior vice chairmen of the party, in Saudi on different crucial issues including party’s overhauling and future planning of the next anti-government movement.