Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and her eldest son Tarique Rahman were likely to go Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to perform umrah as the royal guests of the Saudi government.
The BNP chief is scheduled to fly from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in a flight of Emirates Airlines either on Tuesday or Wednesday evening, her media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan said, reports United News of Bangladesh.
However, a source close to Khaleda wishing anonymity said she will leave here for Saudi on Wednesday.
Khaleda goes to Saudi Arabia every Ramadan to perform Umrah and pass the last days of the holy moth there in special prayers.
Party sources said BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife and daughter, now in London, would also to go to Saudi Arabia the same day to perform Umrah.
Tarique also had a reunion with his mother during last Ramadan as they performed Umrah and stayed Saudi Arabia over a week.
Following the January 11 political changeover in 2007, Khaleda and her two sons were arrested on different corruption charges. After their release in 2008,
Tarique along his wife and one daughter went to London while Koko with his family members flew to Thailand for treatment purposes. Since then Tarique, senior vice-chairman of BNP, has been staying in London while Koko in Malaysia where he flew from Thailand.
On January 24 this year, Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman died of cardiac arrest in Malaysia at the age of 45.
It would be the first reunion of Khaleda and Tarique after Arafat’s demise. Arafat’s wife and two daughters are also likely to accompany Khaleda during the Saudi tour.
According to the sources, Tarique and Khaleda during their stay in Saudi would discuss various crucial issues like party overhaul, strategy, party’s council and some other organisational issues.
A party leader wishing not to be quoted said Khaleda and Tarique would also work out who would lead the party in case Khaleda is convicted in any case.
According to the leader, Khaleda was now pondering to nominate Tarique’s wife Zubaida Rahman as the acting party chief in her absence in case of any exigency as Tarique would not be able to return home.
She would discuss the matter elaborately with Tarique and Zubida, he added.
The BNP chief is scheduled to fly from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in a flight of Emirates Airlines either on Tuesday or Wednesday evening, her media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan said, reports United News of Bangladesh.
However, a source close to Khaleda wishing anonymity said she will leave here for Saudi on Wednesday.
Khaleda goes to Saudi Arabia every Ramadan to perform Umrah and pass the last days of the holy moth there in special prayers.
Party sources said BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife and daughter, now in London, would also to go to Saudi Arabia the same day to perform Umrah.
Tarique also had a reunion with his mother during last Ramadan as they performed Umrah and stayed Saudi Arabia over a week.
Following the January 11 political changeover in 2007, Khaleda and her two sons were arrested on different corruption charges. After their release in 2008,
Tarique along his wife and one daughter went to London while Koko with his family members flew to Thailand for treatment purposes. Since then Tarique, senior vice-chairman of BNP, has been staying in London while Koko in Malaysia where he flew from Thailand.
On January 24 this year, Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman died of cardiac arrest in Malaysia at the age of 45.
It would be the first reunion of Khaleda and Tarique after Arafat’s demise. Arafat’s wife and two daughters are also likely to accompany Khaleda during the Saudi tour.
According to the sources, Tarique and Khaleda during their stay in Saudi would discuss various crucial issues like party overhaul, strategy, party’s council and some other organisational issues.
A party leader wishing not to be quoted said Khaleda and Tarique would also work out who would lead the party in case Khaleda is convicted in any case.
According to the leader, Khaleda was now pondering to nominate Tarique’s wife Zubaida Rahman as the acting party chief in her absence in case of any exigency as Tarique would not be able to return home.
She would discuss the matter elaborately with Tarique and Zubida, he added.
Source: New Age
