Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia exchanged greetings at the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja today (21 November).
Upon arrival at Senakunja, Khaleda was seated next to Dr Yunus, and the two engaged in conversation.
Both were seen smiling and greeting each other during their interactions.
At exactly 4:00pm, the reception ceremony commenced with the national anthem being played. The chief adviser then delivered his speech.
At the outset of his address, the chief adviser congratulated the members of the armed forces on Armed Forces Day and paid tribute to the memories of the martyrs who gave their lives in the Liberation War.
The Chief Adviser then said, “Today, we are especially fortunate and honoured to have with us Begum Khaleda Zia, the wife of the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, a freedom fighter, and three-time elected prime minister of Bangladesh.”
He said for a whole decade, the BNP chief had not had the opportunity to attend this grand gathering. “Today, she has that opportunity, and we are all delighted and proud to have been able to offer it to her.”
The chief adviser expressed his gratitude to the BNP chairperson for joining the event despite her long-standing health challenges and wished her a speedy recovery.
“We thank her once again and extend a warm welcome to her at this event.”
BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said Khaleda Zia was warmly received by Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan, and Air Force Chief Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan as she arrived at the venue.
After Khaleda Zia took her seat at Senakunja, he said the interim government’s Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus exchanged greetings with her.
Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir became emotional and was moved to tears upon seeing Khaleda Zia at the event after a long time.
Speaking to reporters at the event, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda Zia, who has dedicated her life to protecting democracy and the country’s independence and sovereignty, had been kept away from the patriotic armed forces for 12 years.
He expressed his gratitude to the chief adviser and the Armed Forces, including the chiefs of the three services, for honouring Khaleda on Armed Forces Day.
“The entire nation is happy, and we are grateful for the honour bestowed upon Madam [Khaleda].”
Apart from Fakhrul, his wife Rahat Ara Begum, and BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and other invited senior leaders also attended the reception ceremony.
Khaleda Zia, a 79-year-old former prime minister, accompanied by the wife of her late son Arafat Rahman Koko, left her Gulshan residence around 3:30pm and arrived at the reception venue around 3:45pm.
She got out of the vehicle, seated in a wheelchair, and made her way to the venue.
This marks her first public appearance and participation in a state function in six years, since her imprisonment in February 2018. The last time she attended the Armed Forces Day reception was in 2012.
Khaleda also made her first appearance at the Armed Forces Day reception at Senakunja in 12 years. The last time she attended the Armed Forces Day reception was in 2012.
Earlier, on Tuesday night, the Armed Forces Division of the Chief Adviser’s Office invited Khaleda, also a three-time former Prime Minister, to attend the reception at Senakunja.
Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Lieutenant General ASM Kamrul Ahsan handed over the invitation letter to Khaleda.
Twenty-six other BNP leaders, including Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior leaders, have also been invited to attend the reception.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has presented as the chief guest at the reception at Senakunja.
Armed Forces Day was celebrated today (Thursday) with various programmes amid festivity and enthusiasm, commemorating the establishment of the army, navy, and air force during the 1971 Liberation War.
